Parsons, Paul 1971-

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Parsons, Paul 1971-

PERSONAL:

Born 1971, in Weston-super-Mare, England. Education: University of Wales, College of Cardiff, B.Sc (first-class honors), 1992; Cambridge University, Certificate of Advanced Study in Mathematics, 1993; Sussex University, Ph.D., 1997. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, movies, cooking, running, swimming, music.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Burnham-on-Sea, England. Agent—c/o Author Mail, DK Publishing, 95 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10023.

CAREER:

Science writer and editor for books, magazines, and television series, 1988—.

MEMBER:

Association of British Science Writers.

WRITINGS:

(With Grant Privett) The Deep-Sky Observer's Year: A Guide to Observing Deep-Sky Objects throughout the Year, Springer-Verlag UK (London, England), 2000.

The Big Bang: The Birth of Our Universe (published to accompany British Broadcasting Company television series Space), DK Publishing (New York, NY), 2001.

Contributor, Guide to the Constellations, Pole Star Publications. Contributor to Secrets of the Universe series, 1998-2000, Guinness World Records 2000, and Astronomy Now 2003 Yearbook. Editor, Modern Astronomer magazine; Astronomy Now, deputy editor, 2000-01, editor, 2001-02; former science and technology features editor, Frontiers magazine. Contributor of articles to periodicals, including New Scientist, Focus, Astronomy, Sky & Telescope, Nature, Science, Guardian, and Daily Telegraph.

SIDELIGHTS:

"I think up ways to make difficult things sound easy. Then I write them down and sell them," noted Paul Parsons on his Web site. Trained in astrophysics and mathematics, Parsons has become a science journalist whose articles and books seek to make the universe understandable for sky-watchers of all ages. His books The Deep-Sky Observer's Year: A Guide to Observing Deep-Sky Objects throughout the Year and The Big Bang: The Birth of Our Universe use photographs, simple instructions, and graphics to explain complicated topics such as particle physics and how to locate distant objects through a telescope. In his Sky & Telescope review of The Deep-Sky Observer's Year, Ken Hewitt-White noted that the book "packs a lot of information," including an "insightful and well written introduction." Hewitt-White concluded: "The many pages devoted to deep-sky objects will appeal to beginners and veteran observers alike." School Library Journal correspondent Claudia Moore felt that The Big Bang offers "solid introductions to aspects of the solar system."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

School Library Journal, February, 2002, Claudia Moore, review of The Big Bang: The Birth of Our Universe, p. 156.

Sky & Telescope, November, 2001, Ken Hewitt-White, review of The Deep-Sky Observer's Year: A Guide to Observing Deep-Sky Objects throughout the Year, pp. 77-79.