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Categories: GIMP and image processing | Lunar astronomy | Other astronomy | Geology | Computers | Search for other books
GIMP and image processing
(shameless plug)
Beginning GIMP: From Novice to Professional
is my new book on image processing using GIMP: the GNU Image
Manipulation Program.
You can find a lot more information about the book at
Gimpbook.com.
Lunar Astronomy
Atlas
of the Moon, Antonin Rukl.
An enduring classic for lunar observers. Long out of print, it's
back now, and better than ever.
No lunar observer should be without it.
A
Portfolio of Lunar Drawings, Harold Hill.
I love this book.
Hill is an amazing lunar artist, and you'll learn more than you
think from studying his drawings.
Exploring
the Moon Through Binoculars and Small Telescopes, Ernest H. Cherrington.
A terrific introduction to the moon. If you're intimidated by the
amount of detail in Rukl's atlas, start with Cherrington and
follow his day-by-day log.
The
Once and Future Moon, Paul Spudis.
An excellent overview of lunar geology, the history of lunar
observation, and prospects for returning to the moon.
A
Man on the Moon, Andrew Chaikin.
Painstakingly detailed coverage of the entire Apollo moon program,
including the personalities, the science, the engineering
challenges, and lots more background.
From
the Earth to the Moon (DVD set)
This HBO miniseries, narrated by Tom Hanks, covers the entire Apollo
program in surprisingly good detail. Loosely based on Chaikin's
Man on the Moon.
Apollo
13 (DVD)
It's a good movie. 'Nuff said.
Planetary Astronomy
A
Traveler's Guide to Mars, William K. Hartmann.
Don't let the title put you off: this is a detailed, thorough and
modern review of what is known about Mars.
Deep-Sky Astronomy
Astro
Cappella (CD), The Chromatics.
I'll put some astronomy books here soon, I promise.
But meanwhile, I really enjoy this a capella CD of astronomy and
space related music by The Chromatics.
Assembling
California, John McPhee.
Annals
of the Former World, John McPhee.
The
Control of Nature, John McPhee.
Geology
of the San Francisco Bay Region, by Doris Sloan.
The first geology guidebook I've seen which covers the south bay and
peninsula, not just San Francisco and Marin. It doesn't cover
everything, but it has plenty of information you won't find
elsewhere, and it's beautifully printed and full of color
photographs by John Karachewski.
Geology
Underfoot in Death Valley and Owens Valley, Robert P. Sharp.
A collection of interesting explorations in the Mojave and Death
Valley areas. Not to be taken as a comprehensive geology book, this
collection is sure to offer some ideas for trips you'd never have
considered before, like the
Victorville
Narrows of the Mojave river.
The
Practical Geologist, Dougal Dixon.
A charming little book full of fun experiments anyone can do
to understand geology. Especially recommended for anyone who
works with children or gives lectures to a popular audience.
Carla has a wonderfully clear writing style, and in this book she
offers simple recipes for all sorts of tasks the Linux user needs.
(Full disclosure: she's a friend and fellow LinuxChix member.)
The
Debian System: Concepts and Techniques by Martin Krafft.
I haven't read it yet, but it's said to be the ultimate Debian
guide, and people who have it and whose opinions I trust
use words like "awesome!' to describe it.
Mapping
Hacks, Schuyler Erle, Rich Gibson, Jo Walsh.
A beautiful book, full of useful information, but I still found
it somewhat disappointing becuase it didn't answer my perennial
question: "How do I use those files from the USGS and turn them
into maps I can actually see? How do I tell which formats are
usable and which aren't?" Okay, those are two questions, but
they're related. Still, this book is the best I've seen so far.
Geology
My first introduction to geology, which sparked a passion I'm still
pursuing. McPhee is an engaging writer and this book will get you
thinking regardless of whether you've studied geology before.
(If you haven't, though, be ready to intuit the meaning of some
geologic terms.) See also the next entry.
Assembling California is actually the final volume in
McPhee's decade-long exploration of the nation's geology.
This book collects all the volumes in the series previously
published as separate books -- Basin and
Range, In Suspect Terrain, Rising from the Plains, and Assembling
California -- and adds a fifth, Crossing the Craton.
This is an old book which collects three essays on the subject of
man's attempts to control natural forces. They're all
thought-provoking, but the third, Los Angeles Against the
Mountains, was a revelation to me: I grew up in Los Angeles'
San Gabriel Valley but never really understood the mechanics of
flooding and landslides there, nor the significance of
the debris basins.
Computers
The
Linux Cookbook, Carla Schroder.
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