News item – Solar eclipse of March 20

[Sheridan]

I wonder why John Mason does not point members to the Handbook where this event has been since October last year?

Is the Handbook still used/valued?

Sheridan Williams

[M C Butcher]

Sheridan, Let there be no doubt whatsoever that I find the Handbook ESSENTIAL. It is always by my side when I go outside to observe and is the framework on which I plan my observing for the forthcoming year. My first task on receiving the new edition each October is to extract the information that I expect to use and present it in a format that suits me. For me the Handbook is absolutely indispensible.

Martin Butcher

[James Lancashire]

I hadn’t seen JM’s piece but the top part looks like a header that may (or may not) have been inserted after your query. If the piece had omitted a reference to the BAAH then that’s certainly odd. I value the Handbook greatly though there are now many online resources as well. How much use I make depends on clear skies which vary enormously over a year and also on lunar phase.

[Sheridan]

I may be wrong but the latest Sky Notes by Brian Mills (Vol.125 No.3 P.184) reproduces data from the Handbook without any credit or mention whatsoever.

Surely the Handbook should be mentioned out of courtesy.

Sheridan Williams

[Author]

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