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Listed alphabetically by title. Michael
D. Lemonick A tight-knit, high-powered group of scientists and engineers spent eight years building a satellite designed, in effect, to read the genome of the universe. Launched in 2001, the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) has finally reported in—and it's found things nobody ever expected. In the early 1990s, the COBE (Cosmic Background Explorer) satellite had made crude measurements of the radiation left over from the Big Bang. What the WMAP group set out to do was essentially to take those measurements to far high precision. For more than a year, the WMAP satellite hovered in the cold of deep space, a million miles from Earth, in an effort to determine whether the science of cosmology has been on the right track for the past two decades. What WMAP was looking for was a barely perceptible pattern of hot and cold spots in the faint whisper of microwave radiation left over from the Big Bang, the event that almost 14 billion years ago gave birth to all of space, time, matter, and energy. The pattern encoded in those microwaves holds the answers to some of the great unanswered questions of cosmology: What is the universe made of? What is its geometry? How much of it consists of the mysterious dark matter and dark energy that continue to baffle astronomers? How fast is it expanding? And did it undergo a period of inflationary hyper-expansion at the very beginning? WMAP has now perhaps given definitive answers to these mysteries. E.
C. Krupp The intriguing world of archaeoastronomy—the study of ancient peoples' observations of the skies and the impact of what they saw on their cultural evolution—is the focus of this unabridged republication of the original 1983 edition published by Harper & Row. Beginning with an explanation of how the sky works and how people have relied upon its guidance for centuries, the author explores ancient and prehistoric observatories, from sites in China and Babylonia to Scotland and Peru. He relates sky god mythology from many cultures, discusses astronomy's influence on funerary rites and other vigils and rituals, and profiles sacred places such as Stonehenge and the kivas of the American Southwest. Duncan
Steel Since the dawn of time, eclipses have been perceived as peculiarly portentous events, evoking consternation, fear, and dread -- as well as awe and wonder -- and have had a profound effect upon our cultural development. The Romans marked pivotal battles with references to an eclipse; scientists derived the date of the Crucifixion from biblical mentions of an eclipse. In this sweeping sage of science and civilization, astronomer Duncan Steel explains all you need to know, and then some. For eclipses occur not only within the Sun-Earth-Moon system, but also on Jupiter, Saturn, and many other planets; in double-star systems; and even between galaxies and quasars. Goes beyond the typical eclipse picture book to provide the incredible science and absorbing history behind these curious phenomena. Fulvio
Melia In the past, they were recognized as the most destructive force in nature. Now, following a cascade of astonishing discoveries, supermassive black holes have undergone a dramatic shift in paradigm. Astronomers are finding out 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. They may have contributed as much as half of all the radiation produced after the Big Bang, and as many as 200 million of them may now be lurking through the vast expanses of the observable cosmos. In this non-technical account, the author conveys the excitement generated by the quest to expose what these giant distortions in the fabric of space and time have to say about our origin and ultimate destiny. Barry
Parker Einstein continues to captivate, not only for his revolutionary scientific insights but also for his complex personality and personal pursuits. In this unique contribution to the Einstein literature, physicist and acclaimed science writer Barry Parker draws on the great scientist's letters and personal papers to explore the intellectual and emotional passions that motivated both his work and his life. Parker focuses on five aspects of Einstein's emotional nature that had a profound influence on his life and career. First and foremost was his lifelong passion for learning, not only in the fields of physics but also in mathematics and philosophy. Einstein's "second great love" was classical music, especially the music of Mozart. His relationships with women also greatly influenced him. Parker examines his two marriages, his liaisons with other women, and his distant relationship with his two sons from his first marriage. Another lifelong passion was his strong antiwar feelings and advocacy for peace and a chapter is devoted to his efforts to promote the idea of world government. Finally, Parker considers Einstein's obsession with finding a unified theory of physics to explain all the forces of the universe, and his reluctance to accept the indeterminacy of quantum theory. In the opinion of some colleagues, this was a tragedy, for Einstein isolated himself from the rest of the scientific community during the latter part of his life to pursue a lone quest that remained unfulfilled at his death. Edmund
Blair Bolles A scandal hovers over the history of 20th century physics. Albert Einstein — the century's greatest physicist — was never able to come to terms with quantum mechanics, the century's greatest theoretical achievement. For physicists who routinely use both quantum laws and Einstein's ideas, this contradiction can be almost too embarrassing to dwell on. Yet Einstein was one of the founders of quantum physics and he spent many years preaching the quantum's importance and its revolutionary nature. The Danish genius Neils Bohr was another founder of quantum physics. He had managed to solve one of the few physics problems that Einstein ever shied away from, linking quantum mathematics with a new model of the atom. This leap immediately yielded results that explained electron behavior and the periodic table of the elements. Despite their mutual appreciation of the quantum's importance, these two giants of modern physics never agreed on the fundamentals of their work. In fact, they clashed repeatedly throughout the 1920s, arguing first over Einstein's theory of "light quanta" (photons), then over Niels Bohr's short-lived theory that denied the conservation of energy at the quantum level, and climactically over the new quantum mechanics that Bohr enthusiastically embraced and Einstein stubbornly defied. This contest of visions stripped the scientific imagination naked. Einstein was a staunch realist, demanding to know the physical reasons behind physical events. At odds with this approach was Bohr's more pragmatic perspective that favored theories that worked, even if he might not have a corresponding explanation of the underlying reality. Powerful and illuminating, Einstein Defiant is the first book to capture the soul and the science that inspired this dramatic duel, revealing the personalities and the passions — and, in the end, what was at stake for the world. Marcia
Bartusiak A new generation of observatories, now being completed worldwide, will give astronomers not just a new window on the cosmos but a whole new sense with which to explore and experience the heavens above us. Instead of collecting light waves or radio waves, these novel instruments will allow astronomers to at last place their hands upon the fabric of space-time and feel the very rhythms of the universe. Bartusiak captures the excitement as two gravity-wave observatories in Louisiana and Washington State, as well as others in Italy, Germany, and Japan, approach operation and physicists gear up to begin their work to register the long-predicted quakes in space-time. With each chapter, Bartusiak continues her musical metaphor in tracing the story of general relativity, from the time "Maestro" Einstein enters physics, through the "Starlight Waltz" of neutron stars twisting space-time around themselves, to the "Dissonant Chords" of controversy as physicists fight to get their radically new observatories approved, through the "Finale" as a worldwide endeavor in gravity-wave astronomy is launched. Brian
Greene Brian Greene, one of the world's leading string theorists, peels away the layers of mystery surrounding string theory to reveal a universe that consists of eleven dimensions, where the fabric of space tears and repairs itself, and all matter—from the smallest quarks to the most gargantuan supernovas—is generated by the vibrations of microscopically tiny loops of energy. This paperback edition is preceded by a new Preface; additional resources available on the Nova website: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/elegant/ Alex
Soojung-Kim Pang Examining the rich interplay between science, culture, and British imperial society in the late nineteenth century, this book shows how the organization and conduct of scientific fieldwork was structured by contemporary politics and culture, and how rapid and profound changes in the organization of science, advances in photography, and new printing technology remade the character of scientific observation. Says Jay M. Pasachoff of Williams College: "This wonderful book describes the interactions of scientists and the public in nineteenth-century Britain by analyzing a series of expeditions sent all over the world to study total solar eclipses. Successfully bringing together a wide variety of topics in a new and interesting way, it will be of great interest to historians, philosophers of science, astronomers, and amateur astronomers." Nancy
Thorndike Greenspan When Max Born won the Nobel Prize in 1954, unspoken vindication was part of the honor. For when Werner Heisenberg received the prize in 1933 -for work done together with Born, as Born's assistant-Born himself was never mentioned. Clearly, that explains Born's relative anonymity compared to his contemporaries-namely Heisenberg, Schrodinger, Oppenheimer, Einstein, and Bohr. Here, for the first time, is the full story of Max Born: teacher to the inventors of the atomic bomb, forced exile from Hitler's Germany, acquaintance of Russian spy Klaus Fuchs, and close friend of Einstein. His role in the "Golden Age of Physics" in the 1920s—most notably in quantum mechanics—helped to shape science and alter history. That Born used his platform as a Nobel laureate to speak out against the moral determinism that pervaded the scientific community at the time—the attitude that consented to the creation of nuclear weapons solely in the name of scientific advancement—makes him that much more significant. A social history and a history of science as well as an intimate biography, The End of the Certain World reveals a great scientist's struggle with morality, politics, war, and obscurity. Amir
D. Aczel From the Preface: "This is a book about science, the making of science, the philosophy that underlies science, and mathematical underpinnings of science, the experiments that verify and expose nature's inner secrets, and the lives of the scientists who pursue nature's most bizarre effects...." Our world, our universe, with its strict rules of cause-and-effect — gravity, even relativity, all abide by a certain definable set of rules — has a parallel in what can only be called the profoundly alien nonhuman universe of quantum mechanics. The study of quanta, very small "packets" of energy, is resulting in the opening of vistas weirder than anything human imagination has yet devised. It is a place where 1 + 1 equals 2, 3 or sometimes does not compute at all. And yet it is real, and has real applications for our simpler world. William
P. Sheehan & Thomas A. Dobbins The Moon has always been one of the most obvious and in some ways the most enticing astronomical objects - even from early times, it was Queen of the Night, and the naked eye sees more detail than even the largest telescopes reveal on Mars. As early as 1609 Galileo's first telescope showed the Moon to be another world. The first "race to the Moon" was not undertaken by American astronauts and Soviet cosmonauts but by German and British selenographers in the nineteenth century, who mapped lunar detail so painstakingly that by 1878 it could be said that the earthward hemisphere of the Moon had been depicted in greater detail and with more precision than many parts of the American West in existing maps of the time. It is possible that the names of Schroeter, Beer and Madler, Webb and Schmidt may prove to be as memorable as those of Armstrong, Aldrin, Cernan and Schmitt. Matthew
Watkins Essential Elements offers a fascinating introduction to the complex and beautiful world of the elements, revealing the principal properties and interactions of substances familiar (carbon, oxygen, water) and unfamiliar (rare earth elements and subatomic particles). He explains atomic bonding, radioactivity, and DNA, and present alternative ways of visualizing the periodic table, as well as a succinct synthesis of the Big Bang. Leslie
Alan Horvitz Since
the day Archimedes was believed to have leapt from his bathtub and
run naked through the streets of ancient Syracuse shouting "Eureka!"
the history of science has been punctuated by moments of true insight
and discovery. Most of the "instant" discoveries were,
in fact, the combined product of determined effort and exceptional
feats of vision. This collection of collection of twelve great moments
in science explores the events and thought processes behind each
scientific breakthrough. Some of the stories and figures include:
Joseph Priestly and the discovery of oxygen; Alexander Fleming and
the discovery of penicillin; Charles Townes and the invention of
the laser; Issac Newton and the theory of gravity. Peter
Eggleton Binary
systems of stars are as common as single stars. Stars evolve primarily
by nuclear reactions in their interiors, but a star with a binary
companion can also have its evolution influenced by the companion.
Multiple star systems can exist in a stable state for millions of
years, but can ultimately become unstable as one star grows in radius
until it engulfs another. This volume discusses the statistics of
binary stars; the evolution of single stars; and several of the
most important kinds of interaction between two (and even three
or more) stars. A series of mathematical appendices provides a concise
but complete account of the mathematics of these processes. Govert
Schilling A whirlwind
journey through time by describing the evolution of the cosmos,
from the beginning of space and time fourteen billion years ago,
to the creation of the Earth and humankind. Ending with a glance
into the distant future of the universe, the book's combination
of compelling text and breathtaking photographs provides an impressive
vision of the place of man in the cosmos. Govert Schilling is a
Dutch science writer and astronomy publicist. John
M. Charap A panoramic
view of the physicist's world as the 21st century opens—a
view that is entirely different from the one that greeted the twentieth
century. We have learned that the universe is billions of galaxies
larger than we imagined—and billions of years older. We know
more about how it came to be and what it is. Because of physics,
we live in a world of greater danger and more convenience, smaller
particles and bigger ideas. Charap
introduces these ideas but spares us the math behind them. After
a review of the 20th century's thorough transformation of physics,
he checks in on the latest findings from particle physics, astrophysics,
chaos theory, and cosmology. His tour includes ongoing efforts to
find the universe's missing matter and to account for the first
moments after the big bang. Taking readers right to the field's
speculative edge, he explains how superstring theory may finally
unite quantum mechanics with general relativity to produce a consistent
quantum theory of gravity. Along
the way, Charap poses the questions that continue to inspire research.
Why is the universe flat? Why can't we forecast weather better?
Can Schrodinger's cat really be simultaneously dead and alive? Why
does fractal geometry keep showing up in strange places? Might spacetime
have eleven dimensions? What does quantum mechanics mean about the
nature of our world? R.A.
Hanel, et al., eds. Fully
revised, this new edition incorporates the latest technologies,
new mission results and scientific discoveries. It also includes
a fully updated bibliography to reflect the advances made in this
field during the past ten years. The theories of radiative transfer,
molecular spectroscopy, and atmospheric physics are first combined
to show how it is possible to calculate the infrared spectra of
model planetary atmospheres. Next the authors describe the instrumental
techniques, in order to assess the effect of real instruments on
the measurement of the emerging radiation field. Finally, techniques
that allow the retrieval of atmospheric and surface parameters from
observations are examined. All planets from Mercury to Pluto and
many of their satellites, asteroids and comets are discussed. Sally
Ride & Tam O'Shaughnessy Ride
and O'Shaughnessy have collaborated on three previous children's
science books (Voyager: An Adventure to the Edge of the Solar
System; The Third Planet: Exploring Earth from Space;
and The Mystery of Mars). This definite guide to the solar
system takes young readers on a tour of the nine planets and explains
the formation, current conditions, and possibility of life on each.
Filled with crisp, full-color photographs and lucid prose. Robert
Burnham & Wil Tirion Exploring
the Starry Sky features large, colorful, user-friendly star
maps and includes simple directions for finding all of the major
stars and constellations visible from the northern hemisphere. Two
star charts display the major sights to be seen from suburban or
rural locations, for each season, and more detailed maps spotlight
special regions of interest. Additional sections show where the
planets are from now until 2006, when to look for meteor showers,
and dates and places of upcoming eclipses of the Sun and Moon. One
of the "Year's best astronomy books" in the 2005 annual special
issue of Astronomy magazine. Robert
P. Kirshner One
of the world's leading astronomers tells the story of unlocking
an astonishing cosmic secret. Supernova expert Robert Kirshner brings
readers inside a lively research team on the quest that led them
to an extraordinary cosmological discovery: the expansion of the
universe is accelerating under the influence of a dark energy that
makes space itself expand. Measurements
of light from exploding stars — some of them halfway across
the universe — let these astronomers trace the history of
cosmic expansion. The results have been amazing. Instead of a universe
slowing down due to gravity as theory predicted, observations reveal
a universe whose expansion is speeding up. This measurement of dark
energy — a quality of space itself that causes cosmic acceleration
— points to a gaping hole in our understanding of fundamental
physics. In
1917, Einstein proposed the "cosmological constant" to
explain a static universe. When observations proved that the universe
was expanding, he cast this early form of dark energy aside. But
recent observations described first-hand in this book show that
the cosmological constant — or something just like it —
dominates the universe's mass and energy budget and determines its
fate and shape. Warned
by Einstein's blunder, and contradicted by the initial results of
a competing research team, Kirshner and his colleagues were reluctant
to accept their own result. But, convinced by evidence built on
their hard-earned understanding of exploding stars, they announced
their conclusion that the universe is accelerating in February 1998.
Other lines of inquiry and parallel supernova research now support
a new synthesis of a cosmos dominated by dark energy but also James
Kaler Over
the past 200 years, our knowledge of stars has expanded enormously
From seeing myriad dots of different brightnesses, we have moved
on to measure their distances, temperatures, sizes, chemical compositions,
and even ages, finding both young and ancient stars that dwarf our
Sun and are dwarfed by it. Unique in its approach, Extreme Stars
describes the lives of stars from a new perspective by examining
their amazing features. Ten chapters, generously illustrated throughout,
explain the natures of the brightest, the largest, the hottest,
and the youngest, among other kinds of stars, ending with a selection
of the strangest stars the Universe has to offer. Extreme Stars
shows how stars develop and die and how each extreme turns into
another under the inexorable twin forces of time and gravity. Steven
Weinberg In
a recent New York Times profile, James Glanz remarked, "Steven
Weinberg is perhaps the world's most authoritative proponent of
the idea that physics is hurtling toward a 'final theory,' a complete
explanation of nature's particles and forces that will endure as
the bedrock of all science forevermore. He is also a powerful writer
of prose that can illuminate — and sting...He recently received
the Lewis Thomas Prize, awarded to the researcher who best embodies
'the scientist as poet.'" Both the brilliant scientist and
the provocative writer are fully present in this book as Weinberg
pursues his principal passions, theoretical physics and a deeper
understanding of the culture, philosophy, history, and politics
of science. Each
of these essays, which span fifteen years, struggles in one way
or another the necessity of facing up to the discovery that the
laws of nature are impersonal, with no hint of a special status
for human beings. Each is preceded by a new introduction that explains
its provenance and, if necessary, brings it up to date. Joseph
A. Angelo, Jr. Contains
approximately 1,500 cross-referenced entries that present the basic
concepts and phrases used in the evolving science of space, spaceflight,
and space technology. Illustrates recent advances and makes accessible
nearly every word, concept, and event relating to this branch of
science. In addition to 75 line drawings and photographs, includes
appendices of International System Units and their equivalents,
metric conversion tables, and relevant websites. Ben
Bova Can
life exist outside the planet Earth? The first question one should
ask is: How is it possible for life to exist within Earth's brutal
confines? On our own world, creatures existand thrivein environments
first thought to be completely alien and inhospitable. From the
rare air of the upper atmosphere to the depths of the oceans, life
persists amid crushing pressures, crippling heat, and absolute darkness.
Bacteria brought to the moon have survived for years without water,
at temperatures near absolute zero, and in spite of radiation levels
that would kill human observers. With such resilient and tenacious
creatures, it seems that life could spring up, and survive, anywhere. With
the development of new technology, such as the space-based telescopes
of NASA's Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF), we may not have to leave
the comfort of our home world to discover proof of life elsewhere.
But the greatest impediment to such an important scientific discovery
may not be technological, but political. No scientific endeavor
can be launched without a budget, and matters of money are within
the arena of politicians. Dr. Bova explores some of the key players
and the arguments waged in a debate of both scientific and cultural
priorities, showing the emotions, the controversy, and the egos
involved in arguably the most important scientific pursuit ever
begun. Paul
Halpern, illustrated by Lynette R. Cook Learn
the secrets of planet-hunters as they search for planets beyond
our solar system. Is there more to a star than meets the eye? Take
a trip to an alien world and encounter wobbling stars, frozen moons,
and boiling oceans. Stunning illustrations and cutting-edge science
make this book a first in the field. Includes a glossary and index.
Available
at the ASP's online store, the AstroShop. João
Magueijo The
author, a Cambridge University-trained theoretical physicist, puts
forth an extraordinarily controversial theory: that light traveled
faster in the early days of the universe than it does today. Magueijo's
varying speed of light theory (VSL) solves some of the most intractable
problems in cosmology and could also have implications for space
travel, black holes, time dilation, and string theory. Finally,
in a deeply ironic twist, VSL could help uncover the grand unified
theory that ultimately eluded Einstein. This is also a book about
ideas and their place in the world, about the way scientists work
together and things that drive them apart. It is also the story
of one man's unusual attempt to decipher the true nature of the
universe. Paul
Murdin & Margaret Penston The
Firefly Encyclopedia of Astronomy is organized A-Z with concise
details on each topic. The pages are profusely illustrated with
vivid computer graphics, photography and archival images. Included
are accessible contributions by 650 world-leading astronomers covering:
history from the Big Bang to present; famous astronomer bios; key
space missions since the launch of Sputnik; the work of observatories
worldwide. Clifford
Cunningham To
commemorate the 200th anniversary of the discovery of the first
asteroid, Ceres, this book presents virtually all the original scientific
papers and correspondence related to the discovery and study of
Ceres. It begins with the early Greek study of the music of the
spheres and ends with the Hubble Space Telescope images of Ceres.
Original chapters by Cunningham are followed by works translated
from six languages. More than 620 references; illustrations. Dennis
Danielson In
the spring of 1539, a twenty-five-year-old mathematics prodigy from
Wittenberg named Georg Joachim Rheticus set off on an arduous three-week
journey to northern Poland in order to meet the elderly but not-yet-famous
amateur astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus. Though he had published
nothing on the topic, rumors had abounded for years about Copernicus'
revolutionary (many would call it heretical) theory that the Sun,
not the Earth, was at the center of the universe, and about a manuscript
he had almost completed on the subject. Intending
to stay a month, Rheticus spent three years at Copernicus' side,
during which time he persuaded the aging astronomer to complete
his manuscript, De revolutionibus, and let him take it to
a printer in Germany for publication. Though Rheticus couldn't have
known it at the time, his action changed the course of civilization.
Without his intervention, Copernicus's seminal work would likely
have sunk into oblivion; instead, it ushered in a new understanding
of the physical universe, and today is acclaimed as a landmark of
scientific and cultural history. For his part, Rheticus dodged a
scandal that almost ruined him and, as the founder of modern trigonometry,
became a trailblazer of science in his own right. The
first popular account of Rheticus's life, The First Copernican
provides a unique prism through which the dawn of the Copernican
Revolution shines in fresh and illuminating ways, revealing the
intense curiosity and community from which science itself took flight,
as well as one man's heroic efforts to defend a new cosmology. Dennis
Danielson's superb biography unveils Rheticus in his rightful role
as colorful champion of new science at the threshold of the modern
world. Matt
Bille & Erika Lishock From
1955 to 1958, American and Soviet engineers battled to launch successfully
the world's first satellite, as the first nation to do so would
gain advantages in science, the Cold War propaganda contest, and
the military balance of power. The
race to orbit featured two American teams led by rival services—the
army and the navy—and a Soviet effort so secret that few even knew
it existed. Now, Matt Bille and Erika Lishock tell this story from
both sides of the Iron Curtain, from the origins of spaceflight
theory through the military and political events that shaped the
modern world. Some
aspects of this story, such as the navy's NOTSNIK satellite project,
are almost unknown. Even some details of well-known programs, such
as the appearance of America's pioneering Explorer 1 satellite and
the contributions made by its rival, Project Vanguard, are generally
misremembered. In
today's era of space shuttles, Mars rovers, and the International
Space Station, it is difficult to imagine just how challenging the
first steps into space really were. Yet at the end of the race,
not only had those first satellites been launched, but the resulting
new technologies had forever changed life on Earth. Fred
Espenak & Jean Meeus The
following is a brief description of the NASA Technical Publication
"Five Millennium Canon of Solar Eclipses: -1999 to +3000 (NASA/TP-2006-214141) During
the 5,000-year period from -1999 to +3000 (2000 BCE to 3000 CE),
Earth will experience 11,898 eclipses of the Sun. The statistical
distribution of eclipse types for this interval is as follows: 4,200
partial eclipses, 3956 annular eclipses, 3173 total eclipses and
569 hybrid eclipses Detailed
global maps for each of the 11,898 eclipses delineate the geographic
regions of visibility for both the penumbral (partial and umbral
or antumbral (total, annular, or hybrid) phases of every event.
Modern political borders are plotted to assist in the determination
of eclipse visibility. The uncertainty in Earth's rotational period
expressed in the parameter delta T and its impact on the geographic
visibility of eclipses in the past and future is discussed. Available
on the web in PDF format: http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEpubs/5MCSE.html Ian
Stewart In
1884, Edwin Abbott published a novel about mathematics and philosophy
that was both a witty satire of Victorian society and a means by
which to explore the fourth dimension. Flatland is still
considered a tour-de-force. Now, British mathematician and science
writer Ian Stewart has written a modern sequel that explores our
present understanding of the shape and origins of the universe and
the structure of space, time, and matter, as well as modern geometries
and their applications. Wickramasinghe,
Burbidge, and Nalikar, eds. This
volume includes papers presented at a commemorative conference held
in Cardiff in June 2002. The material divides naturally into several
sections: Personal Reminiscences, Stellar Structure and Evolution,
Cosmology, Interstellar Matter, Comets and finally Panspermia. Each
article pays its own tribute to Fred Hoyle for his inspiration and
guidance that led to major breakthroughs in astrophysics and space
science throughout the 20th century. Robert
Godwin, Ed. On
May 5, 1961, Astronaut Alan B. Shepard, Jr., in his Mercury spacecraft
Freedom 7, successfully flew the first US manned suborbital space
flight, marking America’s entry into the "space race."
Project Mercury, the first manned spaceflight program, was orchestrated
by NASA’s Space Task Group and included suborbital and then
orbital flights using the Redstone and Atlas boosters. This volume
gathers together in one place transcripts, documents, and drawings
of the Mercury-Redstone 3 mission, the flight of Freedom 7. The
CD-ROM includes the NASA video documentary "Freedom 7,"
video from the Freedom 7 earth-sky camera, and video of the cabin
instrument panel before and during the flight. Melanie
Melton Knocke Written
specifically for those who have been intrigued by or have been developing
a growing interest in astron and space but have had little time
to explore the amazing world of exploding stars, distant galaxies,
rovers on other planets, and more. The book consists of three sections:
Questions and Answers, Quick Facts, and A Brief History of Lunar
and Planetary Exploration. Generously illustrated, including a color
insert containing, among other pictures, images of Saturn from the
Cassini spacecraft. Knocke is the former director of science education
and public outreach at the Mount Wilson Observatory and Lowell Observatory. Roger
Newton Science
is about 6000 years old while physics emerged as a distinct branch
some 2500 years ago. As scientists discovered virtually countless
facts about the world during this great span of time, the manner
in which they explained the underlying structure of that world underwent
a philosophical evolution. From Clockwork to Crapshoot provides
the perspective needed to understand contemporary developments in
physics in relation to philosophical traditions as far back as ancient
Greece. Roger Newton presents a history of physics from the early
beginning to our day -- with the associated mathematics, astronomy,
and chemistry. Along the way, he gives brief explanations of the
scientific concepts at issue, biographical thumbnail sketches of
the protagonists, and descriptions of the changing instruments that
enabled scientists to make their discoveries. He traces a profound
change from a deterministic explanation of the world -- accepted
at least since the time of the ancient Greek and Taoist Chinese
civilizations -- to the notion of probability, enshrined as the
very basis of science with the quantum revolution at the beginning
of the twentieth century. With this change, Newton finds another
fundamental shift in the focus of physicists -- from the cause of
dynamics or motion to the basic structure of the world. His work
identifies what may well be the defining characteristic of physics
in the twenty-first century. C.
M. Linton Since
man first looked towards the heavens, a great deal of effort has
been put into trying to predict and explain the motions of the sun,
moon, and planets. Developments in man's understanding have been
closely linked to progress in the mathematical sciences. Whole new
areas of mathematics, such as trigonometry, were developed to aid
astronomical calculations, and on numerous occasions throughout
history, breakthroughs in astronomy have only been possible because
of progress in mathematics. This book describes the theories of
planetary motion that have been developed through the ages, beginning
with the homocentric spheres of Eudoxus and ending with Einstein's
general theory of relativity. It emphasizes the interaction between
progress in astronomy and in mathematics, showing how the two have
been inextricably linked since Babylonian times. V.
Hill, P. François, and F. Primas, eds. This
volume presents a comprehensive overview of the scientific progress
achieved in recent years in our knowledge of the early stages of
the production of the elements and their cosmic evolution. It covers
the chemical composition of different types of galactic and extra-galactic
environments and interprets them in terms of galaxy formation and
evolution. Thanks to high quality data collected at the largest
ground-based telescopes in the world, our determination and theoretical
interpretation of the chemical signatures of different stellar populations
and stellar generations has become more accurate. This volume combines
observational and theoretical results, and covers almost the entire
Periodic Table, to present a clear picture of the main questions
that remain unanswered, and suggestions on how to tackle them. The
articles were presented at IAU S228, dedicated to the major scientific
contributions of Monique and Francois Spite to this field of research. John
Perlin From
Space to Earth tracks the evolution of the technology of photovoltaics,
the use of solar cells to convert the sun's energy into electricity.
John Perlin's research results in a fascinating account of the development
of this technology, from its shaky nineteenth-century beginnings
mired in scientific controversy to its high-visibility success in
the space program, to its current position as a versatile and promising
power source. Andrew
Fabian, et al., eds. X-Ray
astronomy has undergone a revolution in recent years. With the launch
of two new orbiting observatories, Chandra and XMM-Newton, astronomers
are now able to obtain spectra and images at a higher resolution
than ever before. New observations have had a major impact on topics
ranging from protostars to cosmology. The contributions in this
work, by leading authorities in the field, originate from a Royal
Society Discussion Meeting that was held to review the most recent
results from the current generation of X-ray telescopes, and set
them in context. Michael
Light The
most thrilling of all journeys — the missions of the Apollo
astronauts to the surface of the Moon and back — yielded 32,000
extraordinarily beautiful photographs, the record of a unique human
achievement. Until recently, only a handful of these photographs
had been released for publication; but now, for the first time,
has allowed a selection of the master negatives and transparencies
to be scanned electronically, rendering the sharpest images of space
that we have ever seen. Michael Light has woven 129 of these stunningly
clear images into a single composite voyage, a narrative of breathtaking
immediacy and authenticity that begins with the launch and is followed
by a walk in space, an orbit of the Moon, a lunar landing and exploration,
and a return to Earth with an orbit and splashdown. Published on
the thirtieth anniversary of Apollo 11 — the first landing
on the Moon — this remarkable and mesmerizing volume is, like
the voyages it commemorates and re-creates, an experience both intimate
and monumental. Heino
Falcke & Friedrich W. Heil, Eds. The
supermassive black hole in the center of our Milky Way is the nearest
such object and relatively easy to observe and study, with many
astrophysical and even general relativistic effects able to be investigated
in great detail. These lectures provide a systematic introduction
to the physics/astrophysics and mathematics of black holes. Leading
international experts provide first hand accounts of the observational
and theoretical aspects of this black hole. Topics range from the
properties of the Schwarzschild metric and the collapse of the Galaxy
to accretion of matter and the emission properties of the Galactic
Center black hole. William
H. Waller and Paul W. Hodge For
the past twelve billion years, galaxies have governed the Universe,
bringing form to the firmament, light to the void. Each one a giant
system of as many as hundreds of billions of stars, the galaxies
are the building blocks of the cosmos, and through new data from
modern telescopes — including the Hubble Space Telescope —
we are discovering dizzying new facts about how they formed, how
they evolve, and what they are made of. This book acquaints readers
with these facts and findings — and with what they can tell
us about the lives of galaxies over cosmic time, from their emergence
shortly after the Hot Big Bang to their ongoing gyrations and transmutations.
Orienting
us with an insider's tour of our cosmic home, the Milky Way, William
Waller and Paul Hodge then take us on a spectacular journey, inviting
us to probe the exquisite structures and dynamics of the giant spiral
and elliptical galaxies, to witness colliding and erupting galaxies,
and to pay our respects to the most powerful galaxies of all--the
quasars. A basic guide to the latest news from the cosmic frontier
— about the black holes in the centers of galaxies, about
the way in which some galaxies cannibalize each other, about the
vast distances between galaxies, and about the remarkable new evidence
regarding dark energy and the cosmic expansion--this book gives
us a firm foundation for exploring the more speculative fringes
of our current understanding. I.
Perez-Fournon, et al., eds. At
the turn of the 21st century a golden era is occurring
in observational cosmology. The new generation of large telescopes,
combined with the capabilities of the HST and other space missions,
allow astronomers to directly observe galaxy assembly over cosmic
time. This timely volume contains the lectures delivered at the
XI Canary Islands Winter School of Astrophysics, reviewing both
scientific results and the main questions in the field. It covers
the study of normal galaxies, distant galaxies, and studies based
on far-infrared diagnostics; it reviews quasar absorption lines
and the properties of nearby galaxies. Each chapter is written by
a world expert in the field. Galaxy
Collider Galaxy
Collider is an easy-to-use program that enables anyone with a suitable
PC running Windows (95/98/2000/Me/XP) to simulate galaxy collisions.
Simulations can be run forward (or backward) in time to visualize
how these systems evolve over tens, hundreds or even thousands of
millions of years. The results can also be rotated in 3D and viewed
from
any angle. Galaxy
Collider is distributed on CD-ROM together with a 110 page printed
manual. The CD-ROM also contains three catalogues of interacting
galaxies: Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies by Halton Arp; A Catalogue
of Southern Peculiar Galaxies and Associations by Halton Arp and
Barry
Madore; The Atlas and Catalogue of Interacting Galaxies by B.A.
Vorontsov-Velyaminov. Of
the hundreds of interacting galaxies that appear in these catalogues,
only a handful have ever been modeled by astronomers. You can rummage
through these images and try to simulate a true likeness using Galaxy
Collider. Having done this, you can then see what the system looks
like when viewed from any angle, and trace its evolution over hundreds
of millions of years from the past into the future. Galaxy
Collider provides many advanced features that make it productive
and easy to use, including: 3D simulations and rotation, Multitasking
capability, Project Manager, Auto-Save facility, Fully Integrated
Help system, Tutorial & Case Studies, User Guide, Astronomy
Guide, Hubble Deep Field images, and Galaxy Catalogues. Roger
G. Newton Bored
during Mass at the cathedral in Pisa, the seventeen-year-old Galileo
regarded the chandelier swinging overhead--and remarked, to his
great surprise, that the lamp took as many beats to complete an
arc when hardly moving as when it was swinging widely. Galileo's
Pendulum tells the story of what this observation meant, and
of its profound consequences for science and technology. The
principle of the pendulum's swing--a property called isochronism--marks
a simple yet fundamental system in nature, one that ties the rhythm
of time to the very existence of matter in the universe. Roger Newton
sets the stage for Galileo's discovery with a look at biorhythms
in living organisms and at early calendars and clocks--contrivances
of nature and culture that, however adequate in their time, did
not meet the precise requirements of seventeenth-century science
and navigation. Galileo's Pendulum recounts the history of
the newly evolving time pieces--from marine chronometers to atomic
clocks--based on the pendulum as well as other mechanisms employing
the same physical principles, and explains the Newtonian science
underlying their function. The book ranges nimbly from the sciences
of sound and light to the astonishing intersection of the pendulum's
oscillations and quantum theory, resulting in new insight into the
make-up of the material universe. Covering topics from the invention
of time zones to Isaac Newton's equations of motion, from Pythagoras'
theory of musical harmony to Michael Faraday's field theory and
the development of quantum electrodynamics, Galileo's Pendulum is
a tour through time of the most basic all-pervading system in the
world. Joseph
Wallace A backstage
tour through the halls and history of the Museum, venturing into
ornithology, invertebrates, zoology, entomology, herpetology, and
other disciplines, celebrating the treasures and the scientists
responsible for bringing them to the light of day. Amazing tales
and fascinating finds, both small and large, including: the famous
Oviraptor eggs unearthed in the Gobi desert; the Hall of
Biodiversity whose trees hold 411,000 model leaves; Katharine Burden’s
hunt for the Komodo dragon; and the epic saga of the huge blue whale
model. Ralph
A. Alpher & Robert Herman The
authors of this volume have been intimately connected with the conception
of the Big Bang model since 1947. Following the late George Gamov'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, 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. Michael
J. West "Construction
of a road to the summer of Mauna Kea began in April 1964 and was
completed in a few weeks. Two months later, with funding from NASA,
a small prefabricated observatory with a 0.3-meter telescope inside
was placed on Pu'u Poli'ahu, one of the highest peaks on the mountain.
Nighttime observations exceeded expectations...In July of that year
Gerard Kuiper declared enthusiastically, 'This mountain is probably
the best site in the world–I repeat in the world–from
which to study the moon, the planets and the stars....It is a jewel!
This is the place where the most advanced and powerful observations
from this Earth can be made.'" While it is primarily about
astronomy at the mountain's summit and thirteen of the biggest and
most sophisticated telescopes ever built, the book also touches
upon the cultural significance of the mountain to Native Hawaiians
and the mountain's history and the controversy over its future.
Full-color photographs, most taken by the author, with many others
courtesy of the Mauna Kea observatories, Hawaii State Archives,
NASA and other photographers. Tander
Edis Is
there a God, or a spiritual reality beyond nature? Physicist Taner
Edis takes a fresh look at this age-old question, focusing on what
we have learned about our world rather than on traditional metaphysical
disputes. Edis uses the results of natural science to present a
world where complexity, intelligence, and even the sublime heights
of religious experience emerge from what is ultimately material
and random. Sympathetically criticizing Muslim and New Age perspectives,
as well as Jewish and Christian arguments, he argues that a thoroughgoing
naturalism leads to a much more powerful explanation of our world. Charles
Pellegrino Employing
volcano physics, the author shows that the Vesuvius eruption was
one thousand times more powerful than the bomb that leveled Hiroshima,
bringing to vivid life the frightful majesty of that volcanic apocalypse.
Yet Pellegrino digs deeper, exploring fascinating comparisons and
connections to other catastrophic events throughout history, in
particular the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.
As one of the world's only experts on downblast and surge physics,
he was invited to Ground Zero to examine the site and compare it
with devastation wreaked by Vesuvius, in the hope of saving lives
during future volcanic eruptions. In doing so, he offers us a poignant
and unforgettable glimpse into the final moments of our own "American
Vesuvius." W.
Patrick McCray Every
night, astronomers use a new generation of giant telescopes at observatories
around the world to study phenomena at the forefront of science.
By focusing on the history of the Gemini Observatory—twin 8-meter
telescopes located on mountain peaks in Hawaii and Chile—Giant
Telescopes tells the story behind the planning and construction
of modern scientific tools, offering a detailed view of the technological
and political transformation of astronomy in the postwar era. Drawing
on interviews with participants and archival documents, W. Patrick
McCray describes the ambitions and machinations of prominent astronomers,
engineers, funding patrons, and politicians in their effort to construct
a modern facility for cutting-edge science—and to establish a model
for international cooperation in the coming era of "megascience."
His account details the technological, institutional, cultural,
and financial challenges that scientists faced while planning and
building a new generation of giant telescopes. Besides exploring
how and why scientists embraced the promise and potential of new
technologies, he considers how these new tools affected what it
means to be an astronomer. John
Casti & Werner DePauli Shattering
hopes that logic would, in the end, allow us a complete understanding
of the universe, Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorem not only
revolutionized mathematics, but also impacted the wider fields of
science and philosophy. From his childhood in Monrovia and his later
friendship with Albert Einstein, to his participation in the famed
Vienna Circle, and career at the Institute for Advanced Studies
in Princeton, Casti and DePauli offer the first popular biography
of this strange, fascinating, and brilliant individual. Douglas
Heggie and Piet Hut The
globular star clusters of the Milky Way contain hundreds of thousands
of stars held together by gravitational interactions, and date from
the time when the Milky Way was forming. This text, suitable for
grad students and researchers, describes the theory astronomers
need for studying globular star clusters. The gravitational million-body
problem is an idealized model for understanding the dynamics of
a cluster with a million stars. After introducing the million-body
problem from various viewpoints, the book systematically develops
the tools needed for studying the million-body problems in nature,
and introduces the most important theoretical models. Bernard
F. Schutz From
the Preface: "Gravity is the one force of Nature that operates
everywhere; it controls the effects of all the other forces where
ever they act; it regulates countless natural clocks, from the orbits
of planets of the lifetimes of stars. Gravity rules the most violent
places in the universe—quasars, pulsars, gamma-ray bursters, supernovaeand
the most quietblack holes, molecular clouds, the cosmic microwave
background radiation. Today gravity binds stars and galaxies and
clusters of galaxies together, but much earlier it pushed the Universe
violently apart. Gravity explains the uniformity of the Universe
on very large scales and its incredible variety on small scales.
Gravity even laid the path toward the evolution of life itself.
If we understand how gravity works, then we begin to understand
the Universe." Serge
Brunier, with constellation photography by Akira Fujii Large
in size (10" x 15") and spiral bound to lie flat, the
guide offers a full page of data about each star group, followed
by a full-page color photograph. Between these two pages is a mylar
page that, when laid over the photograph, circles and labels the
major stars, clusters, and nebulas. When this transparency is flipped
to the other side, the reader can see the constellation and its
stars just as they appear in the sky. Contains important tips on
how to locate constellations, what equipment to use, where and when
to look for stars, what conditions are optimal, and what situations
to avoid for the best sightings. There is also a complete listing
of the brightest stars, a glossary, an index, and a two-page spread
of the constellations that can be seen from the Northern and Southern
Hemispheres. Discover stars, nebulas, and galaxies with almost 200
spectacular photographs and illustrative drawings. Serge
Brunier & Anne-Marie Lagrange It
has been almost 400 years since the November night in 1609 when
Galileo Galilei pointed a telescope at the moon and revolutionized
the practice of astronomy. From that day to this, the composition
of the heavens has become increasingly clear. These telescopes and
those places are the subject of Great Observatories of the World.
This large (10 1/4 x 14 1/2), heavily illustrated book looks at
astronomy today by telling the stories of 36 of the Earth’s
preeminent observatories, of 10 space-based observatories such as
the Hubble and the Chandra, and of 11 “telescopes of the future,”
including the Corot, the Herschel and the Max Planck Surveyor. William
H. Cropper A lively
history of modern physics, as seen through the lives of thirty men
and women from the pantheon of physics. Such giants as Galileo and
Isaac Newton, Marie Curie and Ernest Rutherford, up to more recent
figures such as Richard Feynman and Stephen Hawkins. As Cropper
captures their personalities, he also offers vivid portraits of
their great moments of discovery, their bitter feuds, their relations
with family and friends, their religious beliefs and education.
In addition, since scientists in a particular field often inspire
those who follow, the author has grouped these biographies by discipline-mechanics,
thermodynamics, particle physics, and so on-each section beginning
with a historical overview. Prabhakar
Gondhalekar Our
world is ruled by two sets of laws: the laws of quantum mechanics
and the laws of gravity. While the laws of gravity describe the
largest structures of our universe the universe itself, the laws
of quantum mechanics describe the smallest structures such a molecules
and atoms. One of the great puzzles of the 20th century
is that these two sets of laws, each employing a different set of
mathematics and each making astonishingly accurate predictions in
its own regime, should be so profoundly different and incompatible.
In tracing the gradual unfolding of our understanding of the laws
of motion and universal gravitation and the associated concepts
of space, time, and relativity, the author journeys through subsequent
centuries, identifying the setbacks, profound insights, and flashes
of inspiration that have punctuated the search for laws of motion
and gravitation. Beginning with Aristotle and concluding with Planck,
Gondhalekar outlines a "genealogy" of gravity and elucidates
previous explanations that have shaped the most recent development
in the field, string theory. Sir
Patrick Moore The
Guide to Stars and Planets is a major new edition of Sir
Patrick Moore's classic guide, featuring detailed maps of the moon
and constellations, plus a host of recommendations on what to look
for and when. In a compact format, this book is illustrated with
charts, maps, and stunning photographs from the world's finest Earth-
and space-based telescopes. A concise introduction offers a practical
guide to telescopes, home observatories and astronomical photography
for amateur astronomers. Detailed entries describe the following
astronomical objects, organized by the closest to the furthest from
Earth. The book highlights the most interesting objects that can
be observed using the naked eye, binoculars or telescope. Detailed
moon maps and charts identify significant features, and practical
tips explain how to observe the sun safely. Roel
Snieder In
contrast to traditional textbooks for students and professionals
in the physical sciences, this book presents its material in the
form of problems. The second edition contains new chapters on dimensional
analysis, variational calculus, and the asymptotic evaluation of
integrals. The book can be used by undergraduates and lower-level
graduate students. Contents: 1. Introduction; 2. Dimensional analysis;
3. Power series; 4. Spherical and cylindrical coordinates; 5. The
gradient; 6. The divergence of a vector field; 7. The curl of a
vector field; 8. The theorem of Gauss; 9. The theorem of Stokes;
10. The Laplacian; 11. Conservation laws; 12. Scale analysis; 13.
Linear algebra; 14. The Dirac delta function; 15. Fourier analysis;
16. Analytic functions; 17. Complex integration; 18. Green's functions:
principles; 19. Green's functions: examples; 20. Normal modes; 21.
Potential theory; 22. Cartesian tensors; 23. Perturbation theory;
24. Asymptotic evaluation of integrals; 25. Variational calculus;
26. Epilogue, on power and knowledge; References. Steve
B. Howell Charge-Coupled
Devices (CCDs) are the state-of-the-art detector in many fields
of observational science. Updated to include all of the latest developments
in CCDs, this second edition of the Handbook of CCD Astronomy is
a concise and accessible reference on all practical aspects of using
CCDs. Starting with their electronic workings, it discusses their
basic characteristics and then gives methods and examples of how
to determine these values. While the book focuses on the use of
CCDs in professional observational astronomy, advanced amateur astronomers,
and researchers in physics, chemistry, medical imaging, and remote
sensing will also find it very valuable. Tables of useful and hard-to-find
data, key practical equations, and new exercises round off the book. Duncan
Lorimer and Michael Kramer Radio
pulsars are rapidly rotating highly magnetized neutron stars. Studies
of these fascinating objects have provided applications in solid-state
physics, general relativity, galactic astronomy, astrometry, planetary
physics and even cosmology. Most of these applications and much
of what we know about neutron stars are derived from single-dish
radio observations using state-of-the-art receivers and data acquisition
systems. This comprehensive book is a unique resource that brings
together the key observational techniques, background information,
and a review of the latest results, including the recent discovery
of a double pulsar system. Useful software tools are provided which
can be used to analyze example data made available on a related
website. Anthony
Ashton During
the 19th century, a remarkable scientific instrument
known as a harmonograph revealed the beautiful patterns found in
music. Harmonograph is an introduction to the evolution of
simple harmonic theory, from the discoveries of Pythagoras to diatonic
tuning and equal temperament. Beautiful drawings show the octave
as triangle, the fifth as pentagram; diagrams show the principles
of harmonics, overtones, and the monochord. Victor
Stenger A critical
review of the attempts of many contemporary theologians and some
scientists to resurrect failed natural theologies in new guises.
Whether these involve updated arguments from design, "anthropic"
coincidences, or modern forms of deism, Stenger clearly shows that
nothing in modern science requires supernatural explanation. He
offers naturalistic explanations for empirical observations that
are frequently given theistic interpretations: for example, that
information in the universe implies an intelligent designer, that
a universe with a beginning requires a Creator, and that the elegant
laws of physics suggest a transcendent realm. He shows that alleged
spiritual, nonmaterial phenomena do not lie beyond the experimental
reach of physics. Richard
Baum For
many centuries observers of the night sky interpreted the moving
planets and the surrounding starry realms in terms of concentric
crystalline spheres, in the center of which hung the Earth–the
hub of creation. But with the discoveries of Galileo, Copernicus,
Kepler, and Newton, astronomers were suddenly struck by a momentous
truth: the solar system was neither small nor intimate, but extended
an unfathomable distance toward countless even more distant stars.
The endless possibilities of these astounding developments fired
scientists' imaginations, leading both to further discoveries and
to flights of fancy. While
newly discovered facts are important and interesting, the quaint
curiosities and spectral "ghosts" that led scientists
astray have a fascination of their own. This is the subject of astronomer
Richard Baum in this elegant narrative about the mysteries and wonders
of celestial exploration. The fabled "mountains of Venus,"
a "city in the moon," ghostly rings around Uranus and
Neptune, bright inexplicable objects seen near the sun, and the
truth behind Coleridge's "Star dogged Moon" in his famous
poem about the Ancient Mariner–these are just some of the
intriguing twists and turns that astronomers took while investigating
our starry neighbors. Baum vividly conveys the romance of astronomy
at a time when the vistas of outer space were a new frontier and
astronomers, guided only by imagination and analogy, set forth on
uncharted seas and were haunted for a lifetime by marvels both seen
and imagined. Neil
Comins With
the opening of the International Space Station at the start of this
century and Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic company planning to
take people above the Earth's atmosphere next year, widespread space
travel may soon leave the realm of science fiction. But space isn't
Cancún. Travelers will live life on a razor's edge, faced
with potential disasters, from the thunderous liftoff to the unpredictable
volcanic eruptions on Io, Jupiter's most spectacular moon; from
the high-speed impact of pebble-sized micrometeorites to the crumbling
of a comet's surface beneath your feet. Physicist and astronomer
Neil F. Comins, Ph.D., has written a hands-on guide to outer space
for potential tourists and armchair travelers. Bringing to life
the hard science are the fictional log entries of an imaginary colleague
from the future, astronaut Mack Richardson. Together they reveal
the risks and challenges that await tourists in the days they would
spend orbiting the Earth, the weeks required for a trip to the Moon,
and the years needed to go anywhere else in the solar system when
the sky's no longer the limit. Neil
F. Comins One
of the great paradoxes of modern times is that the more scientists
understand the natural world, the more we discover that our everyday
beliefs about it are wrong. Astronomy, in particular, is one of
the most misunderstood scientific disciplines. With the participation
of thousands of undergraduate students, Neil F. Comins has identified
and classified, by origin and topic, over 1,700 commonly held misconceptions.
Heavenly Errors provides access to all of them and explores
many, including: Black holes suck in everything around them; the
Sun shines by burning gas; comets have tails trailing behind them;
the Moon alone causes tides; and, Mercury, the closest planet to
the Sun, is the hottest planet. David
H. DeVorkin Henry
Norris Russell lived in two universes: that of his Presbyterian
forebears and that of his science. He, more than any American of
his generation, worked to turn an observation-centered discipline
into a theory-driven pursuit centered on physics. Today, professional
and amateur astronomers alike know Russell for the Hertzsprung-Russell
diagram, the playing field for much of stellar astrophysics, as
well as for his work on the evolution of stars and the origin of
the solar system. But of far greater importance than his own research,
which was truly remarkable in its own right, is Russell's stamp
on the field as a whole. Functioning as a "headquarters scientist"--some
called him General--Russell was an astronomer without a telescope.
Yet he marshaled the data of the Hales and the Pickerings of the
world, injected theory into mainstream astronomy, and brought atomic
physics to its very core, often sparking controversy along the way.
empirically minded. Dean of American Astronomers interweaves
personal and scientific history to illuminate how Russell's privileged
Presbyterian family background, his education at Princeton and Cambridge,
and his personal inclinations and attachments both served and were
at odds with his campaign to modernize astronomy. Stephen
James O'Meara The
Herschel 400 is a list of 400 galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters,
picked from over 2,500 deep-sky objects discovered and catalogued
by the great eighteenth-century astronomer Sir William Herschel
and his sister Caroline. It comprises 231 galaxies, 107 open clusters,
33 globular clusters, 20 planetary nebulae, 2 halves of a single
planetary nebula, and 7 bright nebulae. In this guide Steve O'Meara
takes the observer through the list, season by season, month by
month, night by night, object by object. He works through the objects
in a carefully planned and methodical way, taking in some of the
most dramatic non-Messier galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters in
the night sky. Ideal for astronomers who have tackled the Messier
objects, this richly illustrated guide will help the amateur astronomer
hone their observing skills. Michael
Hoskin The
partnership between William Herschel (1738-1822) and his sister
Caroline (1750-1848) transformed astronomy from the study of the
solar system, with the stars as little more than a backcloth, to
the exploration of the stellar system, the nebulae, and the cosmos
as a whole. This book examines the partnership from the viewpoint
of Caroline, and reveals the sacrifices she was called on to make
and the effects these had on her. John
C. Taylor As
physics has progressed through the ages, it has succeeded in explaining
more and more diverse phenomena with fewer and fewer underlying
principles. By tracing the development of major concepts in physics
from the ancient Greeks up to the present, Taylor seeks to explain
how this understanding has developed by periodically uncovering
unexpected "hidden unities" in nature. Timothy
Paul Smith No
one has ever seen a quark. Yet physicists seem to know quite a lot
about the properties and behavior of these ubiquitous elementary
particles. Here a top researcher introduces us to a fascinating
but invisible realm that is part of our everyday life. Timothy Smith
tells us what we know about quarks — and how we know it. Though
the quarks that make science headlines are typically laboratory
creations generated under extreme conditions, most quarks occur
naturally. They reside in the protons and neutrons that make up
almost all of the universe's known matter, from human DNA to distant
nebulae, from books and tables to neutron stars. Smith explains
what these quarks are, how they act, and why physicists believe
in them sight unseen. How do quarks arrange themselves? What other
combinations can nature make? How do quarks hold nuclei together?
What else is happening in their hidden worlds? It turns out that
these questions can be answered using a few simple principles, such
as the old standby: opposites attract. With these few principles,
Smith shows how quarks dance around each other and explains what
physicists mean when they refer to "up" and "down"
quarks and talk about a quark's color, flavor, and spin. Smith
also explains how we know what we know about these oddly aloof particles,
which are eternally confined inside larger particles. He explains
how quark experiments are mounted and how massive accelerators,
targets, and detectors work together to collect the data that scientists
use to infer what quarks are up to. Paul
Hodge The
Solar System abounds with weird and wonderful places to explore;
astronomer Paul Hodge provides a virtual tour of some of the most
spectacular. Climb Mars' Mt. Olympus, much higher than Everest,
or climb Venus' precipitous and scorching Mt. Maxwell. Explore the
Moon's Alpine Valley, or a table mountain on Io. Brave the snows
of Saturn's rings and Miranda's incredibly high, icy cliff. Descend
a fabulous canyon on Mars, dwarfing the Earth's Grand Canyon. Over
100 full color illustrations, including close-ups of planetary features. F.
Richard Stephenson and David A. Green Reviews
both the historical observations of supernovae seen in our galaxy
over the last two millennia and recorded in East Asia (China, Japan
and Korea), Europe, and the Arabic dominions, together with modern
observations of the remnants of these supernovae. Henry
C. King The
History of the Telescope relates not only the stories of early
inventors and astronomers, but also the rarely recorded details
of the instruments themselves and their makers. The author bases
his accounts primarily on first-hand sources—the letters,
memoirs, papers and treatises of the intellects (Bacon, Galileo,
Newton); innovators (Tycho Brahe, Huyens, Hooke, Herschel); 17th
century Italian telescope makers (Campani and Divini); great London
instrument artists (Graham, Dollard, Ramsden); the experimentors
(Foucault and Brashear); and the modern-day successors of these
men and their achievements. Replication of the work first published
by Charles Griffith & Co. in 1955. Janna
Levin Levin’s
diary of unsent letters to her mother describes what we know about
the shape and extent of the universe, about its beginning and its
end. She grants access to the astounding finds of contemporary theoretical
physics and makes tangible the contours of space and time–those
very real curves along which apples fall and planets orbit. She
explains the geometry of the universe now coming into focus–a
strange map of space filled with black holes, chaotic flows, time
warps, and invisible strings. Levin advances the controversial idea
that this map is edgeless but finite–that the universe is huge
but not unending–a radical revelation that would provide the
ultimate twist to the Copernican revolution by locating our precise
position in the Cosmos. As
she recounts our attempt to understand the universe, Levin tells
her highly personal and utterly original story as a scientist isolated
by her growing knowledge: "... I’d like to describe what
I can see from here, so you can look with me and ease the solitude...Consider
this a kind of diary from my social exile as a roaming scientist.
An offering of little pieces of the little piece I have to offer." Michael
A. Covington Describes
how to get a computerized telescope up-and-running, and how to embark
on a program of observation. Michael Covington explains in detail
how the sky moves, how a telescope tracks it, and how to get the
most out of any computerized telescope. Early chapters explain how
to test your telescope's optics, choose eyepieces and accessories,
take pictures through your telescope, and diagnose operational problems.
The second half then gives detailed instructions for three popular
telescopes: the Meade LX200, Celestron NexStar 5 and 8, and Meade
Autostar (ETX and LX90). Robin
Kerrod High
above the dirty window of Earth's atmosphere, the Hubble Space Telescope
(HST) enjoys a clear view of the universe. Hubble contains
the most images published in a single volume and is accompanied
by Robin Kerrod's clear and concise text explaining the fascinating
history of astronomy and the development of the HST. Covers the
observable universe in six sections: Stars in the Firmament, Stellar
Death and Destruction, Gregarious Galaxies, The Expansive Universe,
Solar Systems, and The Heavenly Wanderers. C.
D. Andriesse This
biography on Christiaan Huygens (1629-1695) describes in detail
how he arrived at discoveries and inventions often wrongly ascribed
to Newton. The great seventeenth-century Dutch mathematician and
physicist played a key role in the 'scientific revolution' and the
Huygens Principle on the wave theory of light helped establish his
reputation. Moreover, the discovery of Saturn's rings and the invention
of the pendulum clock made him so famous that he was invited to
be the first director of the French Academy of Science. John
S. Rigden Seduced
by simplicity, physicists find themselves endlessly fascinated by
hydrogen, the simplest of atoms. The allure of hydrogen, crucial
to life and critical to scientific discovery, is at the center of
this book, which tells a story that begins with the big bang and
continues to unfold today. In this biography of hydrogen, John Rigden
shows how this singular atom, the most abundant in the universe,
has helped unify our understanding of the material world from the
smallest scale, the elementary particles, to the largest, the universe
itself. |
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