Amazon.com description: Product Description: The calculation of exact positions of stars, the Sun and the celestial bodies of the solar system is a prerequisite of successful practical work in astronomy. This text gives the necessary background of spherical astronomy and celestial mechanics from the practitioner's point of view, and collates all the formulae and numerical values needed to calculate precise ephemerides. The clear structure of the book allows easy use of the material in computer programs. Students, lecturers and amateurs in astronomy will find the book an invaluable reference in their daily work, lectures or lab courses.