Universe Books

Galactic Astronomy (Princeton Series in Astrophysics)

2010-06-05T08:52:00.000-07:00

Galactic Astronomy (Princeton Series in Astrophysics) (Paperback)
~ James Binney (Author), Michael Merrifield (Author)

This is the definitive treatment of the phenomenology of galaxies--a clear and comprehensive volume that takes full account of the extraordinary recent advances in the field. The book supersedes the classic text Galactic Astronomy that James Binney wrote with Dimitri Mihalas, and complements Galactic Dynamics by Binney and Scott Tremaine. It will be invaluable to researchers and is accessible to any student who has a background in undergraduate physics.

The book draws on observations both of our own galaxy, the Milky Way, and of external galaxies. The two sources are complementary, since the former tends to be highly detailed but difficult to interpret, while the latter is typically poorer in quality but conceptually simpler to understand. Binney and Merrifield introduce all astronomical concepts necessary to understand the properties of galaxies, including coordinate systems, magnitudes and colors, the phenomenology of stars, the theory of stellar and chemical evolution, and the measurement of astronomical distances. The book's core covers the phenomenology of external galaxies, star clusters in the Milky Way, the interstellar media of external galaxies, gas in the Milky Way, the structure and kinematics of the stellar components of the Milky Way, and the kinematics of external galaxies.

Throughout, the book emphasizes the observational basis for current understanding of galactic astronomy, with references to the original literature. Offering both new information and a comprehensive view of its subject, it will be an indispensable source for professionals, as well as for graduate students and advanced undergraduates.

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Horizons of Cosmology (Templeton Science and Religion Series)

2010-05-29T01:49:00.000-07:00

Horizons of Cosmology (Templeton Science and Religion Series) (Paperback)
~ Joseph Silk (Author)

“If you want to plunge into the complex and intriguing issues that engage modern cosmologists, rather than skim the surface of easy description, take this journey with Joseph Silk, who will lead you on a tour through dark matter, dark energy, black holes, galaxy formation, and the inflating and accelerating universe. Professor Silk, who knows these topics intimately from his long research career, does not hesitate to take his readers to the heart of the matter, allowing full comprehension to those who travel with him.” —Donald Goldsmith, coauthor of the script and companion volume for the PBS television programFour Hundred Years of the Telescope Horizons of Cosmology: Exploring Worlds Seen and Unseenis the fourth title published in the Templeton Science and Religion Series, in which scientists from a wide range of fields distill their experience and knowledge into brief tours of their respective specialties. In this volume, highly esteemed astrophysicist Joseph Silk explores the vast mysteries and speculations of the field of cosmology. Joseph Silkis a professor at Oxford University. He has written six popular books on cosmology, includingThe Big Bang,A Short History of the Universe, andThe Infinite Cosmos. His research specialties include dark matter, the formation of the galaxies and the big bang theory. He previously taught at the University of California at Berkeley. He has received numerous awards, including the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society, and honorary degrees from the University of Rome and the école Normale Supérieure de Lyon. He is an honorary member of the French Physical Society and is a fellow of the Royal Society, the Institute of Physics, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the American Physical Society.

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Other Worlds: The Solar System And Beyond

2010-05-24T01:04:00.000-07:00

Other Worlds: The Solar System And Beyond (Hardcover)
~ James Trefil (Author), David Levy (Foreword)

Recently there's been a run of coffee-table books combining elegant astronomical photographs with brief, friendly exegeses of the science behind them (e.g., Ken Croswell's Magnificent Universe, Forecasts, Sept. 6). But for adults and young people who enjoy brilliant, striking imagesAhere, of lunar craters, of Neptune's Great Dark Spot, of distant galaxies, of mysterious, color-coded gas cloudsAthe more space photos the better, and this collection furnishes plenty of splendid ones. Trefil (The Moment of Creation), a professor of physics at George Mason University, does a fine job of making available to readers what astronomers know about Saturn, supernovas and so on, while finding room for colorful tidbits: Uranus's slim rings, for example, "reflect light about as poorly as charcoal," and circle that giant planet in just eight hours. Astronomy students use a cute mnemonic ("O Be a Fine Guy, Kiss Me") for the seven-letter codes that denote a star's brightness, from O (quite hot) to M (cool, for a star). Each planet (Earth included) gets its own photos and its own prose; other topics include the sun, the moon, "The Birth of the Solar System," quasars, black holes and SETI (the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence). The photographs themselves, many of them color-enhanced, are stunning. Stars in the Sagittarius cluster gleam like gems from a decadent tiara; a planetary nebula called the Egg looks more like a purple-winged tropical bird, while the Antennae galaxies in collision lend themselves to a magnificent two-page spread of lavender and taupe, white, gold and amethyst. (Oct.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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In Search of Dark Matter (Springer Praxis Books / Space Exploration)

2010-05-22T01:13:00.000-07:00

In Search of Dark Matter (Springer Praxis Books / Space Exploration) [Paperback]
Ken Freeman (Author), Geoff McNamara (Author)

The dark matter problem is one of the most fundamental and profoundly difficult problems in the history of science. Not knowing what makes up most of the mass in the Universe goes to the heart of our understanding of the Universe and our place in it. In Search of Dark Matter is the story of the emergence of the dark matter problem, from the initial 'discovery' of dark matter by Jan Oort to contemporary explanations for the nature of dark matter and its role in the origin and evolution of the Universe.

Written for the intelligent non-scientist and scientist alike, it spans a variety of scientific disciplines, from observational astronomy to particle physics. Concepts that the reader will encounter along the way are at the cutting edge of scientific research. However the themes are explained in such a way that no prior understanding of science beyond a high school education is necessary.

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Space Odyssey: Voyaging Through the Cosmos

2010-05-18T10:43:00.000-07:00

Space Odyssey: Voyaging Through the Cosmos (Hardcover)
~ William Harwood (Author)

Space Odyssey has two foci: cosmology and the space program. It sums up current knowledge: what's out there, where it came from, and where it's going. It traces the origin and development of the universe as we know it today, and explores how the space program hopes to solve remaining mysteries of the cosmos, in the coming decade and throughout the next century.

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Clocks in the Sky: The Story of Pulsars (Springer Praxis Books / Popular Astronomy)

2010-05-15T19:36:00.000-07:00

Clocks in the Sky: The Story of Pulsars (Springer Praxis Books / Popular Astronomy) [Paperback]
Geoff McNamara (Author)

Pulsars are rapidly spinning neutron stars, the collapsed cores of once massive stars that ended their lives as supernova explosions. Pulsar rotation rates can reach incredible speeds, up to hundreds of times per second. The story of how an object ‘spins up’ to a significant fraction of the speed of light is fascinating and involves collapsing stellar cores following supernova explosions, while the faster ones result from stellar cannibalism.

In this book, Geoff McNamara explores the history, subsequent discovery and contemporary research into pulsar astronomy. The story of pulsars is brought right up to date with the announcement in 2006 of a new breed of pulsar, Rotating Radio Transients (RRATs), which emit short bursts of radio signals separated by long pauses. These may outnumber conventional radio pulsars by a ratio of four to one. Geoff McNamara ends by pointing out that, despite the enormous success of pulsar research in the second half of the twentieth century, the real discoveries are yet to be made including, perhaps, the detection of the hypothetical pulsar black hole binary system by the proposed Square Kilometre Array - the largest single radio telescope in the world.

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An Introduction to Mathematical Cosmology

2010-05-11T02:43:00.000-07:00

An Introduction to Mathematical Cosmology (Hardcover)
~ J. N. Islam (Author)

This book provides a concise introduction to the mathematical aspects of the origin, structure and evolution of the universe. The book begins with a brief overview of observational and theoretical cosmology, along with a short introduction of general relativity. It then goes on to discuss Friedmann models, the Hubble constant and deceleration parameter, singularities, the early universe, inflation, quantum cosmology and the distant future of the universe. This new edition contains a rigorous derivation of the Robertson-Walker metric. It also discusses the limits to the parameter space through various theoretical and observational constraints, and presents a new inflationary solution for a sixth degree potential. This book is suitable as a textbook for advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate students. It will also be of interest to cosmologists, astrophysicists, applied mathematicians and mathematical physicists.

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Redshift (Building Blocks of Modern Astronomy)

2010-05-09T00:34:00.001-07:00

Redshift (Building Blocks of Modern Astronomy) [Paperback]
Stuart Clark (Author)

The light emitted by celestial objects can have its wavelength "stretched" in different ways before it is observed by astronomers. These stretching phenomena are collectively called "redshift". They influence virtually all aspects of astronomy and even underpin the "Big Bang" theory of the creation of the universe. This book details the types of redshift and explains their myriad of uses. It begins by introducing the nature of light and the problems involved in measuring its properties. After explaining the redshift phenomena and their uses, the book touches on the age and size of the universe; two subjects embroiled in controversy because of our current interpretation of the redshift. Less conventional theories are then expressed. As a by-product of the explanation of redshift, the book offers the reader a basic understanding of Einstein's theory of relativity. Mathematical treatments of the concepts introduced in the text are boxed off and should not detract from the book's readibility, but allow it to be used as a textbook by students of astronomy at all levels. It is also suitable for astronomers and astrophysicists, amateur astronomers, and any science enthusiast.

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Other Worlds: Space, Superspace, and the Quantum Universe (Penguin science)

2010-05-06T09:04:00.000-07:00

Other Worlds: Space, Superspace, and the Quantum Universe (Penguin science) (Paperback)
~ Paul Davies (Author)

Paul Davies explains the significance of the amazing quantum universe, where fact is stranger than any science fiction. He takes us into a world where commonsense notions of space, time, and causality must be left behind as the realm of solid matter dissolves into vibrating patterns of ghostly energy, and where mind and matter are interwoven in a subtle and holistic manner. An Australian physicist and author of GOD AND THE NEW PHYSICS, Davies writes for the lay reader in simple language.

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QSO Hosts and their Environments

2010-05-03T05:36:00.000-07:00

QSO Hosts and their Environments (Hardcover)
~ Isabel Márquez (Editor), Josefa Masegosa (Editor), Ascensión del Olmo (Editor), Lucas Lara (Editor), Emilio García (Editor), Josefina Molina (Editor)

Proceedings of an International workshop on QSO Hosts and their Environments, held January 10-12, 2001, in Granada, Spain. Advanced technologies in astronomy at various wavelengths have provided us with high resolution and high quality data on the QSO population. This meeting was aimed at understanding the morphology and nature of the host galaxies and environments of QSOs. The invited lectures as well as the contributed and poster papers highlighted the main issues of current research: the stellar and gaseous content of the underlying galaxy; the characterization of the population of companions and the nature of their interaction with the host galaxy; the connection between radio-loud QSO and radio-galaxies, and QSOs and ULIRGs; the evolution with redshift of both the host galaxy and its environment, and the main implications in theories of galaxy formation and evolution. This volume provides a valuable overview and timely update of the exciting and rapidly developing field of QSO hosts and their environments - essential reading for graduate students and researchers.

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A Journey through Time: Exploring the Universe with the Hubble Space Telescope (Penguin Studio Books)

2010-04-24T04:47:00.000-07:00

A Journey through Time: Exploring the Universe with the Hubble Space Telescope (Penguin Studio Books) (Hardcover)
~ Jay Barbree (Author), Martin Caidin (Author), John H. Glenn (Foreword)

A glossy collection of 200 astounding pictures showcases Hubble's revelations since astronauts repaired the telescope in 1993. No longer are stars featureless points of light, galaxies fuzzy whirls, or nebulae murky clouds of color. Detail transforms the objects into convulsive, agitated tableaux of cosmic birth and death. In the immediate neighborhood, the telescope enables a steadier observation of the planets than can fly-by spacecraft (spectacularly so in the case of last year's Jupiter-comet collision), and the authors open with a gallery of the solar system. Their text strives to excite as much as the pictures do, and does that well enough for readers who have never heard how hot Venus is or must have the concept of the light-year explained. From such rudiments, the eye rushes to the images of startling discoveries: protoplanetary disks around new stars or the still-expanding fireball of a 10,000-year-old supernova. Expect certain interest in these awesome photos, and perhaps back it with The Hubble Wars by Eric Chaisson , the technical story of the telescope. Gilbert Taylor

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Universe: Stars & Galaxies w/Starry Night Enthusiast CD-ROM

2010-04-21T05:41:00.000-07:00

Universe: Stars & Galaxies w/Starry Night Enthusiast CD-ROM (Paperback)
~ Roger Freedman (Author), William J. Kaufmann (Author)

Universe: Stars and Galaxies, Third Edition is an abbreviated volume of the complete 28-chapter version of Universe. Universe: Stars and Galaxies, Third Edition includes Chapters 1-8 and 16-28; it omits the detailed chapters on the solar system but includes the overview of the solar system in Chapters 7 and 8.

Known edition after edition for its state-of-the-science coverage, Universe breaks new ground in its Eighth Edition with added pedagogical support and pioneering media and supplements. It places the basics of astronomy and the process of science within the grasp of introductory students.

Universe: Stars and Galaxies, Third Edition 0-7167-9561-2; w/FREE Starry Night CD, 0-7167-9565-5

About the Author
ROGER A. FREEDMAN, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA. WILLIAM J. KAUFMANN, late of San Diego State University, USA .

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A Day in Space

2010-04-19T01:52:00.000-07:00

A Day in Space (Paperback)
~ Suzanne Lord (Author), Jolie Epstein (Author)

The authors went to a NASA astronaut to find out what it takes to prepare for a mission, and what life on the space shuttle is like. They answer perennial questions about space (such as how do astronauts go to the bathroom? and where do they spit their toothpaste?) And they pin down exact details about the moment of actual take-off, the sensations of weightlessness ("Don't cry! Your tears will float around. And please try not to sneeze!"), and the scary first step of a space walk. Results of some experiments are discussed: oil and water do mix in space, it takes flies a couple of days to learn how to get around, and marbles "catch" each other and form little circles. The color photos are rather ordinary, more like family snapshots than professional takes. But the book's tone is intimate, and the reader becomes part of the crew, on a real day in space.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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The Never-Ending Days of Being Dead: Dispatches from the Front Line of Science

2010-04-14T21:22:00.000-07:00

The Never-Ending Days of Being Dead: Dispatches from the Front Line of Science (Hardcover)
~ Marcus Chown (Author)

Learn how the big bang may have been spawned by a collision between 'island universes'; how a single remarkable number contains the answer to every question we could ever ask; how the most widely accepted theory of the universe's origin suggests that Elvis never died; and how a computer program a mere four lines long could be generating the stars, the galaxies and the tip of your nose. Chown fearlessly addresses the big questions on the nature of the universe, the nature of reality, and the place of life in the universe. Ultimately, he says, science is about the down-to-earth things that matter to all of us. Where did the universe come from? Where did we come from? What the hell are we doing here?

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The Prophet and the Astronomer: Apocalyptic Science and the End of the World

2010-04-10T19:06:00.000-07:00

The Prophet and the Astronomer: Apocalyptic Science and the End of the World (Paperback)
~ Marcelo Gleiser (Author)

As in his popular The Dancing Universe, Gleiser (physics and astronomy, Dartmouth Coll.) argues that science and religion spring from a single challenge to the human spirit: anxiety over our mortality, which defines us and gives our life meaning. Thus, the different narratives used by science (the Big Crunch) and religion (the apocalypse) to reconcile our finite existence with an apparently infinite universe are not mutually exclusive; they share an awareness of our limited time on Earth, which motivates us to understand the universe and our place in it. While Gleiser offers an extensive discussion of modern scientific cosmology, his account is not overly technical and is easily accessible to the average reader. One measure of how much a reader has enjoyed a book is the number of margin notes and underlined passages that mark the text, and this reviewer's copy has been copiously highlighted in three different colors. Strongly recommended for both public and academic libraries. James Olson, Northeastern Illinois Univ. Lib., Chicago
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Earth Science: The Universe (Science Workshop Series)

2010-04-06T01:21:00.000-07:00

Earth Science: The Universe (Science Workshop Series) (Paperback)
~ Seymour Rosen (Author)

# Reading level: Ages 9-12
# Paperback: 186 pages
# Publisher: Globe Fearon; Revised workbook edition (January 2000)

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Cosmology: Historical, Literary, PhilosophicalE (Garland Reference Library of the Humanities)

2010-04-03T03:29:00.000-07:00

Cosmology: Historical, Literary, PhilosophicalE (Garland Reference Library of the Humanities) (Paperback)
~ Norriss S. Hetherington (Editor)

A most interesting collection of detailed but accessible contributions examining cosmology from multiple perspectives. The 31 chapters are organized in nine sections: cosmology and culture, the Greeks' geometrical cosmos, medieval cosmology and literature, the scientific revolution, galaxies from s

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The Rough Guide to the Universe 2 (Rough Guide Reference)

2010-03-29T05:51:00.000-07:00

The Rough Guide to the Universe 2 (Rough Guide Reference) (Paperback)
~ John Scalzi (Author)

Whether you’re a novice or a more experienced astronomer, The Rough Guide to The Universe is indispensable. The truth may or may not be out there, but space is the place to look, and the Rough Guide to the Universe takes it all in, from our own moon to the furthest frontiers of the known universe - and then speculates about what lies beyond. This fascinating guide is not meant to delve too deeply; instead it gives the reader the grounding needed to appreciate the night sky. Clue- up on the basics with concise information on every planet in the solar system, and practical advice on observing the planets and stars with binoculars, telescopes and the naked eye. You’ll find the latest theories about how the universe came to exist, incisive explanations of the formation of galaxies and weird concepts such a dark matter, wormholes and superstrings. The guide also provides travel-based information on planetariums, observatories and ''deep sky'' sites as well as listings of star clubs, space news sources and other Internet resources. With dozens of photographs and star charts of every constellation, The Rough Guide to the Universe is The Stargazer’s essential handbook

About the Author
John Scalzi is a science fiction novelist and non-fiction writer as well as the author of The Rough Guide to the Universe.

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The Exploding Suns: The Secrets of the Supernovas; Updated Edition

2010-03-23T17:22:00.001-07:00

The Exploding Suns: The Secrets of the Supernovas; Updated Edition (Paperback)
~ Isaac Asimov (Author), William A. Gutsch (Author)

YA In his 310th book, Asimov explains the secrets of the supernovas in his usual clear and concise manner. He gives the historical background of the different theories advanced by many astronomers and astrologers over the centuries. The "big bang" theory is discussed as the means of forming our universe. He goes into detail about the composition of the different types of novas, black holes, the makeup of the universe and much more. He relates past studies to those of the present and speculates on what science has yet to uncover in the years ahead. All unusual terms are defined carefully within the text. Asimov takes a complicated subject and puts it into an easily understood format for non-scientists. Pat Royal, Prince George's County Public Schoolu System, Md.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Cosmology and Controversy (Paperback)

2010-03-18T09:28:00.000-07:00

Cosmology and Controversy (Paperback)
~ Helge Kragh (Author)

An exhilarating read--and not just for cosmologists. For although Kragh has produced a thoroughly scholarly work, he is nevertheless an excellent writer and his book could easily be enjoyed by anyone who is fascinated by the evolution of big scientific ideas. And they don't come much bigger than the origin, evolution, and fate of the Universe.
(Marcus Chown New Scientist )

As one who has been intimately involved with the subject, I thoroughly appreciated reading this work.... There are still a few left who believe that science advances relentlessly in a straight line. The actual zigzag path is beautifully illuminated in this book.
(Hermann Bondi Nature )

This is very good scientific history and in some measure philosophy written by someone who has an understanding of the process of scientific work. The writing is clear and largely non-technical. . . . The general ideas that underpin the book hold for science broadly. Although the focus is cosmology, the book will appeal to anyone to anyone with an interest in how science actually works, whether it is through the history or the philosophy. -- Review

This is very good scientific history and in some measure philosophy written by someone who has an understanding of the process of scientific work. The writing is clear and largely non-technical. . . . The general ideas that underpin the book hold for science broadly. Although the focus is cosmology, the book will appeal to anyone to anyone with an interest in how science actually works, whether it is through the history or the philosophy.
(D.R. Matravers Contemporary Physics )

[A] masterful interpretation of modern cosmology's emergence.
(Karl Hufbauer Physics Today )

[An] excellent book . . . [a] thorough and detailed understanding. . . has enabled Kragh to write. . . enjoyable descriptions of complex issues. . . . It is difficult to imagine a more complete and scholarly account of this epoch of cosmological history.
(Bernard Lovell The Times Literary Supplement )

[An] excellent book.... It is difficult to imagine a more complete and scholarly account of this epoch of cosmological history.
(Bernard Lovell The Times Literary Supplement )

[An] insightful, thoroughly researched treatment of the intellectual development of modern cosmology.
(Woodruff T. Sullivan III Science )

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Origins: Speculations on the Cosmos, Earth and Mankind (Hardcover)

2010-03-16T00:24:00.000-07:00

Origins: Speculations on the Cosmos, Earth and Mankind (Hardcover)
~ Hubert Reeves (Author)

A series of interviews with three French-based scientists presents current theories on the origins of the world we see around us, of life itself, and of our own species. Journalist Dominique Simmonet encourages her three guests-- an astrophysicist (Reeves), an organic chemist (Joel De Rosnay), and an anthropologist (Yves Coppens)--to speculate on the Big Questions. Each gets roughly a third of the book. Reeves leads off by sketching the story of cosmology from the formation of the basic building blocks of matter in the era after the Big Bang to the coalescence of our sun and its family of planets. De Rosnay then examines the conditions believed to have existed on the primitive Earth and how they may have given rise to life-- curiously, this topic is the one most amenable to direct laboratory study, yet in some ways the one about which we are least certain of the details. Finally, Coppens recapitulates the now-familiar African origin of hominids, their gradual development into our human ancestors, their invention of technology, and their spread throughout the world. Simmonet has somewhat artificially broken up the discussion into three ``acts,'' of three ``scenes'' each, a rather facile attempt to create links between the insights of these very different sciences. But the scientists present their summaries clearly, and Simmonet has the knack of anticipating questions an intelligent layperson would like to ask. The (uncredited) translation from the French is idiomatic and smooth. A useful though not especially deep summary of the current state of knowledge in three key areas of science. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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Cosmic Collisions: The Hubble Atlas of Merging Galaxies (Hardcover)

2010-03-13T23:05:00.000-08:00

Cosmic Collisions: The Hubble Atlas of Merging Galaxies (Hardcover)
~ Lars Lindberg Christensen (Author), Davide Martin (Author), Raquel Yumi Shida (Author)

Like no other telescope ever invented, the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has given us magnificent high resolution views of the gigantic cosmic collisions between galaxies. Hubble's images are snapshots in time and catch the colliding galaxies in different stages of collision. Thanks to a new and amazing set of 60 Hubble images, for the first time these different stages can be put together to form a still-frame movielike montage showing the incredible processes taking place as galaxies collide and merge.

The significance of these cosmic encounters reaches far beyond aesthetics. Galaxy mergers may, in fact, be some of the most important processes that shape our universe. Colliding galaxies very likely, hold some of the most important clues to our cosmic past and to our destiny. It now seems clear that the Milky Way is continuously undergoing merging events, some small scale, others on a gigantic scale. And the importance of this process in the lives of galaxies is much greater than what was previously thought.

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Astronomy Today: Stars and Galaxies, Vol. II (4th Edition) (Paperback)

2010-03-05T04:04:00.000-08:00

Astronomy Today: Stars and Galaxies, Vol. II (4th Edition) (Paperback)
~ Eric Chaisson (Author), Steve McMillan (Author)

Chaisson/McMillan's writing style and pedagogically driven art program are recognized as being scientifically accurate yet accessible to non-science majors. The integrated media program contains the market's only E-book. It provides readers with innovative and interactive tools to learn and test their understanding of astronomy concepts. Topics covered include Astronomy and the Universe, Our Planetay System, Stars and Stellar Evolution, Galaxies and Cosmology, and more. For one or two-semester introductory astronomy course.

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Astronomical Masers (Astrophysics and Space Science Library)

2010-02-28T19:27:00.000-08:00

Astronomical Masers (Astrophysics and Space Science Library)
M Elitzur (Author)

One of the most spectacular discoveries of molecular astronomy has been the detection of maser emission. The same radiation that is generated in the laboratory only with elaborate, special equipment occurs naturally in interstellar space. This intense radiation probes the smallest structures that can be studied with radio telescopes. By a fortunate coincidence maser radiation is generated in both star forming regions and the envelopes of late-type stars. The early and late stages in the life of a star are considered to be the most interesting phases of stellar evolution. Maser emission has also been detected in external galaxies.
This book provides an extensive coverage of the interstellar maser phenomenon. A precondition for maser action is departure from thermal equilibrium. The book therefore starts with a detailed coverage of the basic background concepts required for an understanding of line formation and radiative transfer. It goes on to describe the theoretical and phenomenological aspects of interstellar masers, their formation sites and the inversion mechanisms.
The book will interest active researchers in astronomy and astrophysics as well as in other areas of physics. It is suitable as a textbook in a graduate course and will enable a graduate student to embark on research projects in this exciting area in particular, and molecular radio astronomy in general.

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The Search for Extraterrestrials: Intercepting Alien Signals (Springer Praxis Books / Popular Astronomy)

2010-02-24T04:33:00.000-08:00

The Search for Extraterrestrials: Intercepting Alien Signals (Springer Praxis Books / Popular Astronomy)
Monte Ross (Author)

In The Search for Extraterrestrials, Monte Ross explores in detail the key problems in starting a search, the programs that have failed and those that continue. He includes the fundamental considerations and the physics of the necessary laser, UV, IR and RF technologies, as well as coding and information theory considerations.

The author explores future possibilities providing the reader with a comprehensive view of the many ways signals from aliens could be sent and explains why the search using RF leaves more than 99% of the electromagnetic spectrum unexamined. He also demonstrates the many parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, considering the next likely steps in this unique enterprise. Given man’s intrinsic nature to explore, the search will continue in one form or many, until success is achieved, which may be tomorrow or a millennium away.

In summary, Monte Ross proposes to get around the failure of a fruitless search at radio frequencies by developing, in a precise way, the argument for searching for transmissions in the optical region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

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The Accidental Universe

2010-02-10T17:11:00.000-08:00

The Accidental Universe
P. C. W. Davies (Author)

In The Accidental Universe renowned expositor Paul Davies grapples with the most fundamental questions of all. What is our purpose and the purpose of the universe? Are both an accident of nature? Paul Davies guides us through the mysterious coincidences underlying the structure and properties of the universe we inhabit.

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Signs of Meaning in the Universe (Advances in Semiotics) (Hardcover)

2010-02-06T02:18:00.000-08:00

Signs of Meaning in the Universe (Advances in Semiotics) (Hardcover)
~ Jesper Hoffmeyer (Author)

Jesper Hoffmeyer is on to something significant. Whereas semiotics is often a dull analysis of formal symbols, Hoffmeyer's biosemiotics is a lively natural history of signs that interprets evolution as a continuous advance in semiotic freedom. All living things, according to Hoffmeyer, are constantly reacting to their environment by interpreting the signs in their own unwelt,, or interior representation of the surrounding world. Freedom and chaotic self-organization thus become the hallmarks of all life. Based on sound research and written in a delightfully accessible style, Signs of Meaning in the Universe should be interpreted as an advance in both philosophy and science.

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The Big Bang (Paperback)

2010-02-02T19:47:00.000-08:00

The Big Bang (Paperback)
~ David M. Harland (Editor)

David Harland describes the historical development of particle physics, and explains, in a non-mathematical way, how particle physics has influenced the structure of the Universe from the very beginning of time. He demonstrates the close links between discoveries in particle physics and in cosmology up to the present. He describes how our understanding of the Universe has developed from the discovery that the Universe is expanding, to the idea that all matter originated in a hot, Big Bang, then explains the many subtle improvements to the basic theory that have been necessary to understand how the very smallest particles and earliest structures (the 'microscale') in the Universe evolved to produce the Universe as it is now (the 'macroscale'). The author also describes how scientists are attempting to develop a 'Theory of Everything' that would explain how an instant after the Big Bang a single primordial force was transformed into the four forces of nature that we observe today, which hitherto were believed to be 'fundamental'.

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Majestic Universe: Views from Here to Infinity (Hardcover)

2010-01-23T21:37:00.000-08:00

Majestic Universe: Views from Here to Infinity (Hardcover)
~ Serge Brunier (Author), Storm Dunlop (Translator)

Only a book this big could convey the majesty of the ever-expanding universe and provide a glimpse into the ultimate limits of space. Originally published in French in 1997 and updated to include recent developments, this volume takes readers on a unique, scenic exploration of the universe. More than 200 incredible, full-color photographs gathered from the Hubble Space Telescope and the largest telescopes in the world capture the magic and wonder found in the vast expanse of the universe. In a beautiful, large format, containing many full-page color spreads, Majestic Universe allows readers to witness the birth of stars; scan the sky for extrasolar planets; venture near black holes; travel into the realm of galaxies and clusters of galaxies; gauge the vastness of space with Hipparcos; and finally wonder about the history and future of our mysterious universe. Clear, enthusiastic captions accompany each image, providing details on the great theories of the structure of the cosmos; descriptions of the latest advances in cosmology; and a trip into the past in search of the origins of the universe, of space, and of time. Majestice Universe is the ultimate "vehicle" for armchair space buffs to explore the final frontier. Serge Brunier is chief editor of the journal Ciel et Espace, a photo-journalist, and the author of many nonfiction books aimed at both specialists and the general public.

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Dynamical Systems and Cosmology (Kindle Edition)

2010-01-21T02:21:00.000-08:00

Dynamical Systems and Cosmology (Kindle Edition)
by A.A. Coley (Author)

Dynamical systems theory is especially well-suited for determining the possible asymptotic states (at both early and late times) of cosmological models, particularly when the governing equations are a finite system of autonomous ordinary differential equations. In this book we discuss cosmological models as dynamical systems, with particular emphasis on applications in the early Universe. We point out the important role of self-similar models. We review the asymptotic properties of spatially homogeneous perfect fluid models in general relativity. We then discuss results concerning scalar field models with an exponential potential (both with and without barotropic matter). Finally, we discuss the dynamical properties of cosmological models derived from the string effective action. This book is a valuable source for all graduate students and professional astronomers who are interested in modern developments in cosmology.

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Heaven and Earth in Early Han Thought: Chapters Three, Four and Five of the Huainanzi (S U N Y Series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture) (Paperback)

2010-01-18T01:00:00.000-08:00

Heaven and Earth in Early Han Thought: Chapters Three, Four and Five of the Huainanzi (S U N Y Series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture) (Paperback)
~ John S. Major (Author)

# Paperback: 388 pages
# Publisher: State University of New York Press (July 1993)
# Language: English

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The Structure and Evolution of Galaxies (Paperback)

2010-01-14T16:55:00.000-08:00

The Structure and Evolution of Galaxies (Paperback)
~ Steve Phillipps (Author)

The Structure and Evolution of Galaxies is a concise introduction to this fascinating subject providing the reader with the fundamentals in a clear and accessible style. This user-friendly text assumes some prerequisite knowledge of astronomy, with the necessary mathematics kept to a minimum. Beginning with an introduction to the existence of our own external galaxies, the book moves on to discuss how perceptions of galaxy development have changed over time. The three categories of galaxies are then discussed with later chapters considering their formation and evolution. The book concludes with an overview of both current developments in the field and considers the direction of future research.

* Clear and accessible introduction to this dynamic subject
* Introduces definitions of key terms and puts them in context
* Includes current research and future developments in the field
* Appendix of basic definitions to clarify key concepts
* An invaluable text for students of astronomy and physics

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The Universe Next Door: The Making of Tomorrow's Science (Hardcover)

2010-01-08T02:24:00.000-08:00

The Universe Next Door: The Making of Tomorrow's Science (Hardcover)
~ Marcus Chown (Author)

"An enjoyable book...lets readers spend time pondering ideas that go beyond intuitive reasoning.... Chown pursues those intriguing notions by interviewing a collection of renowned scientists from around the world--many of whom express very strange thoughts based on current knowledge."--Nick Nichols, Astronomy
"Chown devotes this exciting book to crazy ideas currently brewing in the minds of theoretical physicists. Could time run backward? Does quantum theory promise immortality? Might multiple realties be playing out all possible histories? Could these ideas and others that Chown profiles here be true? Evidence is often sketchy, but the concepts are infinitely intriguing."--Science News
"Marcus Chown is a scientific evangelist. The deeper I delved into The Universe Next Door the more I became suffused with a fervor for the subject.... Eminently readable and delightfully thought-provoking."--New Scientist
"Reminds me of Carl Sagan at his best."--Michael White, author of Leonardo: The First Scientist
"Beautifully explains all kinds of crazy ideas that just might be the next major step forward. Tonic for the imagination, highly recommended!"--Gregory Chaitin, IBM Research Division, author of Conversations with a Mathematician

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Concise Catalog of Deep-sky Objects: Astrophysical Information for 500 Galaxies, Clusters and Nebulae (Paperback)

2010-01-05T02:03:00.000-08:00

Concise Catalog of Deep-sky Objects: Astrophysical Information for 500 Galaxies, Clusters and Nebulae (Paperback)
~ W.H. Finlay (Author)

Here is a unique and fascinating reference book for those who want to go beyond the Messier objects! Entries for each of more than 500 deep-sky objects provide far more than the usual astronomical data - they also give fascinating facts about each object. These include physical factors, astrophysical information, evolution, unusual features - the list is almost endless.

The objects are all listed according to NGC number, i.e., in approximate order of location from west to east. This is convenient for observers because interesting objects that can be seen on a given night will usually occur within a few pages of each other in the book.

The Messier objects are of course included, but are also listed separately in Messier number order.

Astronomers can now get an insight into exactly what they are looking at, adding a new level of insight and enjoyment to deep-sky observing.

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Flash!: The Hunt for the Biggest Explosions in the Universe (Hardcover)

2010-01-02T04:58:00.000-08:00

Flash!: The Hunt for the Biggest Explosions in the Universe (Hardcover)
~ Govert Schilling (Author), Naomi Greenberg-Slovin (Translator)

"This English translation of Schilling's book is a very engaging account of one of the most active areas of modern astronomical research, gamma ray busters...It is rare to see such clear writing on a technical subject. Everyday examples are frequently used to illustrate the more difficult concepts. Those who want more detail will appreciate the glossary and references to the scientific literature. Almost without realizing it, readers will also get a good introduction to elemetary astronomy as a bonus. A must-read for anyone interested in GRBs!" Choice Choice

"'Flash!' describes the genesis of this new field of research in full color and introduces us to the many researchers who were involved in its early history." George Beekman, NRC Handelsblad Oct. 2001

"'Flash!' is without doubt Govert Schilling's most 'literary' book on astronomy." Zenit, July/August 2001

"This has drama, intrigue, suspense, and more often than not also a plot. 'Flash!' deals more with the sociological side of astronomy than with the actual gamma ray bursts, although readers who want to learn everything there is to know about them will certainly not be disappointed." Folia, Feb. 2001

"Schilling...skillfully leads the reader through the work of the scientists in the field, giving a behind-the-scenes view based on interviews with most of the protagonists, and a clear description of the basic concepts behind the theory, observations and instruments...an excellent account of research in the field...highly readable account of the story of GRBs...an enlightening and stimulating read for the layman." Nature

"'Flash!' gives us some beautiful insights into a scientific revolution that has practically gone unnoticed by the rest of the world. Everyone who reads Govert Schilling's impressive book on gamma-ray bursts will be won over by the universe." de Volkskrant, Oct 2001

"One of the book's greatest achievements is that science is not being described as a cold and clinical process, but as a human activity in which enthusiasm and a passion for solid thinking, intuition and wonderment are all part of a day's work," Intermediair, Dec. 2001

"A gem of science writing." Nederlands Dagblad, Dec. 2001

"A beautiful account that reads like a gripping detective story." Prof. Dr. Edward P.J. van den Heuvel, director, Astronomical Institute of the University of Amsterdam

"Govert Schilling has closely followed all the exciting developments in the study of gamma ray bursts, which are among the most extraordinary and mysterious phenomena in the universe. The story of their investigation -- the confusions, false trails, and controversies -- is an excellent 'case study' in how science actually proceeds." Sir Martin Rees, Royal Society Professor, Cambridge University

"...might be one of the most entertaining [popular books on gamma ray bursts]...the style is colorful...It is hard to get anything else done while Flash! lies around the house..." --AAVSO Bookstore

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Bright Galaxies Dark Matters (Masters of Modern Physics) (Hardcover)

2009-12-30T15:27:00.000-08:00

Bright Galaxies Dark Matters (Masters of Modern Physics) (Hardcover)
~ Vera C. Rubin (Author)

In 1965, Vera Rubin was the first woman permitted to observe at Palomar Observatory. In the intervening years, she has become one of the world's finest and most respected astronomers. This particular collection of essays is compiled from work written over the past 15 years and deals with a variety of subjects in astronomy and astrophysics, specifically galaxies and dark matter. The book also contains biographical sketches of astronomers who have been colleagues and friends, providing a stimulating view of a woman in science. About the Author Since 1965 Vera Rubin has been a staff member at the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism of the Carnegie Institution of Washington. Dr. Rubin has authored nearly 200 papers on the structure of our galaxy, motions within other galaxies, and large scale motions in the universe. She has been a distinguished visiting astronomer at the Cerro Tololo Inter American Observatory in Chile; a Chancellor's Distinguished Professor at the University of California, Berkeley; a President's Distinguished Visitor at Vassar College; and a Beatrice Tinsley visiting professor at the University of Texas, Austin.

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Cosmology: Historical, Literary, Philosophical, Religious, and Scientific Perspectives (Garland Reference Library of the Humanities) (Paperback)

2009-12-28T15:26:00.001-08:00

Cosmology: Historical, Literary, Philosophical, Religious, and Scientific Perspectives (Garland Reference Library of the Humanities) (Paperback)
~ Hetherington (Author)

Astronomy of the Milky Way [BOX SET] (Paperback)

2009-12-28T15:25:00.001-08:00

Astronomy of the Milky Way [BOX SET] (Paperback)
~ Mike Inglis (Author)

One of the wonders of the universe we live in is the Milky Way. It spans the entire sky and can be seen every night of the year from anywhere on Earth. This is the first book that deals specifically with what can be seen within the Milky Way from a practical observer's point of view. Astronomy of the Milky Way covers every constellation that the Milky Way passes through, and describes in detail the many objects that can be found therein, including stars, double and multiple stars, emission nebulae, planetary nebulae, dark nebulae and supernovae remnants, open and galactic clusters, and galaxies. It also describes the one thing that is often left out of observing guides - the amazing star clouds of the Milky Way itself. It is one of a two-volume set that deal with the entire Milky Way - this second volume looks at what can be seen predominantly from the Southern skies In addition to the descriptive text there are many star charts and maps, as well as the latest up-to-date images made by observatories around the world and in space, as well as images taken by amateur astronomers. Equipped with this book, an amateur astronomer can go out on any clear night of the year and observe the galaxy we live in - The Milky Way.

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Black Holes and the Universe (Paperback)

2009-12-28T15:24:00.001-08:00

Black Holes and the Universe (Paperback)
~ Igor Novikov (Author), Vitaly Kisin (Translator)

'... set at a somewhat simpler level, though similar in content, to Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time. Readers struggling with the latter tome would do well to start here.' Contemporary Physics

'A delightful popular book that deserves a wider audience.' New Scientist

'As clear an account as you will find of the nature of curved space, the origin of the Universe, and its ultimate fate. All in all a compact package from one of the leading Russian cosmologists.' The Good Book Guide

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The Unity of the Universe (Paperback)

2009-12-28T15:23:00.001-08:00

The Unity of the Universe (Paperback)
~ D. W. Sciama (Author)

Does the universe consist of independent objects, or is it a single unit? Are some of its features accidental, or can they all be explained in theoretical terms? This accessible book on cosmology addresses and answers profound questions about the universe. Compelling photos, along with figures and examples, illustrate the text. "An invigorating intellectual exercise." — Scientific American. 1959 edition.

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Cataclysmic Variable Stars (Cambridge Astrophysics) (Paperback)

2009-12-25T05:52:00.000-08:00

Cataclysmic Variable Stars (Cambridge Astrophysics) (Paperback)
~ Brian Warner (Author)

The study of cataclysmic variables - interacting binary stars containing a white dwarf accreting from an orbiting companion - is undergoing an exciting renaissance, as it embraces observations at all wavelengths. Cataclysmic variables allow, in particular, the direct and detailed study of equilibrium and non-equilibrium accretion discs; in turn these developments also help in our understanding of X-ray binaries, black holes and active galactic nuclei. This timely volume provides the first comprehensive survey of cataclysmic variable stars, integrating theory and observation into a single, synthesised text. An introductory chapter gives the historical background of studies of cataclysmic variables. The author then goes on to give an up-to-date review of both the observations (at all wavelengths, and over all time-scales), the theories, the models of the structures and accretion processes believed to be involved. A very detailed bibliography is also provided to guide the reader to pertinent primary literature.

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Starlight: An Introduction to Stellar Physics for Amateurs (Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series) (Paperback)

2009-12-23T18:14:00.000-08:00

Starlight: An Introduction to Stellar Physics for Amateurs (Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series) (Paperback)
~ Keith Robinson (Author)

This is a book about the physics of stars and starlight. The story of starlight is truly fascinating. Astronomers analyze and interpret the light from stars using photometry and spectroscopy, then inspirational detective work combines with the laws of physics to reveal the temperatures, masses, luminosities and outer structure of these far away points of light. The laws of physics themselves enable us to journey to the very center of a star and to understand its inner structure and source of energy!

Starlight provides an in-depth study of stellar astrophysics that requires only basic high school mathematics and physics, making it accessible to all amateur astronomers. Starlight teaches amateur astronomers about the physics of stars and starlight in a friendly, easy-to-read way. The reader will take away a profoundly deeper understanding of this truly fascinating subject – and find his practical observations more rewarding and fulfilling as a result.

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Discovery of Cosmic Fractals (Hardcover)

2009-12-22T19:14:00.000-08:00

Discovery of Cosmic Fractals (Hardcover)
~ Yurij Baryshev (Author), Pekka Teerikorpi (Author)

This is the first book to present the fascinating new results on the largest fractal structures in the universe. It guides the reader, in a simple way, to the frontiers of astronomy, explaining how fractals appear in cosmic physics, from our solar system to the megafractals in deep space. It also offers a personal view of the history of the idea of self-similarity and of cosmological principles, from Plato's ideal architecture of the heavens to Mandelbrot's fractals in the modern physical cosmos. In addition, this invaluable book presents the great fractal debate in astronomy (after Luciano Pietronero's first fractal analysis of the galaxy universe), which illustrates how new concepts and deeper observations reveal unexpected aspects of Nature.

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Poetry of the Universe: A Mathematical Exploration of the Cosmos (Paperback)

2009-12-20T01:59:00.000-08:00

Poetry of the Universe: A Mathematical Exploration of the Cosmos (Paperback)
~ Robert Osserman (Author)

With nary an equation to confuse, a Stanford math professor clearly distills for a general readership the seminal ideas behind the notion that space has curvature and is not flat as ordinary humans perceive it. Osserman has been working up to this book through his classes for humanities majors, and the result is as lucid, comprehensible, and engaging as will be found in this category of scientific writing. He begins with ancient measurements of the earth, in which Euclid's geometry figures critically, but reaches cruising speed in his presentations of the nineteenth-century German mathematicians Carl Friedrich Gauss and Georg Friedrich Riemann. They are the best-known inventors of non-Euclidean geometry, whose commonest concept is that not all angles of all triangles add up to 180; the sum depends on the curvature of the surface in question. The ramifications cascade from there, into the shape of the retroverse, as the author tags our celestial view back into time and on toward invented abstract multidimensional shapes dubbed manifolds. Libraries know the popularity of sagas on observational astronomy and particle physics, and this examination of the mathematical component, specifically the species of geometry, fits well within their compass. A warm invitation to the aesthetics of math on the largest scale. Gilbert Taylor --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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The Creation of the Universe (Dover Science Books) (Paperback)

2009-12-18T03:40:00.001-08:00

The Creation of the Universe (Dover Science Books) (Paperback)
~ George Gamow (Author)

This lively and authoritative survey by an internationally famous physicist offers captivating perspectives on the origins of the galaxies, stars, chemical elements, and planetary systems. Illustrated with diagrams and the author's own drawings, it explains complex concepts in a simple manner. "Fascinating." — San Francisco Chronicle. 40 figures. 1961 edition.

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Towards the Edge of the Universe: A Review of Modern Cosmology (Wiley-Praxis Series in Astronomy & Astrophysics) (Paperback)

2009-12-16T00:08:00.000-08:00

Towards the Edge of the Universe: A Review of Modern Cosmology (Wiley-Praxis Series in Astronomy & Astrophysics) (Paperback)
~ Stuart Clark (Author)

Cosmology is the science of the nature, origin, and history of the universe. This book offers an accessible introduction to cosmology. It provides an overview of modern cosmology and contains worked examples of calculations to help readers understand the information presented.

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Not by Design: The Origin of the Universe (Hardcover)

2009-12-14T00:49:00.000-08:00

Not by Design: The Origin of the Universe (Hardcover)
~ Victor J. Stenger (Author)

This book begins with a discussion of the meaning of order and examples of orderly patterns generated by chance. (Play enough poker hands, Stenger writes, and one day you will be dealt four aces.) Subsequent chapters introduce readers to the unique perspective of the universe provided by physics, with historical and philosophical material intertwined with a systematic but non-technical presentation of basic physics. This leads to a description of the basic structure of the universe and the way in which symmetries of space, time, and inner dimensions account for the "laws" obeyed by particles. The origin of the universe is then described as a chance event, with space, time, matter, and the laws of nature the result of a spontaneous process of symmetry-breaking. Focusing on the question of planned versus unplanned origin, Stenger shows that the issue is not philosophical but scientific and that order can and does happen every day - by chance.

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The Cosmic Verses: A Rhyming History of the Universe (Paperback)

2009-12-14T00:47:00.000-08:00

The Cosmic Verses: A Rhyming History of the Universe (Paperback)
~ James Muirden (Author), David Eccles (Illustrator)

This latest volume of didactic verse from the author of A Rhyming History of Britain brings Muirden's knack for the explanatory couplet to the history of astronomy. Using mainly iambic tetrameter—spiked with the occasional limerick and aided by Eccles's charming cartoons—Muirden traces the study of the cosmos from Cro-Magnon times to the present. Even when the science is knotty, readers will marvel at Muirden's ability to rhyme almost anything—including Einstein's general theory of relativity ("But nobody was then prepared/For e to = mc²). Muirden places the science within its historical context; plenty of rhymes address the formidable role the Church played in furthering (or thwarting) the pursuit of scientific knowledge, and if lay readers close this book with a still-incomplete grasp of astronomy, it's likely they'll come away with a better understanding of, say, the Danish court of Tycho Brahe's time or of the intellectual climate in Baghdad in A.D. 762. For uninitiated readers seeking an introduction to astrophysics, there are more comprehensive (nonrhyming) books available. Those with a background in astronomy, however—or those who just wish to appreciate Muirden at the top of his game—will find this delightful. (Jan)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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The Observation and Analysis of Stellar Photospheres (Paperback)

2009-12-14T00:46:00.002-08:00

The Observation and Analysis of Stellar Photospheres (Paperback)
~ David F. Gray (Author)

The Edge of Infinity: Supermassive Black Holes in the Universe (Hardcover)

2009-12-14T00:46:00.001-08:00

The Edge of Infinity: Supermassive Black Holes in the Universe (Hardcover)
~ Fulvio Melia (Author)

This timely book is suitable for the general reader wishing to find answers to some of the intriguing questions now being asked about black holes. Although once recognized as the most destructive force in nature, following a cascade of astonishing discoveries, the opinion of supermassive black holes has undergone a dramatic shift. Astronomers are discovering that these objects may have been critical to the formation of structure in the early universe, spawning bursts of star formation, planets, and even life itself. Fulvio Melia is Associate Head of Physics and Professor of Astronomy at the University of Arizona. He is author of Electrodynamics (University of Chicago, 2001), and a forthcoming title, The Black Hole at the Center of Our Galaxy (Princeton).

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Star-Hopping: Your Visa to Viewing the Universe (Paperback)

2009-12-14T00:45:00.001-08:00

Star-Hopping: Your Visa to Viewing the Universe (Paperback)
~ Robert A. Garfinkle (Author)

Star-hopping--using easily seen bright stars to locate fainter celestial objects in the night sky--is a basic and essential technique for all star gazers, novice and veteran alike. Robert Garfinkle shows you how to locate the many stellar objects usually overlooked by the untrained eye. Two or more detailed star hops for each month of the year, which can be read in any order, take you on a trip through the night sky, opening new doors of discovery and reinforcing star-hopping methods and techniques. With Garfinkle's able guidance, learn to take the Messier Marathon--a night-long hop across the skies. Additional basic astronomy skills are carefully outlined, including reading star charts, finding celestial directions, understanding telescope types, and using light pollution filters. A lively history of the universe and the ancient myths and legends of the sky round out the text. This is an essential guide for sky gazers who want to get the most out of their evening sky explorations.

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Out of This World: Colliding Universes, Branes, Strings, and Other Wild Ideas of Modern Physics (Hardcover)

2009-12-14T00:44:00.001-08:00

Out of This World: Colliding Universes, Branes, Strings, and Other Wild Ideas of Modern Physics (Hardcover)
~ Stephen Webb (Author)

The first law of popular science is that a sense of the discipline can be conveyed without mathematical formalities. A dangerous assumption in any field, it’s especially problematic when applied to the arcana explored in this cursory digest of cutting-edge physics. Webb, author of the well-received Where Is Everybody? Fifty Solutions to the Fermi Paradox and the Problem of Extraterrestrial Life, tackles the most intractable problems of general relativity, quantum mechanics, particle physics, cosmology, string theory, superstring theory, and the shadowy "M-theory" that may lurk behind the others. It’s an ambitious project, which Webb tries to hold together with the unifying theme of symmetry, a concept he feels infuses the truths of science with a "beauty" comparable to the greatest works of art. Unfortunately, we’re not talking Grecian urns here; the symmetries of avant-garde physics are the kind you find in ten- or eleven-dimensional space-time-that is, baffling abstractions that Webb admits are "difficult to describe, and probably impossible to visualize." Physicists themselves can grasp such rarefied ideas only as the outcome of fiendishly difficult mathematics, and Webb can do little more than skate over them in a mixture of opaque jargon and inexact analogy that lay readers will still find incomprehensible after a few chapters. Occasionally an arresting result surfaces, like the notion that the universe might be a hologram, or that there might be a microscopic twin universe that shrinks as ours expands, or possibly a full-sized twin universe offset from ours by a fraction of an inch. But readers who lack the Ph.D-level training needed to make sense of these speculations may find that Webb’s book alternately numbs and boggles the mind without really enlightening it. 143 illustrations.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Turn Right at Orion: Travels Through the Cosmos (Paperback)

2009-12-14T00:43:00.001-08:00

Turn Right at Orion: Travels Through the Cosmos (Paperback)
~ Mitchell Begelman (Author)

The original Rocinante bore Don Quixote in his errant adventures across medieval Spain; its namesake carried John Steinbeck and his poodle across America. Rocinante's latest incarnation is a wondrous spacecraft that, in the understated words of its pilot, "is perhaps not quite so sturdy as I should have liked"--but that nevertheless has transported him across space to the center of the Milky Way.

Structured as something of a picaresque novel, Turn Right at Orion is a textbook in disguise. In its pages, the noted astrophysicist Mitchell Begelman guides readers across 60 million years of time and immense galactic distances, discussing the formation of the Milky Way as a great sooty disk full of graphite, hydrocarbons, and silicon-based minerals, "pollution from supernova explosions, lesser stellar explosions called novae, and the evaporating outer envelopes of giant stars." Along the way, Begelman's narrator offers lessons in the workings of gravity, motion, and time, explaining, for instance, why it is that the Earth does not cave in on itself (it resists gravitational collapse, he notes, because it is made of highly resilient materials), why light bends, and why planets and black holes form. The result is a charming, fluent introduction to basic space science, just right for the novice. --Gregory McNamee --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Perfect Symmetry: The Search for the Beginning of Time (Paperback)

2009-12-14T00:42:00.001-08:00

Perfect Symmetry: The Search for the Beginning of Time (Paperback)
~ Heinz R. Pagels (Author)

Popular science at its best, this acclaimed classic work describes in stunning detail how cutting-edge discoveries in quantum physics and cosmology are helping to explain the origin and evolution of the universe, of space and time. Perfect Symmetry is an optimistic report about the ongoing synthesis of these two disciplines into a concerted effort to uncover the fundamental laws that not only describe how the stuff that makes up the universe -- matter and energy -- came into existence but also govern the behavior of the smallest and largest things, from subatomic particles to stars, galaxies, and the universe itself. Written by that rarest of scientists -- one who is esteemed by his peers yet capable of making the most complex ideas comprehensible to laymen -- Perfect Symmetry is an enthralling intellectual adventure, science that reads like art.

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Lonely Hearts of the Cosmos: The Story of the Scientific Quest for the Secret of the Universe (Paperback)

2009-12-14T00:41:00.000-08:00

Lonely Hearts of the Cosmos: The Story of the Scientific Quest for the Secret of the Universe (Paperback)
~ Dennis Overbye (Author)

Modern cosmology--the science of superstrings, wormholes, and Grand Unifications Theories--has been popularized in such recent books as Stephen Hawking's semitechnical A Brief History of Time ( LJ 4/15/88) and David Darling's fanciful Deep Time ( LJ 5/15/89). Overbye, the editor of Discover magazine, focuses on the people who contributed to contemporary theories of the universe. Through interviews and personal anecdotes, Overbye presents an insider's view of the lives, works, and personalities of such legendary figures as Hawking; John Wheeler, the "father of the black hole"; and Alan Guth, architect of the "inflationary universe" concept. This approach depicts science as a human process and, in a sense, brings cosmology with all of its rarefied concepts "down to earth." For more formal biographical and technical information on the work of a greater number of leading cosmologists, see Alan Lightman and Roberta Brawer's Origins: The Lives and Worlds of Modern Cosmologists ( LJ 6/1/90).
- Gregg Sapp, Mon tana State Univ. Lib., Bozeman
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Relativity: Einstein's Theory of Spacetime, Time Dilation, Gravity and Cosmology (Kindle Edition)

2009-12-14T00:40:00.001-08:00

Relativity: Einstein's Theory of Spacetime, Time Dilation, Gravity and Cosmology (Kindle Edition)
by Albert Einstein (Author)

The theory of relativity, explained by the greatest mind of the 20th century. Albert Einstein discusses the special and general theory of relativity, and the core concepts of modern cosmology, including time dilation, the spacetime continuum, and the energy-mass relationship, in simple non-mathematical terms.- With ten pages of photos.

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Galaxies and How to Observe Them (Astronomers' Observing Guides) (Paperback)

2009-12-14T00:38:00.000-08:00

Galaxies and How to Observe Them (Astronomers' Observing Guides) (Paperback)
~ Wolfgang Steinicke (Author), Richard Jakiel (Author)

"The Springer series Astronomers’ Observing Guides is a bit of a mixed-bag, with some books much better than others; this is certainly one of the better ones. … The book is well illustrated with images of galaxies, many in colour … . Numerous references are given; in fact there are more references in this book than in many academic ones. In summary, this is an excellent book which I have no hesitation in recommending. Even experienced observers will find much useful information in its pages." (Stewart L. Moore, The Observatory, Vol. 127 (1200), October, 2007)

"This guide for amateur astronomers is one in a series of ‘Astronomers’ Observing Guides.’ … The text contains a wealth of detailed information valuable to the serious amateur … . The appendix gives useful lists of books, magazines, sky mapping software, Internet databases and links, as well as footnoted references. Many of the beautiful color photographs used throughout were taken with some of the world’s best telescopes … . Summing Up: Recommended. General readers." (M. Dickinson, CHOICE, Vol. 44 (11), July, 2007)

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The Realm of the Nebulae (Silliman Memorial Lectures) (Paperback)

2009-12-14T00:37:00.001-08:00

The Realm of the Nebulae (Silliman Memorial Lectures) (Paperback)
~ Edwin Hubble (Author)

No modern astronomer made a more profound contribution to our understanding of the cosmos than did Edwin Hubble, who first conclusively demonstrated that the universe is expanding. Basing his theory on the observation of the change in distanct galaxies, called red shift, Hubble showed that this is a Doppler effect, or alteration in the wavelength of light, resulting from the rapid motion of celestial objects away from Earth. In 1935, Hubble described his principal observations and conclusions in the Silliman lectures at Yale University. These lectures were published the following year as "The Realm of the Nebulae," which quickly became a classic work.

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Once Upon a Universe: Not-so-Grimm tales of Cosmology (Hardcover)

2009-12-11T02:26:00.000-08:00

Once Upon a Universe: Not-so-Grimm tales of Cosmology (Hardcover)
~ Robert Gilmore (Author)

"Once upon a time there was no Universe," began the Storyteller. . . ."

First Snow White encounters one of the Little People, then one of the Even Smaller People, and finally one of the Truly Infinitesimal People. And no matter how diligently she searches, the only dwarves she can find are collapsed stars! Clearly, she's not at home in her well-known Brothers Grimm fairy tale, but instead in a strange new landscape that features quantum behavior, the wavelike properties of particles, and the Uncertainty Principle. She (and we) must have entered, in short, one of the worlds created by Robert Gilmore, the physicist and fabulist who brought us the classic "Alice in Quantumland."

Whether he's recasting such classic tales as "Jack and the Quarkstalk," "Waking Beauty," or "Cinderenda and the Death of Stars," Gilmore shows us that there's more than one way to shed light on the strange profundities of modern physics and cosmology, and what they have to tell us about the nature of time and space and motion. Black holes, dying stars, traveling backward through time to the Big Bang-they're all here in accessible, instructive, and charmingly illustrated retellings.

Robert Gilmore has published three previous books with Copernicus, "Alice in Quantumland," "Scrooge's Cryptic Carol," and "The Wizard of Quarks." He is a Visiting Research Fellow, with a special focus on the public understanding of science, at Bristol University in England. He has also worked in particle physics at Brookhaven, Stanford, and CERN in Geneva

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Einstein's Greatest Blunder?: The Cosmological Constant and Other Fudge Factors in the Physics of the Universe (Questions of Science) (Paperback)

2009-12-08T15:12:00.000-08:00

Einstein's Greatest Blunder?: The Cosmological Constant and Other Fudge Factors in the Physics of the Universe (Questions of Science) (Paperback)
~ Donald Goldsmith (Author)

It is not until you are well into the middle of the book, enthralled by galaxies and looking forward to the mystery of the missing mass, that you realize that you have been absorbed and that everybody else has gone to bed. Here is a first-class work, one of the best accounts of the successes of intellectual curiosity and observation about the universe and of how much more there is to find out. Exciting stuff.
--Roy Herbert (New Scientist )

Donald Goldsmith is one of the world's great astronomy writers, and he shows why in his new book...The cosmological constant skewed Einstein's equations and prevented him from foreseeing one of the grandest discoveries ever: The cosmos is expanding. Goldsmith discusses this and many other cosmological topics in his typically wry style.
--Keay Davidson (San Francisco Examiner )

[Goldsmith's] first eight chapters, which are enough to make the book worthwhile, trace the development of astronomy from Copernicus to its modern form. The lucid text holds the readers' hand through four centuries of astronomy...Then Goldsmith delves into current conundrums in cosmology...Fascinating...Because of its lively account of the history and physics of astronomy, the book will stand as an engaging account of what astronomers do and how the universe works--as far as we know.
--Katherine M. Reynolds (Boston Book Review )

A witty and succinct work on the problems of modern cosmology...In a rapidly changing field, this book captures the excitement and uncertainty of the science. (Choice )

For those seeking to know more about what scientists today think about the universe and why they think it, this well-illustrated book is an excellent place to start.
--Robert W. Smith (Air & Space )

Goldsmith...tells us about the problems that cosmology is having thanks to the numerous discoveries made by the latest astronomical satellites...These contradictions usually find a fast reflection in the press and other broadcasting media, yet they are rarely treated in a coherent, precise way. Goldsmith not only makes us realise what appears to be not quite all right, but also he explains why and what could be, in some cases, the solution to the problem. Being an expert science writer, the author makes a wonderful job, while showing us everything we need to know about the question with great clarity. (The Space Book Board (Barcelona-based web site) )

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Understanding Cosmology (Science Made Accessible) (Paperback)

2009-12-06T05:34:00.000-08:00

Understanding Cosmology (Science Made Accessible) (Paperback)
~ Scientific American (Author)

UNDERSTANDING COSMOLOGY is one of the first four titles that launch an exciting new Pocket Science series, from the editors of America's leading popular science magazine, Scientific American.

Comprised of critically acclaimed essays by the world's leading experts on each topic in the series, these collections will become definitive texts on crucial issues of our technological times. The authoritative and prestigious reputation of Scientific American puts these books at the top of any science fan's list.

Scientific American is well known for its coverage of cosmological exploration, evident in the wealth of articles that have appeared on the subject by the biggest names in the field. In this collection of essays, issues explored include: "How Cosmology Became a Science," "Quantum Cosmology and the Creation of the Universe," and the details of universal truths of the cosmos and its evolution.

This Scientific American Pocket Science series examines these questions and discusses the technological and scientific repercussions that spring from the study of cosmology. The book-like the entire series-is targeted to intelligent readers who want to expand their understanding of complex scientific subjects and contains essays from top scientists working in the field, including physicist Stephen G. Brush and the illustrious P. James E. Peebles of Princeton University. Like the magazine, the book encompasses a spectrum of innovation through expert-authored articles that demonstrate the convergence of science, technology, and the world economy, challenging readers with fresh, new ideas and empowering them to make smart, strategic decisions.

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Firefly Atlas of the Universe (Hardcover)

2009-12-03T06:08:00.000-08:00

Firefly Atlas of the Universe (Hardcover)
~ Patrick Moore (Author), Sir Arnold Wolfendale FRS (Foreword)

Updating Moore's Atlas of the Universe, first published in 1970 and last revised in 1994, this edition utilizes color maps, charts, drawings, and photos to communicate information about the universe obtained on recent space probes. The book is organized into a series of two-page spreads tracing the history of astronomy, space exploration, and telescopes; exploring the solar system in detail; investigating outer-space objects (e.g., meteors, asteroids, and comets); and discussing the sun and other stars. A final section, entitled "The Practical Astronomer," advises amateur astronomers on how to select a telescope and set it up in a home environment.

Each of the two-page overviews packs a great deal of textual and graphic information into its compact format. The narratives are clearly written; however, they discuss complex scientific theories and technological concepts, and they sometimes contain mathematical calculations that require prior familiarity with the subject in order to be understood (e.g., the chapters dealing with star maps and solar system planets). Readers with little scientific background should refer to the nine-page glossary at the end of the book to understand some of the subjects discussed in the main body of atlas.

Almost every two-page spread appears to be revised somewhat from the last edition. The text has been updated and rewritten, and many of the photos were taken within the past five years using advanced telescopic and photographic technology.

The Firefly Atlas of the Universe provides current, accurate, and detailed information on the universe. It is more comprehensive and current than the National Geographic Picture Atlas of Our Universe (rev. ed., 1994), and it is especially helpful when used with Moore's excellent award-winning Astronomy Encyclopedia (Oxford, 2002), which defines and explains many of the concepts of astrophysics integrated into the atlas. Highly recommended for most public and academic libraries, whether or not these libraries have an earlier edition in their collection. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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SETI 2020: A Roadmap for the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (Paperback)

2009-12-01T14:38:00.001-08:00

SETI 2020: A Roadmap for the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (Paperback)
~ R. D. Ekers (Author, Editor), D. Kent Cullers (Author), John Billingham (Author)

If you are interested in how researchers plan to search the heavens for signs of intelligent life, you should have this book. SETI 2020 is a new, and remarkably comprehensive study of how scientists busy with the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) should direct their efforts between now and the year 2020. Distilling the work of dozens of top SETI experts, astronomers, and technology mavens, this book gives an overview of the problem of finding evidence for extraterrestrial technologies, and how to best address it. New radio telescopes consisting of large arrays of relatively small antennas are proposed and detailed. So are new types of antennas that can survey the entire sky at once. Of particular interest is the extensive treatment of optical SETI - the search for signals beamed our way using high-powered, pulsed lasers or their equivalent. A book that's interesting for both the layman and the technically sophisticated, SETI 2020 is the definitive publication in this fascinating field.

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Chasing Hubble's Shadows: The Search for Galaxies at the Edge of Time (Paperback)

2009-11-29T14:55:00.000-08:00

Chasing Hubble's Shadows: The Search for Galaxies at the Edge of Time (Paperback)
~ Jeff Kanipe (Author)

Current research on the earliest galaxies engages the interest of astronomy journalist Kanipe. Reporting that the science has been revolutionized by the image of the Hubble deep field, the first baby portrait ever made of the universe by the Hubble Space Telescope, Kanipe explains how astrophysicists are interpreting the ruddy "blobjects" appearing in the picture. Their distance is a crucial question, and the basis for the answer (an astounding 12 to 13 billion light years) emerges in the author's explanation of cosmological measuring sticks such as supernovae. Of most interest to scientists, however, is the evolutionary connection between the protogalaxies and the beginning of the universe. Piecing together the first billion years of the cosmos is Kanipe's main focus. He starts with demarcations of the epoch, including a dark era in which thick gas blocked light; a "reionization" era coinciding with the formation of the first stars; and then their conglomeration into galaxies. Due to Kanipe's clarity on technical points, general readers will be as excited by the discovery as cosmologists. Gilbert Taylor
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Origins of Life in the Universe (Paperback)

2009-11-28T00:47:00.000-08:00

Origins of Life in the Universe (Paperback)
~ Robert Jastrow (Author), Michael Rampino (Author)

This concise and beautifully illustrated book traces the evolution of the Cosmos from the Big Bang to the development of intelligent life on Earth, conveying clear science in an engaging narrative. By mapping the history of the Universe for introductory science and astrobiology course for non-science majors, this book explores many of the most fascinating questions in science. What is the origin of the Universe? How do stars and planets form? How does life begin? How did intelligence arise? Are we alone in the Cosmos? Physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy and geology are combined to create a chronicle of events in which the swirling vapors in the primordial cloud of the Universe evolved over billions of years into conscious life. Features: •The most fascinating questions on the history of the Universe are answered in this text for one-semester introductory science courses.
•The strong narrative and exciting color images of this incredible story will motivate non-science students to develop an understanding of science and life on Earth
•Explains science in a way that isn't overwhelming for non-science majors.
•Questions for the student prompt critical thinking.
•Combines astronomy, geology and biology to give a broad introduction to these sciences for non-science students.
•Coverage of the latest discoveries in astrobiology conveys the excitement of this fast-moving field.

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The Sky Is Not a Ceiling: An Astronomer's Faith (Paperback)

2009-11-20T01:19:00.000-08:00

The Sky Is Not a Ceiling: An Astronomer's Faith (Paperback)
~ Aileen O'Donoghue (Author)

# Paperback: 174 pages
# Publisher: Orbis Books (December 14, 2007)
# Language: English

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The Alchemy of the Heavens: Searching for Meaning in the Milky Way (Paperback)

2009-11-17T00:51:00.001-08:00

The Alchemy of the Heavens: Searching for Meaning in the Milky Way (Paperback)
~ Ken Croswell (Author)

Croswell, a writer for popular science magazines, offers an excellent overview of current thinking on the structure and evolution of our home galaxy. Beginning with a quick tour of the Milky Way, its ten satellite bodies, and the "Local Group," the author places the sun and other familiar stars within the galaxy's distinct segments. He recounts the early, stumbling progress of astronomers toward an understanding of the Milky Way and other massive, isolated collections of stars, which came to be revealed as such only through the flurry of discoveries and technical advancements made in this century. While some material is more accessible to specialists, Croswell does an admirable job of linking a knowledge of the Milky Way's components, dynamics, and evolution to even greater cosmological questions: the age, mass, and ultimate fate of the universe. For public and academic libraries.?Patrick Dunn, East Tennessee State Univ. Lib., Johnson City
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Modern Cosmology & Philosophy (Paperback)

2009-11-14T15:38:00.000-08:00

Modern Cosmology & Philosophy (Paperback)
~ John Leslie (Editor)

Did the universe originate from a 'big bang' as argued by leading astrophysicists and others? Or does some other theory more accurately describe its beginnings? Are there other forms of life in our universe? What about other universes? Was our universe specially formed to support life? Does our universe have a purpose?What are the conditions under which life begins, evolves, and how does it become extinct? These questions propel "Modern Cosmology & Philosophy" as the leading text in this hotly debated area where science and philosophy meet. Edited with an introduction by noted scholar John Leslie, this volume offers superb selections on modern cosmology, relativistic theories of the universe, the Big Bang, the problem of God and creation, cosmology and verifiability, coincidences, origins and evolution, multiple universe theories, infinity, chaos, life forms, the end of time, and the limits of our knowledge.

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Older Than the Stars (Hardcover)

2009-11-10T12:30:00.000-08:00

Older Than the Stars (Hardcover)
~ Karen C. Fox (Author), Nancy Davis (Illustrator)

# Reading level: Ages 4-8
# Hardcover: 32 pages
# Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing; New edition (February 2010)
# Language: English

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The Origin Of The Universe: Science Masters Series (Paperback)

2009-11-06T13:56:00.000-08:00

The Origin Of The Universe: Science Masters Series (Paperback)
~ John D Barrow (Author)

There is no more profound, enduring, or fascinating question in all of science than that of how time, space, and matter began. Now John Barrow, who has been at the cutting edge of research in this area and has written extensively about it, guides readers on a journey to the beginning of time, into a world of temperatures and densities so high that we cannot re-create them in the laboratory. With new insights, he draws us into the latest speculative theories about the nature of time and the inflationary universe, explains wormholes, showing how they bear upon the fact of our own existence, and considers whether there was a singularity at the inception of the universe. Here is a treatment so up-to-date and intellectually rich, dealing with ideas and speculation at the farthest frontier of science, that neither novice nor expert will want to miss what Barrow has to say. He shows how scientists, by exploring crucial points of contact between the behavior of matter during its early history and the observed structure of the universe today, came to understand more fully all the entities in the universefrom elementary particles to great clusters of galaxies.

About the Author
John Barrow is a professor of astronomy at the University of Sussex, England. He is a co-author of The Anthropic Cosmological Principle, among other books.

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A Different Approach to Cosmology: From a Static Universe through the Big Bang towards Reality (Paperback)

2009-11-04T07:17:00.000-08:00

A Different Approach to Cosmology: From a Static Universe through the Big Bang towards Reality (Paperback)
~ F. Hoyle (Author), G. Burbidge (Author), J. V. Narlikar (Author)

"Professor Sir Fred Hoyle, Britain's greatest living astrophysicist...launches his most comprehensive attack against the Big Bang theory, in a book with the archly subversive title A Different Approach to Cosmology...when Hoyle makes a cosmic pronouncement, it is invariably worth hearing...Together with two other respected astrophysicists, Hoyle systematically reviews the evidence for the Big Bang theory, and gives it a good kicking...it's hard not to be impressed with the audacity of the demolition job...I can only hope that I possess one-thousandth of Hoyles' fighting spirit when I, like him, have reached my 85th year." The Sunday Telegraph

"The writing style is lively and personal, and the scientific arguments are written in such a way as to be accessible to upper-division undergraduate students in physics and astrophysics. The book is very well referenced and illustrated with suitable and approproate illustrations. Recommended for upper-division undergraduates, graduate students, and two-year technical program students." Choice

"This is a fascinating book, expressing the views of three scientists who choose to go against the conventional cosmological wisdom. It is extremely important for such skepticism to exist and for such books to be written." Physics Today

"The book is a serious and professional contribution to scientific cosmology." Sky & Telescope

"Throughout the last few decades, Fred Hoyle, Geoffrey Burbidge, and Jayant Narlikar have done the cosmology community a great service by developing and defending a serious alternative to Big Bang models of cosmic origins. A Different Approach to Cosmology is a summary of their work...by elucidating one of the hot Big Bang's competitors, the authors provide a good educational exercise for any graduate student interested in fundamental cosmology." Science

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The Sky at Einstein's Feet (Springer Praxis Books / Popular Astronomy) (Paperback)

2009-10-31T19:31:00.000-07:00

The Sky at Einstein's Feet (Springer Praxis Books / Popular Astronomy) (Paperback)
~ William C. Keel (Author)

"One hundred years ago Albert Einstein published his special theory of relativity. In the century following his breakthrough, his insights have illuminated astronomical discovery. Keel's book shows how deeply relativity has informed our interpretation of the Universe, and how many of the amazing discoveries of the last century can be properly interpreted only with the use of the special and general theories of relativity." Mercury Jan-Feb 2006

[T]his book is a pleasant surprise in most respects... [T]his is the best and most accessible summary of relativistic effects in astronomy that I have had the pleasure of reading. I'm sure I'll inevitably dip back into it again.

--Roger Feasey, in Journal of the Auckland Astronomical Society

"In ‘The Sky at Einstein’s feet’, William Keel follows a different path and instead considers the impact that Einstein’s relativity has had on astrophysics. This is an enormous task, but Keel successfully covers several seemingly disparate areas … . Keel has done a good job of summarising Einstein’s impact. Noteworthy is his dedication to those who ‘have been unjustly forgotten’ … . this broad overview and historical content will appeal to the popular science market … ." (Geraint F Lewis, Australian Physics, Vol. 43 (2), 2006)

"The aim of this interesting book is to describe at a popular level how relativity theory has influenced the development of astronomy. … The style is lively and engaging. There are plenty of interesting anecdotes, some from the author’s own experience, which give a real idea of both the rigours and the excitement of astronomical research. … The book is copiously illustrated, with some stunning images … . the book would make excellent motivational background reading for students struggling with a first relativity course." (Andrew King, The Observatory, Vol. 126 (1194), 2006)

"Keel, in his book, wants to share with a wide audience the impact of relativity on astronomy. … clear, concise explanations introduce most new terms … . This, together with descriptive introductions to chapters and a good selection of illustrations make the book a well detailed, enjoyable read for the average amateur astronomer and those interested in the physics behind the pretty pictures of the night sky. With this book, Keel should achieve his objective … ." (Mark Mortimer, www.universetoday.com, May, 2006)

"This book is a review of current observational astronomy and the contribution of Einstein’s thought to our present understanding. It possesses considerable depth of coverage and insight and, generally, reads very well. … If you want the title explained, you must read the book. William Keel is a talented writer and that is about all I know about him. … For a general reader this book provides insight and information in an entertaining manner." (Roger O’Brien, Journal of the British Astronomical Association, Vol. 116 (4), 2006)

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Galaxies in Turmoil: The Active and Starburst Galaxies and the Black Holes That Drive Them (Astronomers' Universe) (Hardcover)

2009-10-25T17:13:00.000-07:00

Galaxies in Turmoil: The Active and Starburst Galaxies and the Black Holes That Drive Them (Astronomers' Universe) (Hardcover)
~ Chris Kitchin (Author)

From the reviews:

"Kitchin a ] explores the physical conditions in the regions of the nuclei of galaxies. a ] Kitchin enumerates the many types of active galaxies whose properties are revealed by observations at wavelengths ranging from X-rays through optical and infrared to the longest radio bands. a ] this book contains a useful appendix that clarifies the relationship among the types of active galaxies and quasars. A lengthy table lists all the optically brightest examples. Summing Up: Highly recommended. General readers." (D. E. Hogg, CHOICE, Vol. 45 (5), January, 2008)

"The text is written at a level appropriate for undergraduate students, and its intended audience also includes amateur astronomers. a ] Overall, the text is direct. A few stories of key episodes in understanding galaxies reveal the path of scientific discovery. a ] The topics covered are of interest to students, and to the best of my knowledge, no other book provides a similar focus at a comparable level. a ] Galaxies in Turmoil would make an excellent introduction for beginning research students." (Nancy A. Levenson, Physics Today, June, 2008)

Product Description
Astronomers' Universe Series The aim of this book is to provide an up-to-date account of active galaxies that is appropriate to the background knowledge of amateur astronomers, but might also be picked-up and read for interest by any reader with a scientific bent. Active galaxies (including Quasars, QSOs, Radio galaxies, BL Lacs, Blazars, LINERS, ULIRGS, Seyfert galaxies, Starburst galaxies, N galaxies, etc.) are a major field of current astronomical research. Up to a fifth of all research astronomers are working on active galaxies. Huge amounts of time on major telescopes are devoted to their study. In almost all cases the galaxies are thought to be powered by 100 million solar mass black holes at their centres. Some of the objects are bright enough to be seen in small telescopes, and an amateur astronomer with a 20 cm telescope and a CCD detector could obtain images of many more. Lists of such objects, and their visual and imaged appearance in commercially available telescopes are an important component of this book. This detailed but accessible work will be the only coherent and complete source of information for non-technical readers on an area of astronomy that fascinates many people and whose spectacular images from the Hubble space telescope, Gemini, VLT and other major telescopes frequently make the pages of the quality newspapers and occasionally appear on TV. It also has the potential to be chosen as a set text or background reading for university courses on the subject, althought he writing style is such that it will appeal to all readers.

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The Galaxies of the Local Group (Cambridge Astrophysics) (Paperback)

2009-10-20T20:59:00.000-07:00

The Galaxies of the Local Group (Cambridge Astrophysics) (Paperback)
by Sidney van den Bergh (Author)

"...a well-written, authoritative survey of our current understanding of the group...The Galaxies of the Local Group is a masterpiece, an important reference work that belongs in the library of every astronomer." Science Books & Films

"This book is the best and most current summary of what we know about the Local Group. It discusses the makeup, movement, composition, shape, shape, size, location -- in short everything -- we know about these galaxies. This book does not use a heavily mathematical approach, but is instead more of a general verbal description. The material in the book is the most recent available, including information from the various orbiting observatories such as Hubble, RORSAT, and others." - Sidney van den Bergh, Books-On-Line

Product Description
The Local Group is a small cluster of galaxies of which thirty-five members are currently known, including the Milky Way. With characteristic clarity of expression, Sidney van den Bergh provides a complete overview of all that is known about the galaxies of the Local Group and their evolution. He also places this knowledge in the wider context of continuing studies of galaxy formation and evolution, the cosmic distance scale, and the conditions in the early Universe. This volume thoroughly details our current understanding of each of the thirty-five members of the Local Group, as well as those galaxies previously regarded as possible members. The book goes on to examine the mass, stability and evolution of the Local Group as a whole and includes many important, previously unpublished results and conclusions.

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Hidden Universe (Hardcover)

2009-10-13T22:27:00.000-07:00

Hidden Universe (Hardcover)
by Lars Lindberg Christensen (Author), Robert Fosbury (Author), Robert L. Hurt (Author)

"This book is an exhilarating and remarkable voyage into a universe that the naked eye cannot see.... Hidden Universe will, without a doubt, open your eyes and your mind to the dramatic and dazzling light-show that is out hidden universe." (Spaceflight, May 2009)

"[This] story of how different telescopes have peeled away layers of the “cosmic onion” offers a useful counterpoint to the history of the telescopes." (Physics World, March 2009)

"Hidden Universe provides a technical description of efforts to study beyond the visual but has been written in a way which would appeal to amateur astronomers who seek to understand the work of professionals especially in PRO-AM projects. Recommended." (The Astronomer, February 2009)

Product Description
Our eyes are the result of an evolutionary adaptation to the sun's light. Since the sun is a G dwarf and emits most of its light in only a small part of the electromagnetic spectrum, our eyes are very limited in their capability to show us the universe. This book shows the fundamental change in our perception by covering the full spectrum of light.
The authors' unique skill in both science and science communication allows for a popular writing style, with an emphasis on what cannot be seen with our eyes. They make many comparisons with high-color images to reveal what is actually taking place behind the veil. They also make good use of their access to the most striking images in the field, creating full-color illustrations as needed. In addition, boxes and diagrams provide overviews of the instruments used.

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Lonely Hearts of the Cosmos: The Story of the Scientific Quest for the Secret of the Universe (Paperback)

2009-10-09T17:23:00.000-07:00

Lonely Hearts of the Cosmos: The Story of the Scientific Quest for the Secret of the Universe (Paperback)
by Dennis Overbye (Author)

From Publishers Weekly
Unexpected discoveries, seething rivalries and inspired guesswork are all in a day's work for modern cosmologists, several of whom are profiled here. "Overbye's personal narrative makes complex realms of conflicting theory and observation accessible to the layperson," said PW. Photos.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal
Modern cosmology--the science of superstrings, wormholes, and Grand Unifications Theories--has been popularized in such recent books as Stephen Hawking's semitechnical A Brief History of Time ( LJ 4/15/88) and David Darling's fanciful Deep Time ( LJ 5/15/89). Overbye, the editor of Discover magazine, focuses on the people who contributed to contemporary theories of the universe. Through interviews and personal anecdotes, Overbye presents an insider's view of the lives, works, and personalities of such legendary figures as Hawking; John Wheeler, the "father of the black hole"; and Alan Guth, architect of the "inflationary universe" concept. This approach depicts science as a human process and, in a sense, brings cosmology with all of its rarefied concepts "down to earth." For more formal biographical and technical information on the work of a greater number of leading cosmologists, see Alan Lightman and Roberta Brawer's Origins: The Lives and Worlds of Modern Cosmologists ( LJ 6/1/90).
- Gregg Sapp, Mon tana State Univ. Lib., Bozeman
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Measuring the Universe: Cosmic Dimensions from Aristarchus to Halley (Paperback)

2009-10-08T07:37:00.000-07:00

Measuring the Universe: Cosmic Dimensions from Aristarchus to Halley (Paperback)
by Albert Van Helden (Author)

Measuring the Universe is the first history of the evolution of cosmic dimensions, from the work of Eratosthenes and Aristarchus in the third century B.C. to the efforts of Edmond Halley (1656--1742).

"Van Helden's authoritative treatment is concise and informative; he refers to numerous sources of information, draws on the discoveries of modern scholarship, and presents the first book-length treatment of this exceedingly important branch of science."--Edward Harrison, American Journal of Physics "Van Helden writes well, with a flair for clear explanation. I warmly recommend this book."--Colin A. Ronan, Journal of the British Astronomical Association

About the Author
Albert Van Helden is professor of history at Rice University and the author of The Invention of the Telescope.

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Relativity: Einstein's Theory of Spacetime, Time Dilation, Gravity and Cosmology (Paperback)

2009-09-11T16:19:00.000-07:00

Relativity: Einstein's Theory of Spacetime, Time Dilation, Gravity and Cosmology (Paperback)
by Albert Einstein (Author)

The theory of relativity, explained by the greatest mind of the 20th century. Albert Einstein discusses the special and general theories of relativity, and the core concepts of modern cosmology, including time dilation, the spacetime continuum, and the energy-mass relationship, in simple non-mathematical terms.

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Exoplanets: Detection, Formation, Properties, Habitability (Springer Praxis Books / Astronomy and Planetary Sciences) (Hardcover)

2009-09-10T06:06:00.000-07:00

Exoplanets: Detection, Formation, Properties, Habitability (Springer Praxis Books / Astronomy and Planetary Sciences) (Hardcover)
by John W. Mason (Author, Editor)

This edited, multi-author volume will be an invaluable introduction and reference to all key aspects in the field of exoplanet research. The reviews cover: Detection methods and properties of known exoplanets, Detection of extrasolar planets by gravitational microlensing. The formation and evolution of terrestrial planets in protoplanetary and debris disks. The brown dwarf-exoplanet connection. Formation, migration mechanisms and properties of hot Jupiters. Dynamics of multiple exoplanet systems. Doppler exoplanet surveys. Searching for exoplanets in the stellar graveyard. Formation and habitability of extra solar planets in multiple star systems. Exoplanet habitats and the possibilities for life. Moons of exoplanets: habitats for life.

Contributing authors:

Rory Barnes David P. Bennett Jian Ge

Nader Haghighipour Patrick Irwin Hugh Jones

Victoria Meadows Stanimir Metchev I. Neill Reid

George Rieke Caleb Scharf Steinn Sigurdsson

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The Realm of the Nebulae (Silliman Memorial Lectures) (Paperback)

2009-09-10T06:05:00.000-07:00

The Realm of the Nebulae (Silliman Memorial Lectures) (Paperback)
by Edwin Hubble (Author)

Cosmological Enigmas: Pulsars, Quasars, and Other Deep-Space Questions (Hardcover)

2009-09-09T07:41:00.000-07:00

Cosmological Enigmas: Pulsars, Quasars, and Other Deep-Space Questions (Hardcover)
by Mark Kidger (Author)

The universe is big. Really big. And it gets bigger every day. In Cosmological Enigmas, Mark Kidger weaves together history, science, and science fiction to consider questions about the bigness of space and the strange objects that lie trembling at the edge of infinity.

What are quasars, blazars, and gamma-ray bursters? Could we ever travel to the stars? Can we really expect aliens to contact us? From the profound (what evidence do we have to support the big bang theory?) to the bizarre (can there be more than one universe and, if so, how many dimensions does it possess?) to the everyday-yet-profound (why is the sky dark at night?), Kidger explains not only what we know but how we came to know it. Reflecting on how stars shine and what may lie beyond the edge of the universe, Kidger takes us on the ultimate cosmic journey.

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Out of This World: Colliding Universes, Branes, Strings, and Other Wild Ideas of Modern Physics (Hardcover)

2009-09-08T20:02:00.000-07:00

Out of This World: Colliding Universes, Branes, Strings, and Other Wild Ideas of Modern Physics (Hardcover)
by Stephen Webb (Author)

From the reviews:

"For more than 20 years, the physical theory of the fundamental nature of matter and force has stood almost motionless. It describes everything and explains nothing, and now a group of researchers is playing with radical revisions … in order to get ideas moving again. … Webb writes clearly and exactly, and is obviously in close touch with recent developments." (D. Park, CHOICE, Vol. 42(3), November, 2004)

"After introducing general relativity and quantum mechanics … . Then, in a series of increasingly astonishing chapters, he introduces us to the seemingly outlandish and bizarre proposals – from almost unbelievably small particles to huge membranes that may envelope our Universe … ultimately leading to us to wholly new realms of understanding. Webb makes these strange and wonderful goings-on accessible, engaging and enjoyable … ."

‘Webb helps readers understand what’s involved by defining the concepts of symmetry and space-time … . Webb presents these ideas so that even nonspecialists can grasp the basics of topics as esoteric as alternative dimensions and particle physics.’

"Webb’s latest book is a look at strings and other things that might underlie the structure of the Universe. Unlike other books … this one manages to take on the subject in a truly accessible way … . it is perhaps the best introduction available at this level of the subject." (Richard Wentk, Focus, September, 2004)

"This book explores colliding universes, branes, strings and other wild ideas of modern physics. It is aimed at the non-mathematical reader. … The style … is lively and engaging. … Webb, employed by the Open University in the U.K. has a bright and breezy style, which enlivens the most tortuous of subject matter. Highly recommended as a layman’s non-mathematical introduction to some of the weirdest physics around, the book is complete with a necessary glossary and bibliography, with recommended further reading." (Roger Feasey, Journal of the Auckland Astronomical Society, June, 2005)

"Stephen Webb’s … ‘Out of this World’, is a challenge to those of us who might suspect branes to be a typo and have only a utilitarian view of strings … . Webb skillfully conveys the meaning of many advanced concepts of theoretical physics, such as renormalisation and gauge symmetries. … the book has a useful glossary and index. Webb is good on the history of modern thought on the mysteries of nature, introducing the original thinkers. … a nice book for us non-theoreticians." (Colin Keay, The Physicist, Vol. 41 (6), November/December, 2004)

"After introducing general relativity and quantum mechanics – the twin foundations of twentieth century physics – he explains how they are fundamentally incompatible. … Webb makes these strange and wonderful goings-on accessible, engaging, and enjoyable, conveying not just what theories have begun to believe about the cosmos, but the awe and excitement felt by scientists as this new picture of the Universe slowly emerges." (www.firstscience.com, October, 2004)

Webb presents ideas so that nonspecialists can grasp the basics of topics as esoteric as alternative dimensions and particle physics. -- Science News

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Genesis of the Big Bang (Hardcover)

2009-09-07T05:10:00.000-07:00

Genesis of the Big Bang (Hardcover)
by Ralph A. Alpher (Author), Robert Herman (Author)

"Genesis of the Big Bang is an excellent, personal and fascinating account of this early work and early times by Alpher and Herman. Not only is the physics made simple, but the book provides an excellent account of the personalities involved in the debate."--Astronomy Now

The authors of this volume have been intimately connected with the conception of the Big Bang model since 1947. Following the late George Gamow's ideas in 1942 and more particularly in 1946 that the early universe was an appropriate site for the synthesis of the elements, they became deeply involved in the question of cosmic nucleosynthesis and particularly the synthesis of the light elements. In the course of this work they developed a general relativistic model of the expanding universe with physics folded in, which led in a progressive, logical sequence to our prediction of the existence of a present cosmic background radiation some seventeen years before the observation of such radiation was reported by Penzias and Wilson. In addition, they carried out with James W. Follin, Jr., a detailed study of the physics of what was then considered to be the very early universe, starting a few seconds after the Big Bang, which still provides a methodology for studies of light element nucleosynthesis. Because of their involvement, they bring a personal perspective to the subject. They present a picture of what is now believed to be the state of knowledge about the evolution of the expanding universe and delineate the story of the development of the Big Bang model as they have seen and lived it from their own unique vantage point.

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Star-Hopping for Backyard Astronomers (Hardcover)

2009-09-07T05:08:00.000-07:00

Star-Hopping for Backyard Astronomers (Hardcover)
by Alan M. MacRobert (Author)

Go with Sky & Telescope's Alan MacRobert on 14 star-hop safaris. Maneuver among recognizable star patterns in the Northern Hemisphere as you hunt down astronomical big game. Each star-hop includes a detailed map, object descriptions, and photos. Introductory chapters cover how to choose and use a backyard telescope, find your way around the sky, read star charts, and observe faint objects.

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God's Design for Heaven and Earth: Our Universe (Paperback)

2009-09-07T05:07:00.000-07:00

God's Design for Heaven and Earth: Our Universe (Paperback)
by Debbie Lawrence (Author)

# Paperback: 134 pages
# Publisher: Answers in Genesis (May 2006)
# Language: English

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The Observation and Analysis of Stellar Photospheres (Paperback)

2009-09-06T02:23:00.000-07:00

The Observation and Analysis of Stellar Photospheres (Paperback)
by David F. Gray (Author)

"...this new edition sustains the strenths of its predecessors while introducing new material, including (for the first time) exercises that enhance its usefulness as source material for lecture courses...all the expected standard topics are well covered, with a clarity that readily betrays the author's deep familiarity with, and understanding of, both the central physics and the empirical practice. Any atypical content and emphasis also reflects this first-hand command of the material, and sets the book apart from (and above) a number of others that attempt to cover broadly similar ground...accessible at undergraduate level, and with enough depth (and referencing to primary sources) to make it useful for the research scientist. Recommended to all with interests in these areas." - The Observatory, Ian D. Howarth

Revising topics and results to include the latest research, this updated third edition describes the equipment, observational techniques, and analysis used to investigate stellar photospheres. Topics covered include radiation transfer, models of stellar photospheres, spectroscopic equipment, observing stellar spectra, and techniques for measuring stellar characteristics. The comprehensive textbook is ideal for advanced students of stellar physics. Each chapter contains exercises, and useful real star data and primary references can be found throughout.

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Cosmos: A Sketch of the Physical Description of the Universe (Foundations of Natural History) (Volume 1) (Paperback)

2009-09-05T02:19:00.000-07:00

Cosmos: A Sketch of the Physical Description of the Universe (Foundations of Natural History) (Volume 1) (Paperback)
by Alexander von Humboldt (Author), Nicolaas A. Rupke (Introduction)

"A century and a half after its initial publication, the book remains a work of enduring value. Magnificently written, with an enduring message to convey Cosmos merits a place in the library of every person who wishes to be truly well educated in the history of the natural sciences." -- Science Books and Films

"I have the crazy idea to represent in one work the entire material universe, everything we know today of the phenomena in the celestial spaces and of life on earth, from the stars in the nebulae to the geography of mosses and gigantic rocks, in a vivid language that will stimulate the imagination." -- from Humboldt's 1834 letter to Karl Varnhagen

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The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Stars (Hardcover)

2009-09-02T01:12:00.000-07:00

The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Stars (Hardcover)
by James B. Kaler (Author)

Written for a broad audience by a noted astronomer, this encyclopedia begins with an overview of the stars and constellations and then proceeds to chapters covering the location of stars, magnitudes, cosmic distances, the galaxy in motion, spectra, stellar properties, types of stars, the sun, and stellar evolution. Although equations and technical language geared to subject specialists are employed when appropriate, the encyclopedia is generally written at a level accessible to a dedicated student.

Each chapter contains several entries ranging in length from a paragraph to several pages. Examples of specific entries include Forms , Open clusters Associations , and Globular clusters in the chapter "Star Clusters and Associations," and Supergiants Super novae, The remains and Synergy in the chapter "High-Mass Evolution." Sidebars provide interesting highlights; for example, we learn that an estimate of our galaxy's mass can be found by a simple application of Kepler's third law; life on Earth is likely to be impossible in several billion years as the sun brightens in luminosity; there is sound in space; a burst of gamma rays smacks Earth about once a day. Beautiful color photographs, collected from observatories and photographers worldwide, provide visual interest. Descriptive graphs and tables supplement the text. Surprisingly, there is no large map of the constellations. A 10-page index provides subject access to the contents. Appendixes consist of the Messier Catalogue of star clusters and nebulae, the 51 brightest stars, stars within four parsecs (that is, 13 light years) of Earth, the chemical composition of the sun, and a look at the galactic anticenter.

The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the Stars provides an authoritative, comprehensive reference to the unfolding mysteries of stellar science. There are no other recent encyclopedias devoted to this topic. It is highly recommended for academic and special libraries. Nancy Cannon
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

"A valuable resource."
Library Journal

"Provides an authoritative, comprehensive reference to the unfolding mysteries of stellar science. There are no other recent encyclopedias devoted to this topic." -- Booklist

"Detailed...vivid photos and graphs help the reader along."
Science News

"The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the Stars provides an authoritative, comprehensive reference to the unfolding mysteries of stellar science. There are no other recent encyclopedias devoted to this topic. It is highly recommended for academic and special libraries."
American Reference Books Annual

'... the book ... contain[s] a myriad of information about stars that Kaler has been gathering throughout his entire career ...[the book] contains more than 230 images, including color photographs, graphs, tables and sidebars. The photographs were gathered from observatories and private photographers around the world.' - News Bureau, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

'This book covers the whole of stellar astrophysics and summarizes this wide field in a lucid and concise style ... the book is very readable ... The more detailed part of the book follows with a description of stellar spectra and how they reveal the temperature, pressure, and chemical abundance within a star's atmosphere. This leads to the observed H-R diagram. The most important radiation laws are described ... The coverage of atomic physics includes the Maxwellian velocity distribution, the Bohr model of the atom, and Grotrian diagrams. ... The book concludes with star formation and evolution, and these chapters pull together much of the material in the earlier part of the book. ... There are many, well-designed diagrams to explain the text, the majority taken from earlier books by the author.' - The Observatory

'... a good, readable, generally non-mathematical account of our current knowledge of stars and how that knowledge has been gained from the earliest of times to the present day ... At £35 the book is very good value and it is a first-rate explanation of astronomy and astrophysics ...' - Astronomy Now

'The structure of the book is cleverly arranged to allow the author to expound a story within each section ... [Dr Kaler's] relaxed conversational style carried the reader along through even difficult concepts ... highly recommended to all serious amateur astronomers as an indispensable reference book ... I believe that it will become the most widely read of this author's considerable popular output.' - Astronomy & Space

'...large glossy, and full of colour pictures and diagrams. ...The myriad explanations of astronomical phenomena make the methods and results discussed absolutely clear. The book shares with Stars and their Spectra Kaler's incredibly detailed HR diagrams, including most starts mentioned by name in the book. ...For the serious amateur astronomer who wants to seriously delve into how we know what we know about starts, The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Stars would be an excellent place to start. In fact, when I finished reading it, I started right over at the beginning, as there is much more information there than can be easily absorbed in one pass.' - American Association of Variable Star Observers Bookstore

"...quite arguably the crown jewel of Kaler's popular works...the book's organization makes it easy to find and explore any topic...For the serious amateur astronomer, it's an indispensable reference on all things stellar. For the armchair observer it's a joy ride to the stars to be savored one topic at a time." --Sky & Telescope

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The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Universe (Hardcover)

2009-09-01T19:44:00.000-07:00

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Universe (Hardcover)
by Ian Ridpath (Author), Sir Martin Rees (Author)

This richly illustrated encyclopedia provides an overview of what is known about the universe and of the physics essential to understanding it. Editor of Norton's Star Atlas and Reference Handbook and Oxford's Dictionary of Astronomy, Ridpath has assembled a group of astronomy experts to create a sourcebook covering topics ranging from subatomic particles to galaxies, from the origin of the universe to its future. The articles are two pages long, but almost half the space is occupied by illustrations and sidebars. The eight chapters include "The History of Astronomy," "Contents of the Cosmos," and "Space Exploration," and the reference section offers a glossary, bibliography, directory of web sites, listings of spacecraft missions, mathematical concepts, and celestial data. This encyclopedia is a source of useful information, but it will work better as a supplement, and, unlike the more in-depth Encyclopedia of Astronomy and Astrophysics (LJ 7/01), it is geared more toward undergraduates. The subject-based arrangement makes it challenging to find quick answers, for which Companion to the Cosmos (LJ 2/1/97), with its dictionary arrangement, is more appropriate. Nevertheless, both public and academic libraries with astronomy collections will find this encyclopedia useful and up-to-date. Recommended. Teresa Berry, Univ. of Tennessee Libs., Knoxville
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Babylonian Horoscopes (Transactions of the American Philosophical Society) (Paperback)

2009-08-31T09:23:00.000-07:00

Babylonian Horoscopes (Transactions of the American Philosophical Society) (Paperback)
by Francesca Rochberg (Author)

Interpretations of heavenly phenomena as signs of the future was a Mesopotamian tradition of great antiquity. The practice of Babylonian celestial divination, spanning a period from ca. 1800 B.C. to Hellenistic times, is known in the form of celestial omens portending the life of the king and the stability of the state. Emerging for the first time in the fifth century B.C., horoscopes reflect the application of the ideal and practice of celestial divination to the life of the individual. This is the first complete edition of the extant cuneiform horoscopes--with transcription and philological and astronomical commentary. It is the first study to offer a systematic description of the documents as a definable class of Babylonian astronomical/astrological texts.

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Theories of the Universe (Library of Scientific Thought) (Paperback)

2009-08-31T09:22:00.000-07:00

Theories of the Universe (Library of Scientific Thought) (Paperback)
by Milton K. Munitz (Author)

The theoretical physicist shares his latest thoughts on the nature of space and time in this anthology of selections from Princeton University Press. Along with eminent colleagues, Hawking extends theoretical frontiers by speculating on the big questions of modern cosmology. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

About the Author
STEPHEN HAWKING is an English theoretical physicist. Hawking is the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge. He is known for his contributions to the fields of cosmology and quantum gravity, especially in the context of black holes, and his popular works, including New York Times bestseller bestseller A Brief History of Time, in which he discusses his own theories and cosmology in general. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

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El universo: Imagenes desde el telescopio Hubble (Grandes libros ilustrados) (Spanish Edition) (Hardcover)

2009-08-29T19:51:00.000-07:00

El universo: Imagenes desde el telescopio Hubble (Grandes libros ilustrados) (Spanish Edition) (Hardcover)
by Leo Marriott (Author)

Covering diverse locales such as the world's oceans, the universe—as seen by the Hubble telescope—and the frozen landscapes of the world, this series of illustrated texts takes a closer look at some of the most arresting parts of the world and space. Featuring stunning photography and engaging facts and figures, these books bring the allure of nature and the skill of man together in one beautiful collection.

Cubriendo lugares tan diversos como los océanos del mundo, el universo visto desde el telescopio Hubble y los lugares congelados del planeta, esta serie de textos ilustrados acercan al lector a alguno de los lugares más interesantes del mundo y del espacio. Incluyendo fotografías espectaculares y acompañadas de información interesante, estos libros unen la belleza de la naturaleza con la imaginación del hombre para formar una bella colección.

About the Author
Leo Marriott is the author of Fighting Ships of World War 2, Lighthouses, and Titanic.

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Deep-Sky Video Astronomy (Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series) (Paperback)

2009-08-29T19:50:00.001-07:00

Deep-Sky Video Astronomy (Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series) (Paperback)
by Steve Massey (Author), Steve Quirk (Author)

"Deep-Sky Video Astronomy" is a concise guide to using modern integrating video cameras for deep-sky viewing and imaging with the kinds of modest telescopes available commercially to amateur astronomers. It includes an introduction and a brief history of the technology, camera types, etc. The authors then examine the pros and cons of this unrefrigerated yet highly efficient technology, which is already beginning to compete with expensive astronomical cooled-chip CCD cameras in quality and ease of use.There is a thorough examination of accessories used to achieve particular results. Examples are focal reducers, Barlow lenses, and optical filters. However, the focus is mostly on the practical side of creating beautiful and detailed astronomical portraits using image-stacking software, enhancement tools like PhotoShop, and creating color images with a black-and-white camera. Practical step-by-step examples supported by tried and trusted tips show how to achieve the best possible deep-sky video portrait!

About the Author
Deep-Sky Video Astronomy is a concise guide to using modern video cameras for deep-sky viewing and imaging with the kinds of modest telescopes available commercially to amateur astronomers. It is not a beginner's book, but it does include an introduction and brief history of the technology, camera types, etc. More importantly, the authors examine the pros and cons of this unrefrigerated yet highly efficient technology, which is already beginning to compete with expensive astronomical cooled-chip CCD cameras in quality and ease of use. The book also includes a thorough examination of the variety of accessories that are available and can be used to achieve a particular result. Examples of accessories are focal reducers, Barlow lenses, and optical filters. However, much of the book's focus is on the practical side of creating beautiful and detailed astronomical portraits using image-stacking software, picture enhancement tools such as Photoshop, and in creating color images using only a very sensitive black-and-white camera. Practical step-by-step examples, supported by tried and trusted tips, show how it is possible to achieve the best possible celestial deep-sky video portrait! There is also information on how this technology is being used for comet hunting, supernova patrols, lunar and Minor Planet occultations, astrometry, and meteoroid observations.

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Between Copernicus and Galileo: Christoph Clavius and the Collapse of Ptolemaic Cosmology (Paperback)

2009-08-28T15:04:00.000-07:00

Between Copernicus and Galileo: Christoph Clavius and the Collapse of Ptolemaic Cosmology (Paperback)
by James M. Lattis (Author)

Between Copernicus and Galileo is the story of Christoph Clavius, the Jesuit astronomer and teacher whose work helped set the standards by which Galileo's famous claims appeared so radical, and whose teachings guided the intellectual and scientific agenda of the Church in the central years of the Scientific Revolution.

Though relatively unknown today, Clavius was enormously influential throughout Europe in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries through his astronomy books—the standard texts used in many colleges and universities, and the tools with which Descartes, Gassendi, and Mersenne, among many others, learned their astronomy. James Lattis uses Clavius's own publications as well as archival materials to trace the central role Clavius played in integrating traditional Ptolemaic astronomy and Aristotelian natural philosophy into an orthodox cosmology. Although Clavius strongly resisted the new cosmologies of Copernicus and Tycho, Galileo's invention of the telescope ultimately eroded the Ptolemaic world view.
By tracing Clavius's views from medieval cosmology the seventeenth century, Lattis illuminates the conceptual shift from Ptolemaic to Copernican astronomy and the social, intellectual, and theological impact of the Scientific Revolution.

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Four Faces of the Universe: An Integrated View of the Cosmos (Paperback)

2009-08-28T15:03:00.000-07:00

Four Faces of the Universe: An Integrated View of the Cosmos (Paperback)
by Robert Kleinman (Author)

Four Faces is an adventurous survey of a universe that is deeper than science can measure. It explores key pserpectives by which we gain insight into the cosmos- mythical, scientific, traditional, and evolutionary. A journey through the Four Faces suggests how we can find our place in the world and arrive at a soul-deep harmony in it.

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The Future of Theoretical Physics and Cosmology: Celebrating Stephen Hawking's Contributions to Physics (Hardcover)

2009-08-26T04:47:00.000-07:00

The Future of Theoretical Physics and Cosmology: Celebrating Stephen Hawking's Contributions to Physics (Hardcover)
by G. W. Gibbons (Editor), E. P. S. Shellard (Editor), S. J. Rankin (Editor)

"Highly recommended." Choice

"Experts will be able to go as deep as they like, but even those with only a 'popular science' interest in recent developments in particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology will find much to interest them." SIAM News

"As readable as a very hard book on theoretical physics would be." New Scientist

Based on lectures given in honor of Stephen Hawking's 60th birthday, this book comprises contributions from the world's leading theoretical physicists. Popular lectures progress to a critical evaluation of more advanced subjects in modern cosmology and theoretical physics. Topics covered include the origin of the universe, warped spacetime, cosmological singularities, quantum gravity, black holes, string theory, quantum cosmology and inflation. The volume provides a fascinating overview of the variety of subjects to which Stephen Hawking has contributed.

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Universe Down to Earth (Paperback)

2009-08-26T04:46:00.000-07:00

Universe Down to Earth (Paperback)
by Neil de Grasse Tyson (Author)

Readers who find the physical sciences intimidating might profit from a look into this witty and accessible introduction to the foundations of modern science, with an emphasis on astronomy, by Tyson (Astrophysics/Princeton). The book is more a collection of related essays than a unified whole. Tyson begins with several cornerstones: numbers, measures, methodology, and terminology. The approach is often irreverent and whimsical: The chapter on the numerical prefixes used in scientific work concludes with a series of groan-inducing puns; the survey of astronomical terminology divides its material into such categories as ``Terms that sound like diseases'' and ``Terms with too many syllables.'' On the other hand, his discussion of the philosophy and methodology common to most sciences maintains a serious tone while using analogies from common experience (sports cars, lawn sprinklers, The Wizard of Oz) to hold the reader's interest. Perhaps the most valuable section of the book is the middle third, where the author discusses such important concepts as the electromagnetic spectrum and the Periodic Table of the Elements- -clarifying basic principles for the novice and providing food for thought even for those who consider Scientific American a good read. His chapter on the center of mass covers a range of subjects from high-jumping technique to black holes and subatomic particles, vividly and with easily grasped examples. The third section of the book covers astronomy, including a hilarious survey of the constellations and a gleeful demolition of astrology. The ``Suggested Reading'' list includes a wide range of generally accessible periodicals as well as useful books on all the aspects of the sciences discussed. Well-written, authoritative, and almost always entertaining- -highly recommended. -- Copyright ©1994, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Turn Right at Orion: Travels Through the Cosmos (Paperback)

2009-08-26T04:45:00.000-07:00

Turn Right at Orion: Travels Through the Cosmos (Paperback)
by Mitchell Begelman (Author)

The symbiotic universe: Life and mind in the cosmos (Hardcover)

2009-08-26T04:44:00.001-07:00

The symbiotic universe: Life and mind in the cosmos (Hardcover)
by George Greenstein (Author)

In God and the Astronomers, Robert Jastrow brilliantly summed up our knowledge about ourselves and the universe. He reasoned that the grand climb of science had brought scientists to a hilltop confronting ultimate Mysterya hilltop that had already been crowded by theologians for centuries. No less brilliantly, Greenstein, Amherst astronomy professor, here updates Jastrow's effort. He describes the "coincidences" scientists have observed in recent years in the bizarre world of subatomic particles, quantum mechanics itself and the Big Bang theory of cosmic origin and destiny. Among these are the two separate "resonances" between nuclei found in "red giant" stars, allowing the synthesis of heavy elements necessary for "life"; the precisely equal charges of the electron and the proton; the symmetry of matter and anti-matter, etc. These conditions of physical nature lead him to extrapolate the Anthropic Principle, today largely rejected, and argue his view of the universe as "symbiotic," as evidenced by the fact that we exist, and that the cosmos has been "delicately and precisely attuned" from the moment of the Big Bang. This is bold metaphysics, to which some will say Amen. Photos. BOMC alternate.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Nucleosynthesis and Chemical Evolution of Galaxies (Hardcover)

2009-08-26T04:42:00.000-07:00

Nucleosynthesis and Chemical Evolution of Galaxies (Hardcover)
by Bernard E. J. Pagel (Author)

"This book fills a gap in astrophysical literature...certainly helpful for any instructor who wishes to teach a one-semester course on these subjects, especially because the author has included many end-chapter problems with hints for their solutions. The author has also added many valuable comments at the end of the chapters that are helpful for researchers in the field...a conceptually very successful and useful book." Mounib El Eid, Transport in Porous Media

"Each topic is explained from the ground up, giving the reader all the information needed to proceed further. The book manages to present(without losing scientific rigour) one of the most fascinating subjects of modern astrophysics." Nature

"This is a good and useful book...The astrophysicist will find the astronomical lore enlightening, and the astronomer will find references to discussions of the underlying physics." Physics Today

"Intended for upper-division undergraduates, graduates, and faculty in the physical sciences, this work will be useful to professionals who need to learn or review the current thinking in nucleosynthesis. Good index; very good bibliography." CHOICE

"Each topic is explained from the ground up, giving the reader all the information needed to proceed further. The book manages to present(without losing scientific rigour) one of the most fascinating subjects of modern astrophysics." Cesare Chiosi, Nature vol.393

The distribution of elements in the cosmos, a result of the many processes in the Universe's history, provides a means for studying the Big Bang, the density of baryonic matter, nucleosynthesis, and the formation and evolution of stars and galaxies. This textbook, by a pioneer in the field, forms a lucid, comprehensive introduction to the interdisciplinary subject of galactic chemical evolution. The author carefully explains a broad spectrum of exciting astrophysics, from thermonuclear reactions, abundance measurements in astronomical sources, cosmological element production, stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis, to light element production by cosmic rays and the effects of galactic processes on the evolution of the elements. The reader is then equipped to develop an intuitive and analytical understanding of results from numerical models and real observations. Simple, elegant derivations for key results are provided throughout, together with problems and helpful solution hints. This long-awaited textbook provides a comprehensive introduction to the broad subject of galactic chemical evolution for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, and an invaluable overview for researchers.

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