Book Description

Compiled by a team of experts, this textbook has been designed for elementary university courses in astronomy and astrophysics. Beginning with a discussion of our nearest star, the Sun, the volume then considers how astronomers study the basic physical properties and life-cycles of more distant stars. Exotic objects such as black holes are also introduced. The text contains numerous useful learning features such as boxed summaries, student exercises with full solutions, and a glossary of terms. It is also supported by a website hosting further teaching materials. Written in an accessible style that avoids complex mathematics, this book is suitable for self-study and will appeal to amateur astronomers as well as undergraduate students. ... Read more

Book Description

The genesis of the universe elegantly explained in a simple theory based on just six numbers by one of the world's most renowned astrophysicists. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Six key physical constants and their significance
Leading cosmologist Martin Rees here provides an overview of present thinking about the origin and nature of the universe, using six key numbers (the ratio of electromagnetic force to gravitational force, the strength of nuclear binding, the density of the universe, the cosmological constant, the variations in density of the universe, and the number of spatial dimensions). Based on the title, I expected the book to focus tightly on these numbers; however, Rees rather tends to use them as a jumping-off point to address broader issues, which I think is all to the good. For example, he uses N (imagine a fancy script version), the relative strength of the electromagnetic and gravitational forces, as a starting point for discussing how gravity molds the universe despite its relative weakness.

He's a believer in the weak anthropic principle, meaning that he thinks that our universe is uniquely suited to letting life come into existence. His corollary is that there are very many universes, each with its own physical laws, but only a few tuned well enough to support life. Like all grand theories of cosmology, it is a breathtaking concept.

Recommended for any intelligent layman wanting to learn more about current thinking about the universe.

Challenging, informative reading for science buffs.
The author of this book, Sir Martin Rees, is the Royal Society Research Professor at Cambridge University and holds the title of Astronomer Royal. One must assume, then, that the arguments that he puts forward in this book represent the very best thinking of what is to me a very esoteric science. He apologies for the slow gestation of this book, written especially for the Science Masters series. But in my mind he need not apologise as has completed a formidable assignment - that of explaining in everyday terms some of the leading-edge theories in the realm of cosmology. In this book Sir Martin shows how just six numbers, imprinted in the 'big bang', determine the essential features of the physical cosmos. He also shows that cosmic evolution is highly sensitive to the values of these numbers and that if any one of them were 'untuned' there could be no stars and no life. Or at least not in the way that we know them today. So what are these six fundamental numbers? The first is a ratio of the strength of the electrical forces that hold atoms together divided by the force of gravity between them. It is very large, about 1036, and were it a few zeros shorter, only a short-lived miniature universe could exist and there would be no time for biological evolution. The second number is also a ratio and is the proportion of energy that is released when hydrogen fuses into helium. This number is 0.007, and if it were 0.006 or 0.008 we could not exist. The third number, also a ratio, relates the actual density of matter in the universe to a 'critical' density. At first sight this number appears to be about 0.4. If this ratio were too high the universe would have collapsed long ago: if too low, galaxies or stars would not have formed. The fourth number, only recently discovered, is a cosmic 'antigravity' and appears to control the expansion of the universe even though it has no discernible effect on scales less than a billion light years. The fifth number is the ratio of the energy required to break apart a galaxy compared to its 'rest mass energy' and is about 10-5. If this ratio were smaller the universe would be inert and structureless: if much larger the universe would be so violent that no stars or sun systems could survive. The sixth number, surprisingly, is the number of spatial dimensions in our world (3). Life could not exist if this was 2 or 4. In this book Sir Martin discusses each of the above and develops reasons for the limits that he gives. He postulates that perhaps there are some connections between these numbers but states that at the moment we cannot predict any one of them from the values of the others. Perhaps a 'theory of everything' will eventually yield a formula that interrelates them. More thought provoking is Sir Martin's discussion of what or who 'tuned' these numbers. He identifies three scenarios. One is the hard-headed approach of 'we could not exist if these numbers weren't adjusted in this special way: we manifestly are here, so there's nothing to be surprised about'. Another is that the 'tuning' of these numbers is evidence of a beneficent Creator, who formed the universe with the specific intention of producing us. For those who do not accept the 'providence' or Creator arguments, and Sir Martin places himself in this category, there is another argument, though still conjectural. This is that the 'big bang' may not have been the only one. Separate universes may have cooled down differently, ending up governed by different laws and defined by different numbers. Certainly, reading this book (and its no light task in coming to grips with the scale or immensity of the numbers) has been rewarding for me and has awakened in me an interest in looking further into other discussions regarding the 'big bang', time and parallel universes.

David Skea, Reviewer

Is this "just the way things are?"
This book is about cosmology, and specifically the manner in which our universe is constructed. The basic premise is that six dimensionless numbers govern the state of our universe so precisely that if any of them changed by even a tiny amount the result would be the impossibility of life, as we know it.

The term "number" here is important, as these are all dimensionless ratios and fractions. According to Rees the numbers are:
1) Ratio of electrical force to gravitational force (10^36)
2) Fraction of rest mass converted to energy when hydrogen fuses (0.007)
3) Ratio of actual density to critical density in universe (close to 1.0)
4) Ratio of gravity to antigravity (very small)
5) Ratio of gravitational binding energy of galaxies to their rest-mass energy (10^-5)
6) Number of spatial dimensions in our universe (3)

Rees argues that if any of these numbers were slightly different from what they really are, the universe as we know it would not exist. For example, if the ratio of electrical force to gravitational force was larger (by just a "few zeros") the universe would exist for only a short time and there would be no time for the biological evolution that led to animals such as us. Similarly, if the fusion of hydrogen to helium released much more energy than it does, stars would burn out more quickly, again leading to a universe in which animals like us would not have time to evolve.

Punctuated throughout the book are references (sometimes abbreviated) to the larger question of why these six numbers, and why the values they have. There's a natural sense of awe and amazement that these numbers all just happened to have precisely the values needed to make life, as we know it, possible. Such amazement leads, naturally enough, to various attempts to explain the apparent coincidence.

Perhaps the first question is whether it's a coincidence at all. That is, perhaps the universe was "designed" by a "god" who picked the numbers, knowing before hand exactly what values were needed. Of course this explanation leaves us asking why there is a "god," which seems like as big (or bigger) question than why a half-dozen ratios have the values they do. So this line of reasoning doesn't seem to take us very far.

Another approach is to invoke the anthropic principle (I think this is the one Rees prefers). In other words, we see the universe the way it is because if it were any other way we would not exist to wonder about it. Okay, so that doesn't really "explain" anything, either - or, at the very least, it seems just a little too convenient. After all, couldn't we invoke the anthropic principle for just about anything? And if we did, what would happen to our sense of wonder and our desire to learn more - to push back the string of "why?" questions at least one more level?

On the other hand, suppose the apparent coincidence is just that; apparent? Suppose these numbers are all somehow related. Suppose that if any one of them is in the right range, all the others will be in the right range, too. That might be the case, but as Rees explains, "At the moment ... we cannot predict any one of them from the values of the others." Although we don't know for sure, it's possible that physics will eventually uncover the "theory of everything" and the ratios will all be in there, in a very nateral and logical way.

Or, perhaps the answer is simply "because that's the way things are."

Anyone who's been around children (or been a child themselves) knows about the "why?" game. It starts out with something like this: "Daddy (or Mommy), why is the sky blue?" So you explain about Rayleigh scattering and the fact that molecules in the atmosphere scatter photons with an efficiency that's inversely proportional to the fourth power of the wavelength. You are hardly finished when the next question shoots across your bow: Daddy (or Mommy) why is there an atmosphere?" So you dutifully explain planetary evolution, the expulsion of vast quantities of carbon dioxide that facilitated the evolution of life forms that exploit photosynthesis, producing oxygen, etc. Then the third question comes "Daddy (or Mommy) why do planets form?" You follow this question with a short lecture on the planetary nebular hypothesis. But the questions don't stop; they just keep coming and coming and coming. There is, it seems, never an answer that cannot be followed with "why?"

If we did have a "theory of everything," and if it did explain these six ratios, there would still be the question "why this theory of everything?" And if we answer that, there undoubtedly will be another "why" question after it. Is there ever an answer that cannot be followed with "why?" That's the real question, for me, in Rees' book. Would the string of questions stop if we could answer why there are just "six numbers," and why they have the values they have? Or, could it be that we might answer that question simply to discover a new "why" question? And if not, how would we know if or when we've arrived at the final answer: "Because that's just the way things are?"

This book covers a lot of ground, and does so in abbreviated style in many instances. It's something of a quick cosmic tour. I liked it best for the way it helped me think a little more deeply about the bigger picture. It's a fun book to read, and definitely well worth the time.

JUST a little book that explains A BIG TOPIC!!
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This eleven chapter book (with seven excellent illustrations) by U.K. Astronomer Royal (a title bestowed upon a distinguished astronomer) Sir Martin Rees is about the following:

(1) Cosmology (branch of astronomy concerned with the origin, properties, and evolution of the universe)
(2) Theoretical cosmology (that establishes models which attempt to describe the universe's observed properties)
(3) Speculative cosmology (which is based on hypotheses).

These are large topics that can be incredibly complex and detailed but Rees manages to explain these topics in only 160 pages! As well, the language involved in explaining these topics can be very technical but Rees manages to reduce the technicality resulting in a book that's easy to follow and thus that's "intended for general readers."

I agree that this deceptively concise book is written for the general reader. However, for those not used to this kind of material, I suggest reading this book slowly since Rees cuts out extraneous detail. Whether you are used to this kind of material or not, you'll find that this book offers a stimulating and accessible account of new discoveries, and perceptive insights into cosmology. In fact, this book is so well-written, that according to Rees' internet site, this book is being considered for translation into twenty languages!

Rees, in the last paragraph of this book, summarizes its contents: "A theme of this book has been the intimate links between the microworld and the cosmos...Our everyday world...[shaped] by subatomic forces...owes its existence to our universe's well-tuned expansion rate, the processes of galaxy formation, the forging of carbon and oxygen in ancient stars, and so forth. A few basic physical laws set the 'rules'; our [universe's] emergence from a simple Big Bang was sensitive to six 'cosmic numbers.' Had [any one of] these numbers not been 'well-tuned' [or precise enough], the gradual unfolding of layer upon layer of [the universe's] complexity would have been [suppressed]." That is, "there would have been no stars and no life."

This book has a framework that is centered around the above six cosmic numbers or as Rees states: "[T]his book is the story of six [numbers] that are crucial for our universe, and our [that is, biological life's] place in it." What are these six numbers? Three of them relate to forces in the universe (two of these numbers are basic forces while one of them deals with an "unsuspected new force"); one number is concerned with the basic "texture" of the universe; and two deal with the properties of space itself. As already mentioned, all these numbers have a precise value that allow our universe (and us) to exist. Rees asks: "Is this [precision] just...a coincedence? Or is it providence of a benign Creator?"

Besides learning about these six critical numbers, the reader will learn much more. Some other things you'll learn about are antimatter, atomic structure, atoms, neutrinos, quarks, the periodoc table, the importance of hydrogen, deuterium, and helium, biological evolution, dark matter, black holes, cosmic background radiation, protoplanets and planets, galactic clusters, the strong nuclear force, extraterrestrial intelligence, particle physics, quantum theory, relativity theory, supernovae, and superstring theory. You'll read about such people as Einstein, Arthur Eddington, Michael Faraday, Richard Feynman, Galileo, Newton, Stephen Hawking, Fred Hoyle, and Edwin Hubble.

At the end of the book, Rees asks more questions: "Are there an infinity of other universes [called collectively the 'multiverse'] that are "badly tuned," and therefore sterile? Is our universe an "oasis" in a mutiverse? Should we seek out other reasons for the...values of our six [cosmic] numbers?"

My only minor complaint (and I'm nit-picking here) is that in chapter one Rees states the value of one of these six cosmic numbers. (It is a one followed by 36 zeros.) Instead of expressing this number in scientific notation, he actually writes out all the zeros. I reasoned that by doing this he was attempting to convey a sense of the immensity of this number. However, in chapter three he does the same thing. Why? Writing this long number out once was quite sufficient.

In conclusion, this book offers an accessible account of the forces that shape -- everything. You'll find this book to be an enjoyable and provocative intellectual adventure!

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a Cosmological " What If" book
For the universe to be as the universe is, the author traces this fact to the happenstance of six numbers or ratios, of forces. Examples of this forces are, gravity, nuclear binding force, weak and strong force, density of the universe etc. The author's thinking is something like this, If gravity was stronger the big bang would have spent its outward force already and be contracting. A two-billion year cyclical universe would not have the time to form planets, or for life to form. If gravity was less strong then planets would not have appeared. The author proceeds through each ratio, considering the min and max values. Vary too much from the present ratio and we would not exist, or life, the earth or the universe would not exist. Interesting concept. The surprising thing is the narrow range of some of the values. It shows that we exist from a combination of these numbers within such a narrow range that it borders on the miraculous that we exist at all. Is this. an argument for infinite universes with infinite chances to form or a universe built upon a master plan ? ... Read more

Book Description

VOYAGES TO THE STARS AND GALAXIES provides students and professors with the ideal combination of authors and experience. It is written by an award-winning astronomy educator (Fraknoi) and two distinguished research scientists (Morrison at NASA and Wolff at NOAO). This author team combines the latest science with classroom-tested teaching strategies and a student-friendly approach. Through unique group activities and a focus on astronomy as a human endeavor, the authors engage and involve students, helping them both understand and enjoy astronomy. The market-leading technology package includes access to InfoTrac®College Edition (free!) and TheSky Student Edition CD-ROM (free!), as well as an optional package with the RedShift College Edition CD-ROM (including animations) along with an accompanying workbook. ... Read more

Book Description

Now in full colour throughout, the sixth edition of Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion's famous guide to the night sky is fully revised and updated for planet positions and forthcoming eclipses up to the end of the year 2007. With one chapter for each month of the year, this easy-to-use handbook is an ideal first guide to the sky. It will help the reader to identify constellations, star clusters, nebulae, galaxies and metor showers, to plot the movement of planets, or to witness solar and lunar eclipses. Most of the features discussed are visible to the naked eye and all can be seen with a small telescope or binoculars. The Monthly Sky Guide offers a clear and simple introduction to the skies of the northern hemisphere for beginners of all ages. ... Read more

Book Description

Special relativity is a cornerstone of the structure of all fundamental theories, and general relativity has blossomed from Einstein's original theory into a cutting-edge applied science. Applications of Einstein's field equations describe such phenomena as supermassive black holes at the center of galaxies, the spiraling paths of binary pulsars, gravitational lensing caused by massive compact halo objects (Macho's), and the possibility of detecting gravitational waves emitted in cataclysmic cosmic events.

In Introduction to Relativity, physics teacher and researcher Bill McGlinn explains the fundamental concepts of Einstein's special and general theories of relativity.He describes the basic consequences of special relativity--length contraction and time dilation--and the enigma of the twin paradox, as well as the Doppler shift of light. Relativistic dynamics is contrasted to Newtonian dynamics,followed by a discussion ofrelativistic tensor fields, including those of the electromagnetic field and the energy-momentum density of fluids.After a study of Einstein's early attempt at incorporating the equivalence principle into physics, McGlinn presents the general theory of relativity, discussing the three classic tests of relativity: the deflection of light by a gravitational field; the precession of perihelia; and the gravitational redshift of light.He also discusses other important applications, such as the dynamics of orbiting gyroscopes, the properties of stellar interiors, and black holes.The book ends with a chapter on cosmology, which includes discussions of kinematics and dynamics of the famed Robertson-Walker metric, Hubble's constant, cosmological constant, and cosmic microwave background radiation.

For anyone seeking a brief, clear overview of modern general relativity which emphasizes physics over mathematics, McGlinn's Introduction to Relativity is indispensable. ... Read more

Book Description

Compiled by a team of experts, this textbook has been designed for elementary university courses in planetary science. It starts with a tour of the Solar System and an overview of its formation that reviews in detail the terrestrial planets, giant planets and minor bodies. It concludes with a discussion of the origin of the Solar System. The text contains numerous useful learning features such as boxed summaries, student exercises with full solutions, and a glossary of terms. It is also supported by a website hosting further teaching materials. ... Read more

Book Description

Galileo’s Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, published in Florence in 1632, was the most proximate cause of his being brought to trial before the Inquisition. Using the dialogue form, a genre common in classical philosophical works, Galileo masterfully demonstrates the truth of the Copernican system over the Ptolemaic one, proving, for the first time, that the earth revolves around the sun. Its influence is incalculable. The Dialogue is not only one of the most important scientific treatises ever written, but a work of supreme clarity and accessibility, remaining as readable now as when it was first published. This edition uses the definitive text established by the University of California Press, in Stillman Drake’s translation, and includes a Foreword by Albert Einstein and a new Introduction by J. L. Heilbron. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Dialogues of Galileo - with Modern Solutions
This edition of the Dialogues of Galileo Galilei includes mathematical solutions to the problems Galileo treats in plain language and an introduction describing a new cannon-ball experiment of the type used by Galileo that may be used to distinguish between the predictions of General Relativity and the editor's unified field theory. The Dialogues are then more interesting to the modern physics student, as it begins to resemble a review of contemporary mechanics in addition to being a grand old piece of history. Additional forwarding material by Albert Einstein and historical background by translator Stillman Drake make this edition a supurb introduction to the history of physics in which now the correct solutions may be read from the margins in modern physical notation. In addition, a number of illustrations have been added to illustrate old terminology for describing heavenly bodies and to provide portraits of Copernicus, Galileo, and his contemporaries Tycho and Kepler. ... Read more

Book Description

This introduction to basic practical tools, methods and phenomena in quantitative astronomy covers topics across a wide range of areas, from radio to gamma-ray wavelengths. Clear presentations of the topics are accompanied by diagrams and problem sets. Written for undergraduates and graduate students, the book will introduce them to the practice and study of quantitative and analytical astronomy and astrophysics. ... Read more

Book Description

In Seeing in the Dark, a poetic love letter to science and to the skies, Timothy Ferris invites us all to become stargazers. He recounts his own experiences as an enthralled lifelong amateur astronomer and reports from around the globe -- from England and Italy to the Florida Keys and the Chilean Andes -- on the revolution that's putting millions in touch with the night sky. In addition, Ferris offers an authoritative and engaging report on what's out there to be seen -- what Saturn, the Ring nebula, the Silver Coin galaxy, and the Virgo supercluster really are and how to find them. The appendix includes star charts, observing lists, and a guide on how to get involved in astronomy.

Ferris takes us inside a major revolution sweeping astronomy, as lone amateur astronomers, in global networks linked by the Internet, make important discoveries that are the envy of the professionals. His ability to describe the wonders of the universe is simply magical, and his enthusiasm for his subject is irresistible. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Poignant Rock n Roll Astronomer
This is a poignant and wonderful autobiographical book. As Timothy Ferris writes, for most of its long history, astronomy has been primarily an amateur pursuit. Like some of those lifelong "amateurs," quiet national treasure Ferris is an erudite Renaissance man and gifted writer with a wry and ironic sense of humor -- and one of the best popular science writers of his (boomer) generation (he is a master of analogy and metaphor). Meet these prominent amateur astronomers and follow their friend Professor Ferris through the solar system into deep space and, like me, you'll finally be out shopping for your own binoculars and telescope and finding the local amateur astronomy club closest to you (and then find yourself fighting light pollution). It might just be me, but, Ferris's delicate eloquence will bring you to tears, especially if -- even without your own observatory -- you too already live with the constant awareness that we're all living on a minuscule, fabulously beautiful rock spinning through an unfathomable solar system, galaxy, Local Group and expanding universe. Expect a good glossary, excellent index and helpful appendixes to start you in your own love affair with our universe. (The comic subtitle in part refers to the amateur astronomers watching for asteroids on collision courses with Earth.)

Another superb book from our best science writer
Timothy Ferris has an unusual gift for explaining complex subjects in a highly readable, even felicitous, style. The first book I read of his, Coming of Age in the Milky Way, was a thoroughly entertaining history of how we gradually came to understand the impossibly vast scale of the universe. It evoked awe of our strange and wonderful cosmos while staying refreshingly free of the antireligious crankiness and oddly mystical naturalism of Carl Sagan. Seeing in the Dark focuses on areas of astronomy that any of us could plausibly make contributions in - planets, asteroids, comets, the sun, the moon, even SETI. It is fascinating to learn how amateurs continue to make important discoveries and, indeed, how the professionals still depend on them to help expand our understanding of the solar system and beyond.

But what I gained most from reading this book was the realization that I don't really have to own an expensive telescope and live in the open desert to enjoy stargazing. I especially appreciated such personal stories as Ferris viewing a lunar occultation of Saturn with a small telescope from his deck in San Francisco. He had to maneuver the tripod into a far corner, wait until the planet drifted into view between his house and a tree, then cope with a bright streetlight by pressing his eye tight against the eyepiece - but it was indisputably worth the effort. This book inspired me to pull my cheap little 2.4 inch refractor out of the garage where it had languished for fifteen years and look again at Saturn's rings and Jupiter's moons. It has re-awakened my youthful fascination with outer space and I am greatly appreciative.

A match made in Heaven
The match being that of science and poetry. The author writes about the achievements of amateur astronomers, giving a wealth of information about astronomy, stargazing, and amateurs, all of which is written in a language so beautifully poetic. It is a masterpiece. The love of the author for his topic is evident on every page and it is contagious. This is a book that will fill you with wonder, and probably sweep you off your feet and onto the nearest dark ground with a starmap in hand!

Rich with information, written with passion, the book is fascinating, moving, and absolutely beautifully written.

Reading "Seeing" is Believing
This book is a great reminder of how amateurs can (and do!) make significant contributions to the areas of their interest. It's very well written and Ferris does a terrific job of inspiring the reader to grab a pair of binoculars or pull out that old scope you have gathering dust in the closet and take a good long look at what's going on up there. It contains only a few star charts and some tables on objects of interest, so it is not meant as an introduction to using telescopes, etc. Instead, Ferris draws on his own experience and interviews serious amateurs who have made contributions to "professional" astronomy, and the result is an inspiration.

Birth of a Classic
Once in a long while a book comes along that is destined to become a classic. Such a book is Timothy Ferris' "Seeing in the Dark". After reading, amateur astronomers will want to put this book on the shelf next to "Starlight Nights" and "Burnham's Celestial Handbook". Very inspiring stories of amateurs' accomplishments and successful amateur profiles spark the reader's own efforts in this hobby. The very numerous interesting and illuminating facts and factoids alone are worth the price of this book. The footnotes gathered at the back of the book containing digressions, asides, and background info are enough for a book in themselves. A must read for both those just getting into the hobby and long-time observers. ... Read more

Book Description

"We are children of the night," proclaims Chet Raymo in his excitingly original and many-layered guide to the universe and our place in it. Not so very long ago, the night sky was an intimate part of people's lives.That intimacy has eroded over time, but Raymo's new book offers readers the chance to recapture a personal connection to the heavens.

On one level, An Intimate Look at the Night Sky is a unique star guide: twenty-four beautiful star maps, created specifically for this book, cycle through the seasons and across the heavens, revealingwhat you can see with the naked eye throughout the year on a clear night in the northern hemisphere.Raymo's commentaries amplify the maps, offering intriguing details and tips on identifying stars, planets, and constellations.

On another level, Chet Raymo challenges our imagination-to see what is unseeable in the universe, to perceive distance and size and shape that is inconceivable, to appreciate ever more fully our extraordinary place in the cosmos.His elegant essays on the heavens blend science and history, mythology and religion, making clear why he is one of the most insightful and passionate science writers of our time.

After reading and viewing An Intimate Look at the Night Sky, which is as visually appealing as it is intellectually stimulating, readers will marvel as much at the wisdom of the ancients as at the advances of modern science: Raymo's artistry enables us to see the universe we inhabit through new eyes. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Lyrical, poetic & informative!
I am an astronomy buff who happened upon this book at my local library. Professor Raymo's writing style is lyrical, almost poetic, making it highly readable. It is organized around the seasons, with each section (Winter, Sping, Summer & Autumn) beginning with a description of the constellations asociated with that season). But the book is also very informative, containing chapters on such matters as star formation, the moon & lunar cycles, the planets, comets, the death of stars, etc. The final chapter very moving and is particularly beautifully written. This book would be equally appropriate for both someone just beginning to explore the wonders of astronomy and the night sky, and for a more experienced amateur astronomer, although the latter may find a good bit of the information contained in the book to be somewhat basic. Nonetheless, my keen interest in astronomy spans several years and I still found the book to be educational as well as inspiring.

Rich tour of the cosmos
Intimate? Throughout the book Raymo introduces poets, Gods, Goddesses, non sentient life and scientists from the history of astronomy. Look? Early on in the book the author encourages, almost to the point of insisting, that the reader go outside on a warm evening, lie down, and close her eyes. Night Sky? From the Big Bang through the Earth's crust, through the centers of stars, into your imagination and out to the conceivable ends of time this book takes you far beyond the night sky.

What a beautiful introduction to astronomy and cosmology and the arts and sciences associated with both.

Like 365 Starry Nights, An Intimate Look at the Night Sky leads the reader though a year of observing the stellar vista. On the way the author directs the reader to all manner of items of interest. He suggests that you close your eyes while listening to Haydn's The Creation and open them to experience the burst of the big bang through immediate sensory experience. You can vicariously (or mnemonically) experience extremes of observing through his descriptions -- from a miserable cold, damp night hoping for the clouds to part to lying on a tropical beach under the stars. Mr. Raymo introduces the mythology behind the names of many familiar constellations and includes many heavenly references from classical literature. With all this is mixed gobs of science. There is enough science in this book to support an introductory course in astronomy. Due to the balance of elements the book is a facinating, enjoyable read. The facets create a rich and rewarding reading experience.

Highly recommended for anyone.

A 'sampling' of Raymo's best...
Raymo's latest book is not a star atlas designed to be carried out-of-doors under a dark night sky. Though it has star maps (arranged by season), it is clearly not _that_ kind of guide to the night sky. Raymo hints at his motivation on page X of the introduction:

"We spend out evenings indoors in front of the television or computer monitor, oblivious of the beauty and terror of the celestial abyss." Raymo's intent is to reintroduce us to that beauty and terror; to renew our (a collective "our;" the human race) intimacy with the night sky.

Organizationally, the 12 chapters of the book are arranged into four broad sections by season. Each section begins with several all-sky charts introducing us to the major constellations of that season. The chapters associated with the four sections delve deeper, covering such topics as the distances to stars, eclipses, comets, meteor showers, etc.

The major attraction of this book is not the science, though the science is accurate and delivered in digestible portions. The major attraction of "Night Sky" is the way Raymo delivers the content: with the wide-eyed wonder of a child, with a deep respect and secular appreciation for the beauty of the heavens. His blend of science with poetry, history, culture, and music is smooth and never forced.

Seasoned Raymo readers will note that he has recycled much of his material from earlier (and arguably better) books, but that should not dissuade. Night Sky contains the best of Raymo's naturalist yearnings for the ineffable attraction of things celestial. As he discusses the "usual suspects" (Hubble Deep Field, the attrition of stars due to light pollution, etc.), he is convincing in his deep sense of awe and humility. He has an enviable ability to turn a phrase and communicate via allegory. His polished presentation of the allegory of an island of knowledge in a sea of mystery is beautiful. This piece first appeared in "Skeptics and True Believers" and is presented in this book in a more abbreviated form. It's his answer to those who think that science removes the mystery and romance from life.

In summary, I recommend this book. My highest recommendation is to those who have not read Raymo before. If you are new to this author, read this book. Then be ready to move on to "The Soul of the Night," "Natural Prayers," or "Skeptics and True Believers." If you have already read Raymo's best, you'll still enjoy "Intimate Look," but perhaps for different reasons. Raymo is a kindred spirit to all who appreciate the simple pleasures of gazing at the Pleiades through binoculars, or watching a sunset, or huddling in a blanket while waiting for Perseid meteors. This book captures that spirit.

A literary Nebula
I bought this book on a whim while looking for star atlases. First, this book does have brief guides based on the seasons on where to see some astronomical wonders. But that is not where it strenght lies. Chet Raymo paints a poetic portrait of our night sky in this book which will captivate your imagination. You can actually feel your mind reaching out across the universe as he pulls you into the initial creation of the heavens and sends you flying out at light speed. Each chapter delves into a aspect of the night sky which tickles your imagination. You will find yourself thinking for hours after putting this book down and looking forward to the next time you can pick it up.
If you are looking for a guide to the night sky, try "Turn Left at Orion". If you want to explore the heavens and enlighten your own mind, buy this book!!! You will not be disappointed in its lyrical prose and heavenly sketches.

simply beautiful
Chet Raymo certainly has a way with words. Couple that with detailed diagrams and pictures of the sky, and you have a wonderful book for anyone remotely interested in the heavens. This book has a poetic nature about it, but it is by no means written on an unattainable level--even for younger readers. This book covers all of the astronomical basics (birth/death of stars, the colors of stars and what that means about heat intensity, planets, comets, galaxies, and universes). It also offers eyes-on experience with diagrams and instructions for night viewing of the sky. The book concludes with a moving chapter about how the universe will end, citing a letter from Einstein and telling the story as if it were a fairytale. Not only is the book enthrallingly beautiful on the inside, but it is equally beautiful on the outside cover (the picture here on Amazon.com just does not do it justice). For a stargazer who is just beginning to search the sky or a seasoned watcher who simply loves celestial beauty, this book will leave the reader satisfied and inspired. ... Read more

Book Description

This new edition is an unrivalled source of information and images covering the whole of modern astronomy. Its 130 articles written by experts form an absorbing panorama of information arranged by topic. Almost every page of the Atlas is richly illustrated with colour photographs, maps, and detailed diagrams. This reference book commences with a survey of the Sun and the solar system, followed by the stars and the Galaxy, and concludes with the extragalactic universe and cosmology. For this edition there are entirely new sections on the planets Venus, Neptune and Pluto, solar system debris, black holes and collapsed stars, active galaxies, galaxy clusters and cosmology. Many photographs have been replaced by improved images from modern telescopes, including the Hubble Space Telescope. An elaborate 24-page glossary and index has been added to increase the ease with which this sumptuous and lavish encyclopedia can be used for quick reference. There are substantial changes throughout the section on the Solar System. The material on Venus is re-written, to take account of the spectacular Magellan mission. The Mars chapter now includes the Phobos results. In the outer solar system new results on the satellites of Jupiter and Saturn are included, as well as new photographs from the Hubble Space Telescope. There is also a new chapter on planetary climate change. The section on stars and the Galaxy now includes chapters on astrometry and protoplanetary systems, as well as many modifications to the existing texts on evolved stars. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Excellent detailed information book on astonomy
Well, it's a little out of date now , but this is still an excellent book for information on astrononmy up to the time period and the historical beginns of thscience. There's lots of great pictures and iullstrations. It's very comprehensive. However, it's a little hard to sit down with and read at times because of it's very large size.

Comprehensive but no atlas.
Let me point out first up, this book is very large.Both in its size and the wealth of information therein.You need to be sitting at a desk or table to be able to comfortably read this book.That aside, the amount of information it contains is vast.Although a novice can pick up this book and benefit from a read, many will probably find the text too technical.This is a book I return to often and always learn something new.It contains hundreds of photographs and graphs to compliment the text.Don't be mislead into thinking this is an atlas, as it is not.It really is a comprehensive illustrated encyclopedia of astronomy.If your after an atlas head to "The Cambridge Atlas of the Stars by Wil Tirion" or "Sky Atlas 2000.0: Deluxe by Wil Tirion, Roger W. Sinnott" for the two best available.Recommended.

Terrific astronomy reference!
I bought this book after borrowing a copy from my Astrophysics prof for 6 months or so.The text is very useful, but this book really stands out because of the diagrams.Many physics texts describe astrophysicalphenomena, but this book has beautiful pictures of those selfsame events. I used colour copies for my presentations, and they really got the pointacross.I have never found a better, more comprehensive book aboutastronomy.The physics are at about the mid-undergraduate level.

A must for anyone interested in Astronomy
This is astronomy in a very big nutshell.This tome starts off with a very brief history of astronomy then it explores the universe from the inside out.

Early chapters deal with the sun, planets and theinterstellar medium.Terrestrial planet descriptions include gorgeoustopographies, volcanic and techtonic activity and internal structures. Chapters on gas giants include rings, clouds and magnetospheres.Allsatellites receive the same attention to detail as the planets.This bookis thorough!

A salient point is this atlas is its treatment of the HRdiagram--the Rosetta stone of astronomy.If you know the HR diagram youknow a big chunk of astronomy.This book teaches you all about it in pageafter page of beautiful prints and pictures.

Later chapters deal withstellar evolution, galactic structure, quasars and finally cosmology.Fromnebulae to black holes to the debate on extra-terrestrial life this bookcovers it all!

The best thing about this atlas is that anyone can pick itup and read it.True, it's more than just a bunch of pretty pictures. It's technical but not TOO technical.It's meant for serious astronomersas well as someone just plain interested in space stuff.

Visuallystunning as well as topically complete this is quite simply the best bookon astronomy I have ever seen.You won't be disappointed.

no atlas, but scientific articles, for amateurs ?
Beuatiful pictures, but rather scientific/technical book, per item articles. An amateur who has read Hawkins, Griffin, Davies etc (like me) can understand about 50 % of the written part. No atlas ! ... Read more

Book Description

From the longest running column in Scientific American's history comes this collection of fascinating projects for amateur astronomers
For over seventy years, "The Amateur Scientist" column in Scientific American has helped people explore their world and make original discoveries. This collection of both classic and recent articles presents projects for amateur astronomers at all levels. Hands-on astronomy fans will find how to build inexpensive astronomical instruments using ordinary shop-tools. From making a telescope to predicting satellite orbits to detecting the chemical composition of faraway stars, this book has something for everyone interested in practical astronomy. ... Read more

Book Description

Exploring the X-Ray Universe describes the view of the stars and galaxies that is obtained through X-ray telescopes. X-rays, which are invisible to human sight, are created in the cores of active galaxies, in cataclysmic stellar explosions, and in streams of gas expelled by the Sun and stars. The window on the heavens used by the X-ray astronomers shows the great drama of cosmic violence on the grandest scale. This account of X-ray astronomy incorporates the latest findings from several observatories operating in space. These include the Einstein Observatory operated by NASA, and the EXOSAT satellite of the European Space Agency. The book covers the entire field, with chapters on stars, supernova remnants, normal and active galaxies, clusters of galaxies, the diffuse X-ray background, and much more. The authors review basic principles, include the necessary historical background, and explain exactly what we know from X-ray observations of the Universe. ... Read more

Book Description

This newly revised and updated 3rd edition of ASTRONOMY: THE SOLAR SYSTEM AND BEYOND engages students as it illustrates their place in the universenot just their location, but also their role as planet dwellers in an evolving universe. Fascinating and engaging, the book illustrates how science works, and how scientists depend on evidence to test hypotheses. Students will learn to focus on the scientific method through the strong central theme of "how we know what we know." Through a discussion of this interplay between evidence and hypothesis, Seeds provides not just a series of facts, but also a conceptual framework for understanding the logic of astronomical knowledge. The book vividly conveys the author's love of astronomy, shows students how the universe can be described by a small set of physical laws, and illustrates how they can comprehend their place in the universe by understanding these laws, rather than simply memorizing facts. By crafting a story about astronomy, Seeds shows students how to ask questions of nature and therefore gradually puzzle out the beautiful secrets of the physical world. With the use of mathematics set off in boxes, the book's presentation is flexible and allows instructors to teach to differing student levels. This is the first text from Mike Seeds to be written using a planets-first approach. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

So far the best text book I've encountered
Seeds has a deep understanding of science and a refined writing style that is rarely found among textbook writers. Aside from hard astronomy details, he strives to train his student readers to think like real scientists, which includes the necessary skill to distinguish true science from pseudoscience. Sometimes the tone of the author subtly reminds of Carl Sagan; If you like Carl Sagan, you'll love this book.

The beautiful graphics and the student's edition of TheSky CD further enhances the value of this product. Seeds is a strong force indeed. ... Read more

Book Description

Ptolemy's Almagest is one of the most influential scientific works in history. A masterpiece of technical exposition, it was the basic textbook of astronomy for more than a thousand years, and still is the main source for our knowledge of ancient astronomy. This translation, based on the standard Greek text of Heiberg, makes the work accessible to English readers in an intelligible and reliable form. It contains numerous corrections derived from medieval Arabic translations and extensive footnotes that take account of the great progress in understanding the work made in this century, due to the discovery of Babylonian records and other researches. It is designed to stand by itself as an interpretation of the original, but it will also be useful as an aid to reading the Greek text. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

epicycle
so it turns out that the center of the eccentric circle that the planets travel on travels on its own circle but be careful this is not a giant epicycle on a small deferent! haha! genius!!

A new look at the universe
The main desire of Ptolemy in writing his Almagest is to explain and account for the motions of the apparently erratic celestial beings in terms of perfect and circular motions. In doing so he introduces the epicyclic (which states that the center of a smaller circle orbits around the earth and the object orbits around the smaller circle) and the eccentric hypotheses (which supposes that the center of the circular motion of the planet is not exactly centered on the earth), which are ultimatly equivalent to eachother in terms of result. Begining with the motion of the sun in the sky and moving on to the less accountable outer planets, Ptolemy moves his mathematics brilliantly with a nod to a story teller's art. Some may find his introduction of his equant (something that is often said to defile his principles of perfect motion), which explains the retrogradation of the outer planets, to be a let down to the fanfare of perfection in the stars. Yet, overall, the Almagest manages to recapture the magic and wonder of the universe through complicated mathematical hypotheses and to succesfully lay the ground for the break throughs of Copernicus, Brahe, and Kepler to come. If you are at all interested in astronomy or mathematics, you ought to read this.

compares favourably with the Tetrabiblos
The mathematics is difficult to follow, but as it is developed from Euclid and Eratosthenes it is reliable. The observations have been made from a very wide area and over a long time; but while the mechanics may be rather mysterious the results are impressive.

Does the front cover always show Penelope weaving at her loom? - the ancients obviously thought highly of Homer and the Greek myths.

The Tetrabiblos survives together with the parallel Greek. Since the Almagest went through successive transliterations/translations (and interpretations?), it might not be too surprising if the Greek text has disappeared.

And what of Ptolemy's other books? - his geography for example. The Almagest has observations from Ceylon to Thule, including Britain. The ancients must have travelled widely.

Is there anywhere an account of the origin of the names of stars and constellations? These seem to have accumulated over time. Many star names begin "Al-", from the Arabic, I suppose.

Well done! ... Read more

Book Description

The refurbished Hubble Space Telescope has revealed spectacular and intriguing details in every object it has turned its acute gaze upon. What discoveries has the HST made so far? And how does this telescope actually work? This lavishly illustrated volume is the first to answer these questions in a complete review of the most exciting science to come from the Hubble Space Telescope. From the local Solar System and nearby stars, to the most distant quasars and early Universe, this volume presents a superb collection of the most dramatic images taken by the HST, supported by a lively and informative, but non-technical guide. Hubble Vision offers a view of the Universe as never seen before and will capture the imagination of all those interested in the astronomical quest of understanding our Universe - from the general reader and amateur astronomer through to the professional scientist. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Do you see what I see?
One of the greatest achievements in the history of humanity with regard to observational astronomy has to be the Hubble Space Telescope, our first real opportunity to see the universe 'up close and personal', in the visual light spectrum (among other spectra) without the interference of the earth's atmosphere. Launched in 1990, there was a collective gasp when it was discovered that this remarkable achievement needed specs (not the construction-data kind, but the old-fashioned kind - eyeglasses)! Not long thereafter, a shuttle mission set forth to do the needed repairs, and since then the results have been stunning.

Carolyn Collins Petersen, an award-winning science writer with some specialty in astronomy, together with John C. Brandt, a researcher at the University of Colorado (he's even had an asteroid named for him), put together this early major book on the Hubble achievements. Their first chapter gives a brief history of the HST (Hubble Space Telescope) project, from concept to launch. They recount a narrative history of the first indications that there were problems, the excitement and the disappointment, as well as the correction. The sections on the history of observation and the technical specifications of the HST are interesting, as well, but the real glory is in the pictures.

Throughout the rest of the text, the authors put pictures from the HST of the major objects in the sky together with composite pieces and partial images. For some of the planetary images, the authors show side-by-side comparisons with some of the planetary exploration missions (Voyager, etc.), and even against the close-up images, HST fares well. The photography of stars in all their various life-stages, gaseous formations to final supernovae, are glorious and informative. The galaxy images give great and stunning detail of some of the most distant structures. Alas, even the HST has trouble discerning in detail objects such as quasars, which remain a mystery, but more data has been obtained than ever before.

The final chapter discusses topics such as distances, universal expansion, dark matter, and how the HST plays an observational role in collecting evidence in support of or variance to current theories on the universe. Petersen and Brandt discuss the general trends in cosmological thinking, accessible to the non-scientist and interesting to the scientifically trained.

The epilogue is a bit moot at this point, as the text written in the early 1990s only covered the time period up to 2002; however, the HST project is a big-budget item, which means it is a political item, and the budgetary concerns, both institutional (NASA-related) and governmental (will Congress and Presidential administrations support it?) are always a concern. Hubble continues to be a source of pride for the NASA community, and a source of great information for the astronomical community around the world.

This is a coffee-table book as well as an interesting scientific text.

Obtaining cosmological data
Good overview for the general reader how cosmological observational data is obtained, in this reference in the context of the cutting-edge Hubble space telescope. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Science writer William Poundstone (and biographer of game-theory guru John von Neumann) begins this book of deftly strung anecdotes from the life of pop-science demigod Carl Sagan with the following anecdote: four-year-old Carl, a Jewish kid growing up near the Jersey shore, rides piggyback on his dad's shoulders into the 1939 World's Fair and the "World of Tomorrow." Surrounded by mocked-up "rocketports," GM's "Futurama," and the promise of outlandish technology to come, it's easy to imagine the impact on this little guy who was to become one of our century's most visionary and visible scientists. A childhood friend tells Poundstone that "from an early age Carl was seized with the fabulous mission of searching for life on other worlds," a quest that would dominate his entire professional career.

Poundstone recounts how this quest drove the immensely intelligent, ambitious, and charismatic Sagan, from his discovery of Arthur C. Clarke to his predictable adolescent chemistry-set accidents to his colorful academic career and professional work on the Viking and Voyager missions, nuclear disarmament, the award-winning Cosmos, and Robert Zemeckis' Contact. What recommends this biography most, though, isn't its completeness but its style: Poundstone has divided the 500-plus-page book into over 200 easily digestible, addictive little sections, each an entertaining or illuminating (or, often, laugh-out-loud) anecdote from Sagan's life, with titles like "Pornography in Space," "Muskrats, Drunkards, Extraterrestrials," and "Sagan Versus Apple Computer." (The in-house name for the mid-range PowerMac 7100 was "Carl Sagan," the joke being that it would make Apple "billions and billions." But forced to change it by Sagan, Apple switched to "BHA," later revealed to stand for "Butt-Head Astronomer"--Sagan sued for libel.) --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Good, fair read
You can add me to the list of people who was about 7 or so when I first saw Cosmos, and it was a major influence (along with 2 scientist parents of my own) to go into science (not astronomy). Carl Sagan, and the way he made science poetic, influenced me greatly.

I feel that an absolute must in a biography, is fairness. I neither want to read idolatry, nor a muckracking book. This book was fair in its depiction of Sagan: a brilliant scientist, who cared about the world, science, writing, and his own ego. I especially liked the sections on his work with NASA on the various Mars missions; where do we land, what experiments do we perform, and just what do the results mean, anyway?

There was enough information about his background and personal life to keep it interesting, but not so much that it bored me. I was unaware of his first marriage to Lynn Margulis; a famous scientist in her own right.

This biography moved very quickly; I always wanted to pick it back up again. Lastly, you do not need any type of science background to understand this book. It is a biography, not a science text at all.

A Bio That Strives to Ring True
Many of us who knew Carl Sagan understood how he compartmentalized his complex life. Few had an inkling how rich, surprising, and often tragic it was; how Sagan faced down death;how he hurt and cut off many and helped more.

For the reader, while rewarding to see that Sagan was a driven, and polymathic person (as a few of us knew well), it is also shocking and even distressing to see details of Sagan's private life up for ultimate scrutiny. In fairness, Poundstone was doing his job. In comparison, Davidson's competing bio of Sagan (also read by this reviewer)is a revolting escapade into several episodes of spiteful, foul-mouth invective, and marijuana haze, additionally peppered with unfortunate inaccuracies. I found no statements in error in Poundstone's book, although more than a few for which I could disagree upon his interpretation.

Superb portions in this bio abound; in fact, the decription of Viking is the best I have seen; Poundstone took me back.

A disappointment: Sagan's secretary, Shirley Arden, should have been front and center here, but shows up as a minor allusion. Shirley is a miracle worker, and for anyone interested in Sagan, it is salient to note her key role of support, editorial acumen, organizational savvy, surrogate mothering, and many other lovely attributes in making Carl Sagan a mensch.

A bittersweet book of a remarkable life,all too short. Sagan is missed but Poundstone helps make sure he will not be forgotten.

Among the Stars
I was more influenced by his books then TV appearances on Cosmos, which was a great show. The book really made me smile and reminded me of what was great about the scientist and the man. As we all are, he was mortal and flawed and this book did not try to hide either. It's possible Sagan's final note to us all was his article at the end of the now defunct George magazine. In it, he looked foreward and encouraged us all to take better care of our planet and fellow inhabitants.

Carl Sagan: A very Human being
I have read everything that Carl Sagan has ever written. I have also read biographies by other writers, and had some conversations about what kind of man Carl Sagan really was. Behind the hype and the smile lived a lonely man-- a man who cared too much about the world, yet it distracted him from the chance he had to bond with his eldest children. This book touches on some of the lesser known facts and issues about Carl Sagan. His loves and his losses; his triumphs and his losses. By the time the reader is finished this well written and, I believe, even handed account of one of modern days greatest scientists, he or she will have learned a great deal about the man behind COSMOS, behind the Dragons, and behind CONTACT. And they will have learned that in many ways, Carl Sagan was just a man, for better or worse-- yet we will not see his kind again soon. I do remember where I was and what I was doing when JFK was shot in Dallas. I also remember where I was and what I was doing when I learned that Dr. Sagan had passed away. I must admit, and without any remorse, I shed a few tears on both occasions.
I cannot recommend this book enough to the reader who wishes to know the real man behind the force that was and is Carl Sagan.

no hidden agenda
This reads like a simple relation of facts without hidden agenda, amateur psychoanalysis, pompous moralizing, etc. I think that is what a biography should be.

Avoid Keay Davidson's conniving diatribe; stick with this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Do a little armchair space travel, rub elbows with alien life forms, and stretch your mind to the furthest corners of our uncharted universe. With this astonishing guidebook, you don't have to be an astronomer to explore the mysteries of stars and their profound meaning for human existence. Clifford A. Pickover tackles a range of topics from stellar evolution to the fundamental reasons why the universe permits life to flourish. He alternates sections that explain the mysteries of the cosmos with sections that dramatize mind-expanding concepts through a fictional dialog between futuristic humans and their alien peers (who embark on a journey beyond the reader's wildest imagination). This highly accessible and entertaining approach turns an intimidating subject into a scientific game open to all dreamers. Told in Pickover's inimitable blend of fascinating state-of-the-art science and whimsical science fiction, and packed with numerous diagrams and illustrations, The Stars of Heaven unfolds a world of paradox and mystery, one that will intrigue anyone who has ever pondered the night sky with wonder. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Sun, the Stars, and the Universe
In this book, Dr. Pickover takes us on a scientific and historical tour of the development of our understanding of the workings of stars (of which our sun is the nearest example). In the usual Pickover manner, the author does not let us rest with a light-hearted thesis on nuclear physics. He leads us to the conclusion that neither stars nor our universe could be without the fortuitous existence of an excited state of the carbon-12 nucleus. Is this because the excited state of carbon-12 was designed so or has our universe evolved from a cosmology of universes in such a way that the excited state is a necessity? The reader is left to ponder the question. For more speculations about God see Dr. Pickover's next tome, "The Paradox of God and the Science of Omniscience", also available on this web site.

The star of heaven is you.
The stars of heaven - where would we be without them? Actually nowhere; we as humans would not exist without them. As carbon based lifeforms we owe our very existence to the stars since they are the source of this carbon, and what a close call it is that this carbon is formed at all. Were the number 7.6549 (the resonant energy state of carbon in MeV) just a few percent different, the stars would not produce this carbon, and the rich biochemistry that make us human would not be possible. So, if you ever wondered where you came from, Pickover has the answer in these glorious pages. A journey to the stars would be wonderful, but the journey of the stars to us is even more wonderful. Pickover tells the amazing story of where we came from for those who wonder at that amazing question.

Dennis W. Gordon

On The Stars Of Heaven, By Clifford A. Pickover
If there is ever a time more than any other that we need astronomy, it is now. Because astronomy -- from backyard stargazing on up -- reminds us there's much beyond terror looming over our heads. And, now more than ever, we need writers up to the task of convincing us of this. Not just competent writers, mind you; from these you'll get the venerable, well-annotated but otherwise dehydrated boilerplate itemizing the hits and misses of Astronomy 101's usual suspects: ancient Greeks, Moorish scholars, Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, Lowell (for comic relief) and finally some pro-forma paeans to Einstein, Hubble, Hawking and (with an asterisk) Sagan.Now, while all this is fairly serviceable stuff, it conveys nothing of what we layfolk dearly want from science: our own personal place in it. We want to connect -- to log on to eternity. And that's where Clifford Pickover steps in. His new book, The Stars of Heaven, ostensibly concentrates on stellar astronomy -- the lives and deaths of stars. But anyone who has ever read his previous books will expect -- and receive -- far more. Pickover's expansive field of view reveals the nature and mysteries of stars in their broadest, deepest possible context -- from the edge of the observable universe and beyond to the restless shadows of human consciousness. Astrophysics, cosmology, philosophy, religion, art -- all of these seamlessly enrich Pickover's answer to our seemingly simple "wish upon a star." But don't get me wrong here; The Stars of Heaven is no ponderous block of academic marble. Pickover delivers the goods like a friend, happy you've asked him to stop over for a chat about some of his favorite ideas. He's an avid sci-fi fan, and he delights in actively engaging his readers, so in this book (as in various others of his) he creates for us a space adventure all his own, complete with wacky characters, funny asides and lightspeed plot-twists but all to make his main points memorable -- and meaningful. Sometimes, to crystallize a point, Pickover includes a simple equation or two, but these are painless and few; in fact, they serve as handy landmarks should you wish to backtrack and refresh. But always this is a personal journey for the author -- a chance to reveal why he delights in heavenly mysteries, scientific and otherwise. You'll especially get a sense of this in the "non-fiction" section of each chapter, where he distills and develops themes introduced in the sci-fi segment. And this may be the most valuable element of the whole book: a glimpse into n