233 pgs, 1991, Krieger Publishing
ISBN 978-0894644788

Taff intended for this book on the applied mathematics of spherical astronomy to be an aid for those not trained in astrometry to rapidly master the computational aspects of positional astronomy, rather than a textbook on spherical astronomy. He discusses principles of photographic astrometry and essentials of celestial mechanics, but emphasizes calculations. Brief theoretical discussions are followed by thorough, rigorous methods of computation, with fully worked numerical examples for readers to test for mastery.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction
2. Celestial Coordinate System
3. General Precession and Proper Motion
4. Parallax
5. Computing the Topocentric Place
6. Time
7. Photographic Astrometry
8. Celestial Mechanics
9. Astronomical Catalogs