Robert A. Garfinkle, FRAS is an internationally recognized independent scholar on the history of astronomy and is a highly regarded amateur astronomer. He has been a professional writer for about 40 years. In addition to his two published astronomy books, Garfinkle has published book reviews, articles, and short stories. He is the author of the international best-selling astronomy book Star-Hopping: Your Visa to Viewing the Universe (CUP, 1994, 1997), a co-author of Advanced Skywatching (The Nature Company; Time-Life Books, 1997), and a contributing author to the Biographical Encyclopedia of Astronomers (Springer, 2007). Star-Hopping was the Alternate Selection for November 1995 of the Astronomy Book Club. Advanced Skywatching has been republished under different titles as well as having been translated into German and Spanish language editions. Reviews of Advanced Skywatching havepraised the star-hopping section of the book, of which Garfinkle was the primary author.
His astronomical writings have also appeared in Astronomy, Sky & Telescope, Selenology, The Journal of the British Astronomical Association, The Journal of the Irish Astronomical Society, The Journal of the Antique Telescope Society, The Observers’ Guide, The Observatory, The Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, and Deep Sky Journal. He is the Book Review Editor for The Journal of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers. Garfinkle also serves as the Historian for the Lunar Section of the British Astronomical Association and the success of his astronomical writings led to Garfinkle being elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society of London in 1998 and in 2018 being honored by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) by naming Minor Planet 31862 Garfinkle for him.
Garfinkle is a life member of the California Writers Club (CWC). He is also the co-founder and first President of the new Fremont Area Writers (2008–2010), which is now the eighteenth branch of the CWC. In 2009, Garfinkle received the prestigious Jack London Award for outstanding service to his branch and CWC and in July 2010, he was elected President of CWC. He has also been awarded the Ina Coolbrith Award for service to CWC.