Автор: Jacqueline Mitton
Издательство: Cam.dge Un.ity Press
Год издания: 2008
isbn: 0521823641
Количество страниц: 404
Язык: english
Формат: PDF
Authored by a professional astronomer and writer, this volume readily fills the need for an astronomy dictionary. Coverage encompasses named astronomical objects, terms and abbreviations most frequently encountered in astronomy, constellations, principal observatories, space missions, and biographical sketches for 70 well-known individuals in the history of the field. Written at a level accessible to the general reader, the 1,300 alphabetically arranged entries range in length from one sentence (simple definitions) to several paragraphs (entries on planets). Specialist terms and acronyms are clearly explained. Sample entries include Air shower, 719 Albert, Astronomer Royal, Degenerate star, Egg Nebula, Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, Hooker telescope, Kepler’s laws, Penumbra, and Yerkes Observatory. Many up-to-date finds are included; for example, we learn that legislation has been enacted in parts of the U.S. to protect important observatory sites from the damaging effects of unnecessary lighting in nearby cities; the highest quasar redshift measured by 2007 was 6.43; Pluto is no longer categorized as a major planet. About 300 excellent color photographs and illustrations, unusual for a moderately priced dictionary, supplement the text. Among them are 20 new star maps by distinguished illustrator Wil Tirion and photographs from various space missions and the Hubble Space Telescope. Ample see and see also references guide the reader from one topic to another; references to related dictionary entries are highlighted in color. Cambridge Illustrated Dictionary of Astronomy, notable for authoritative, up-to-date definitions supplemented by color illustrations and photographs, is highly recommended for high-school, academic, special, and public libraries. --Nancy Cannon
Автор: F. Duccio Macchetto
Издательство: Springer
Год издания: 2010
isbn: 9048133998
Количество страниц: 308
Язык: english
Формат: PDF
The Hubble Space Telescope has facilitated major contributions to a wide range of topics in astronomy: The study of nearby planets The processes of star and planet formation The stellar and interstellar components of galaxies The discovery that most, if not all, galactic nuclei harbor a massive black hole that profoundly affects their evolution The realisation that the universe as a whole is undergoing acceleration as a result of a yet unknown form of "dark energy". This volume offers a broad perspective of the advancements made possible by the HST over its almost two decades of operation and emphasises their impact on European astronomical research. These proceedings of 41st symposium in the ESLAB series of the European Space Agency collect the oral and poster papers that were presented and discussed during the meeting.
Автор: Louis Neil Irwin, Dirk Schulze-Makuch
Издательство: Spкinger
Год издания: 2010
isbn: 1441916466
Количество страниц: 337
Язык: english
Формат: PDF
It is very unlikely that little green humanoids are living on Mars. But what are the possible life forms that might exist in our Solar System and how might they have evolved? This uniquely authoritative and imaginative book on the possibilties for alien life addresses the intrinsic interest that we have about life on other worlds - reinforcing some of our assumptions and reshaping others. It introduces new possibilties that will enlarge our understanding of the issue overall, in particular the enormous range of environments and planetary conditions within which life might evolve. Cosmic Biology -discusses a broad range of possible environments where alien life might have evolved; -explains why carbon-based, water-borne life is more likely that its alternatives, but is not the only possiblity; -applies the principles of planetary science and modern biology to evolutionary scenarios on other worlds; -looks at the future fates of living systems, including those on Earth.
Автор: M. Vázquez, E. Pallé, P. Montañés Rodríguez
Издательство: Springer
Год издания: 2010
isbn: 1441916830
Количество страниц: 422
Язык: english
Формат: PDF
In The Earth as a Distant Planet, the authors become external observers of our solar system from a distance and try to determine how one can understand how Earth, the third in distance to the central star, is essentially unique and capable of sustaining life. The knowledge gained from this original perspective is then applied to the search for other planets outside the solar system, or exoplanets
Автор: Lance Tony Buick
Издательство: Springer
Год издания: 2009
isbn: 1441910522
Количество страниц: 359
Язык: english
Формат: PDF
There are many more astronomical and meteorological phenomena involving color than most people are aware of, let alone have observed. Visual double stars with contrasting color are obvious targets for amateur astronomers, but there are many more - everything from colors on the Moon, through colors on the planets and in deep-sky objects, to man-made colors in the night sky. A great deal of these colored phenomena can be seen with the unaided eye, and can be visible in - and imaged with - a modest telescope, but all require preparation, anticipation and planning. The result will be some breathtaking sights, along with some amazing images. Just browsing through this book will captivate the reader. Some events are familiar but present severe challenges to photograph. Some can be captured only by using previously unfamiliar techniques. And it is almost certain that some will never have been seen before by readers. All the colored objects and phenomena are accessible by using the right techniques, for which Tony Buick provides easy-to-follow instructions.
Автор: Philip Pugh
Издательство: 0387764690
Год издания: 2009
isbn: Springer
Количество страниц: 411
Язык: english
Формат: PDF
Amateur astronomers have to start somewhere. Most begin by buying a modest astronomical telescope and getting to know the night sky. After a while, many want to move on to the next stage, but this can be problematic. The magazines advertise a mass of commercially-made equipment – some of it very expensive – which can represent a major financial outlay. The trick is to choose the right equipment, and then use it to its fullest extent. Observing Skills: The Science and Art of using Astronomical Telescopes provides the required information. First, it explains how to get the best from entry-level equipment (that upgrade may not even be needed for a year or two!). Second, it explains how to select equipment that is at the ‘next level’, and describes how use more advanced telescopes and accessories.
Автор: Mark Littmann, Fred Espenak
Издательство: O-rd Univ Press
isbn: 019956552X
Количество страниц: 360
Язык: english
Формат: PDF
Francis Baily spent his 20s exploring unsettled parts of North America and didn't get around to astronomy until he was 37, when he traveled to an annular eclipse of the Sun in southern Scotland. On May 15, 1836, he watched as light from the occluded sun poured through the lunar valleys and reached him broken up into "a row of lucid points, like a string of bright beads." With those words, Baily founded the industry of eclipse chasing. The best feature of Totality is its wealth of biographical information about eclipse chasers past and present. Throughout this century, every total eclipse over land has been attended by scientists willing to travel great distances, endure hostile climates--and risk complete failure because of clouds--for a few minutes' view of the corona. This turbulent outer part of the sun, best studied when the sun is obscured, draws observers across the globe to this day.
Автор: Michael E. Bakich
Издательство: Springer
Год издания: 2010
isbn: 1441917764
Количество страниц: 479
Язык: english
Формат: PDF
1,001 Celestial Wonders is a guide to the night sky's brightest and most fascinating objects. Each target is accessible to amateur astronomers using medium-sized telescopes from a dark site. In fact, many are so bright they remain visible under moderate light pollution, as from the outskirts of a city or the suburbs of a town. The book provides a chronological target list, making it easy to use. No matter what night you choose, this book will show you many of the most memorable objects to observe, whether you are using a small telescope or even binoculars, or an instrument of larger aperture. This is far more than just a list of interesting objects. It is structured so that objects of various observing difficulty are included, which will help readers become better observers, both encouraging beginners and challenging long-time amateur astronomers. This book is designed to be easy-to-use at the telescope, and observers will appreciate each object's standardized layout and the book's chronological organization. Finally, many amateur astronomers function best when presented with a list! Even the Meade Autostar® controller features a 'best tonight' list (although the list is far less comprehensive and detailed than the catalog provided in this book), a feature that has proved extremely popular. 1,001 Celestial Wonders offers a life-list of objects any observer would be proud to complete.
Автор: Neale Monks
Издательство: Springer
Год издания: 2010
isbn: 1441968504
Количество страниц: 260
Язык: english
Формат: PDF
Go-To Telescopes Under Suburban Skies is the first book specifically written for amateur astronomers who own, or who are about to purchase, a computer-controlled ‘go-to’ telescope. Computer control and automatic location of objects in the night sky is now a feature of even inexpensive astronomical telescopes (under $200), no longer just of the more expensive models. The advantage of the ‘go-to’ capability is enormous – the telescope can be aimed at any object in the sky with great speed and accuracy – and so is the popularity of these instruments. GO-TO Telescopes Under Suburban Skies provides literally hundreds more targets beyond those offered by the built-in ‘nightly tours’ that feature on the telescope’s computer handset (a feature incorporated by most manufacturers). Although most ‘go-to’ telescopes have enormous databases of objects they can find – usually running into tens of thousands – the tours (that’s suggested objects to look at) are always very limited. Once you’ve seen the planets and bright objects that the computer suggests, you’re on your own…
Автор: Giora Shaviv,
Издательство: Spтшger
Год издания: 2009
isbn: 3642020879
Количество страниц: 504
Язык: english
Формат: PDF
This beautifully illustrated book describes the birth and evolution of the theory of stellar structure through the vehement controversy between biology (as presented by Darwin) and physics (as presented by Kelvin) about the age of the Earth, which culminated with Rutherford suggesting radioactive dating. Shaviv analyzes critically many proclaimed scientific results, showing how and why they were wrong, and explains why it took decades to find the now accepted scientific answers - where there are such - and why there remains much more to be done before we can say we fully understand what happens up there in the heavens. The Life of the Stars pres fascinating reading for all those interested in the stars, in the history of astronomy and in what their story tells us about how science progresses. Moreover, it will bring readers up-to-date on current problems in astrophysics.