Book Description

Reviews (5)

Find the Russian edition
Interesting book, but try to find the original Russian edition if you are interested in early Soviet space technology.The Russian version is in a larger format and has much higher quality prints of the photos.

A subject we do not hear too much about.
As mentioned in another review, unlike the NASA MISSION REPORTS this is "merely" the translation of a Russian brochure dealing with the Soviet/Russian Space programme. As such a different standard has to be set in terms of expectations.

In my lowly opinion, despite the obvious lack of detail on Russian space missions except for a select few this brochure offers a glimpse into one of the other major spacefaring powers and how they approach spaceflight, that we even now only rarely get to see.

To my thinking this translation provides a perfect introduction to the Russian space programme and should encourage people who are interested to find out more about the Russian space missions.
If we are lucky perhaps we will see Russian Mission Reports in the future.

Long on photos, short on text.
As an avid fan of the Godwin/NASA Mission Reports Series, I was somewhat disappointed with this book. I had eagerly looked forward to an in-depth, detail-laden, fact-packed look at RSC Energia, but was dismayed to find that the book only contains approximately 20 pages of text (including the introduction by Godwin). The remaining pages are filled with photos, that are only occasionally placed in chronological order. In addition, what little text there is is very uncritical and reads like a propaganda page, neglecting any mention of the political history of RSC Energia, the impact of the loss of the "moon race" on the organization, the checkered political career or Sergei P. Korolev (who was once interned in a prison in Siberia for political crimes), or the profound social impact the space program had on the average russian citizen. Even more frustrating, despite what Godwin says in the introduction, a great many of the photographs in this book have been previously published in the west, albeit mostly online.

Overall, the book is worth purchasing for those who wish to obtain some high-quality images of Soviet/Russian space hardware, but does little to enhance the understanding of the Soviet/Russian space program.The excellent biography of Korolev by James Harford did a nice job of detailing Korolev's life, but left out many details about the entire space program that this book could have filled in.

History of the Russian Space Program in Awesome Photographs
Unlike the NASA Mission Reports published by Apogee Books and edited by Robert Godwin which are loaded with many technical reports, other documents and crew debriefs, this latest entry about the Russian space program contains very little text, but is instead loaded with numerous photographs, technical drawings, cut-away-views, and artist sketches.Also, in contrast to the other Apogee Books publications, this book does not focus on a single aspect of space flight, but on the history of the Russian space program and specifically the Energia Corporation.While some may feel that this book is just another collection of space pictures, it is not.The photographs presented here tell the history of the Russian space program and have been chosen such that they present a great deal of general technical information.If you are interested the history of the Russian space program or the race to land a man on the moon, you can't go wrong purchasing this book.

The book opens with several small sections of text.One section is from the two editors of the book (the English and Russian) and the other section presents a brief history of the Energia Corporation.After this brief introduction, the remainder of the book presents the history of the Russian space program from its earliest days to the present.The picture section begins with the Russian space program after World War II and the use captured German hardware to begin the development of their ballistic missiles.It is quite easy to see that the Russian launch vehicles are direct descendants of the German launch vehicles.The book then moves on to the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, and the manned spaceflight program, which enabled the Russians to put the first person, Yuri Gargarin, into space.After this group of photographs, there are others that cover, planetary exploration, the development of the Soyuz capsule and its derivatives, the Soviet lunar landing program, the Russian space shuttle, Buran and of course to the Mir space station.

I found the sections of the Russian lunar landing program extremely interesting.While its easy to see the parallels between the US and Russian efforts, they developed some noticeable and unique methods to get a cosmonaut to the Moon.Additionally, the parts on the development of the Soyuz family of space vehicles and on the Buran space shuttle were equally engrossing.One interesting facet of the Russian space program that I gleaned from this book is that in the past 55 years the Russians have had only four different leaders.

This book was originally published in Russian by the Energia Corporation and translated into English.Furthermore, the photographs are not some faded Xeroxed pictures, but are high quality prints.I also feel that many of these pictures have never been released to the West or possibly never released at all.

The Soviet Legacy Of Spaceflight
This is a great book with many excellent colour and black and white photos of the Soviet space program, from it's infancy up to the Mir Space station. Korolev was the Soviet chief of spaceflight and master planner back in the 1960's when the Soviets were trying to beat us to the moon, he was truly a visionary man and a credit to the Russians. The volume here begins with a few pages of text and then continues with page after page of an amazing photo history of the Soviet space program, very well done. What I especially found interesting was the photographs of their giant Saturn 5 class N booster, designed to take cosmonauts to the lunar surface, it was an awesome moon-rocket, a shame really that it was not successful. Everything in Soviet manned space is covered here, there are even pictures and drawings of the never used manned lunar lander. This is a gem of a book, and very reasonably priced. ... Read more

Book Description

It was a lucky twist of fate when in the early1980s David Levy, a writer and amateur astronomer, joined up with the famous scientist Eugene Shoemaker and his wife, Carolyn, to search for comets from an observation post on Palomar Mountain in Southern California. Their collaboration would lead to the 1993 discovery of the most remarkable comet ever recorded, Shoemaker-Levy 9, with its several nuclei, five tails, and two sheets of debris spread out in its orbit plane. A year later, Levy would be by the Shoemakers' side again when their comet ended its four-billion-year-long journey through the solar system and collided with Jupiter in the most stunning astronomical display of the century. Not only did this collision revolutionize our understanding of the history of the solar system, but it also offered a spectacular confirmation of one scientist's life work. As a close friend and colleague of Shoemaker (who died in 1997 at the age of 69), Levy offers a uniquely insightful account of his life and the way it has shaped our thinking about the universe.

Early in his training as a geologist, Shoemaker suspected that it wasn't volcanic activity but rather collisions with comets and asteroids that created most of the craters on the moon and most other bodies in the solar system. Convincing the scientific community of the plausibility of "impact theory," and revealing its power for penetrating mysteries such as the extinction of the dinosaurs and the timing of the Earth's eventual demise, became Shoemaker's mission. Through conversations with Shoemaker and his family, Levy reconstructs the journey that began with a young geologist's serious desire to go to the moon in the late1940s. Sent by the government to find a way to harvest plutonium, Shoemaker instead found evidence in desert craters for what became his impact theory. While he never became an astronaut, he did become the first geologist hired by NASA and subsequently set the research agenda for the first manned lunar landing.

After a series of victories and setbacks for Shoemaker, the collision of Shoemaker-Levy 9 with Jupiter provided the most convincing proof to date of the role of impacts in our solar system. Levy's explanation of the scientific reasoning that guided Shoemaker in his career up to this dramatic point--as well as his personal portrait of a man who found white-water rafting to be an easy way to relax--sets these fascinating events in a human scale. This biography shows what Shoemaker's legacy will be for our understanding of the story of the Earth well into the twenty-first century. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Giant of Science
Gene Shoemaker was truly a giant of 20th Century Science. Involved in the development of (and frustrated by) the vestigal scientific programs attached to the oh-so-political US moon program, Gene Shoemaker was a frequently-acknoledged genius. Perhaps most famous, along with his wife Carolyn and (this book's author) David Levy, for his work discovering the comet chain (Shoemaker-Levy 9) which impacted Jupiter in July 1994, Shoemaker's true legacy lay in his role as a key proponent of the theory, now widely-accepted, that most of the craters we observe in the solar system were caused by meteor or comet impacts instead of being cause by volcanism, and that this process has been at work on the Earth for millenia as well, as can be seen at places like Meteor Crater in Arizona.

Levy is always a treat to read, with an enthusiastic and easygoing style which keeps the subject accessible and the language casual. He moves the narrative effectively, and frequently refers back to earlier portions of the book to jog the reader's memory regarding various details. The book follows a more-or-less chronological course in relating Shoemaker's life, although it does follow concurrent threads in seperate chapters, so it may confuse less-attentive readers from time to time as Levy covers Shoemaker's gological work during a particular decade in one chapter, and in the next might jump back to the end of the previous decade while describing his astronomical work.

The book's only real flaw is in it's extreme reverence for Shoemaker and the resultant unwillingness to dig for "dirt" in the process of profiling this colorful and contentious man, understandable considering how close Levy was to Shoemaker, and how close he remains to Shoemaker's wife Carolyn. While the general impression is that there was little actual dirt to be found, Levy glosses over some conflicts in Shoemaker's life, especially the significant personal break with his one-time student and co-collaborator Eleanor Helin, whose near-Earth object research has been truly influential as well. Additonally, passing but tantalizing mention is made in places of his (apparently) less-than-perfect relationship with his children when they were young.

All in all, these lapses are insignificant (worth a point off a pefect score, though), especially since it will most likely be many years before we are treated to any more thorough and (perhaps) less-biased biography by any other writer. Heartily recommended to anyone who likes a good biography or who has an interest in geology or the search for near-earth objects.

Should Be A Big Hit


This is an excellent (and probably the only) bio of Eugene Shoemaker, who nearly singlehandedly pioneered impact geology, and by doing so helped make modern, secular catastrophism palatable to scientists. On page 55 Levy quotes Stephen Gould (from "The Panda's Thumb") regarding the origin of gradualism as "a common cultural bias"; discusses Cuvier's near miss regarding the source of catastrophes attested throughout the fossil record (pp 51-52); and most nobly and notably, recounted with pretty good accuracy the central thesis of Velikovsky's Worlds in Collision without resorting to the childish distortions and namecalling found in most books which mention Velikovsky at all. This factual, non-inflammatory mention of Velikovsky and what may be the most controversial non-political work of the 20th century reveals Levy as a man of reason, courage, and character.

This biography is highly recommended.

Also recommended:

-:- "Dark Matter" by Thomas Van Flandern
-:- "The Deep Hot Biosphere" by Thomas Gold
-:- "Voices of the Rocks" by Robert Schoch et al
-:- "Night Comes to the Cretaceous" by James Lawrence Powell
-:- "Rain of Iron and Ice" by John S. Lewis
-:- "T Rex and the Crater of Doom" by Walter Alvarez
-:- "Noah's Flood" by Walter C. Pitman and William B. F. Ryan
-:- "Catastrophe: A Quest for the Origins of the Modern World" by David Keys
-:- "Worlds In Collision" by Immanuel Velikovsky
-:- "Earth in Upheaval" by Immanuel Velikovsky

Shoemaker by Levy
A truly delightful book about the premiere scientist. The book takes you from the early days when Gene was a kid collecting rocks in a jar, to his prominent role with the Apollo project to the seach for asteroids. Levy writes in such a way that you almost feel that you were friends with the man. Looking over his shoulder as he takes college kids on field trips to Meteor Crater and in the control room for the Voyager missions. I never knew Gene was involved in so many aspects of astronomy. Anyone who relishes science biographies should not miss this one.

A mark on the Earth and ashes on the moon.
Soon after pieces of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 began impacting Jupiter, I checked Jupiter with my 3.5" telescope and was delighted to see impact spots. Just a day before astronomers were fearful that there would be no visible trace of the impact and of the reaction of the media to the "non-event".

Somehow I didn't take time to reflect on the "rightness" that the comet was discovered by the scientist most responsible for our current understanding of past and future impacts on the Earth. I guess it just seemed obvious that Shoemaker was the one to find the comet. (Actually, his wife Carolyn was the first to see it on film Gene and David Levy exposed.)

The day after his death I heard of the idea to include some of his ashes on the Lunar Prospector satellite that was soon to launch, orbit, and eventually crash on the moon. While I instantly recognized what a wonderful idea that was, my memory was fuzzy on his long contribution to lunar exploration.

Levy's biography is a wonderful summary of the Shoemakers' life and contributions to astrogeology. Shoemaker will be remembered as one of the most important scientists of the 20th century. Shoemaker's enthusiasm for geology was a key to his success and Levy concentrates on that, leaving the technical aspects to the bibliography. The result is a book anyone can read and all can learn from.

Five stars, several asteroids, and dozens of comets! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This book captures the spirit
Mudgway has done an excellent job of capturing the spirit of the people who were involved in design, development, and implementation of the world's largest precision antennas. He has told the human side of the story without bogging down in the technical details. An easy read. ... Read more

Book Description

Global mobile satellite communications (GMSC) are specific satellite communication systems for maritime, land and aeronautical applications. It enables connections between moving objects such as ships, vehicles and aircrafts, and telecommunications subscribers through the medium of communications satellites, ground earth stations, PTT or other landline telecommunications providers.

Mobile satellite communications and technology have been in use for over two decades. Its initial application is aimed at the maritime market for commercial and distress applications. In recent years, new developments and initiatives have resulted in land and aeronautical applications and the introduction of new satellite constellations in non-geostationary orbits such as Little and Big LEO configurations and hybrid satellite constellations as Ellipso Borealis and Concordia system. This book is important for modern shipping, truck, train and aeronautical societies because GMSC in the present millennium provides more effective business and trade, with emphasis on safety and commercial communications. Global Mobile Satellite Communications is written to make bridges between potential readers and current GMSC trends, mobile system concepts and network architecture using a simple mode of style with understandable technical information, characteristics, graphicons, illustrations and mathematics equations.

Global Mobile Satellite Communications represents telecommunications technique and technology, which can be useful for all technical staff on vessels at sea and rivers, on all types of land vehicles, on planes, on off shore constructions and for everyone possessing satellite communications handset phones.

Amazon.com

There's a reason "astronomically large" means "larger than the scale of ordinary life": normal scales of time and space for astronomers involve millions of years and anywhere from thousands to quadrillions of kilometers. Even for astronomers, University of Michigan professor Fred Adams and his former student Greg Laughlin think big--really, really big--and their planning is really, really long-term.

In The Five Ages of the Universe, Adams and Laughlin present their vision of the history of the universe, from the big bang on. They've had to come up with a new unit of measure to make this timescape intellectually tractable: the "cosmological decade." When the universe is 10 to the n years old, it is in the nth cosmological decade; we are now in the 10th, for instance. Each decade is thus 10 times as long as the one before.

All the stars will have stopped shining in the 14th cosmological decade, about 100 trillion years from now--which is a mind-bendingly long period of time by most standards. But Adams and Laughlin are just getting their speculations warmed up. They go on to fold, spindle, and mutilate your time sense as they discuss the Degenerate Era (out to decade 39), the Black Hole Era (to decade 100), and the possible creation of new universes in the Dark Era (after decade 101 or so). It's the most fascinating, mind-expanding trip inside eternity you can read. --Mary Ellen Curtin ... Read more

Reviews (27)

It's a gloomy future but great to read about.
This book will make you think. It will make you think about the purpose of life if the universe will eventually decay into a bleak black empty desolate emptiness.

The authors extrapolate the potential future of the universe and it is a dark one. One of the more interesting aspects is learning how life as we know it- animals & plants living on planets - will cease to exist fairly early in the lifetime of the universe. But at the same time the book paints a picture about possible future life forms inhabiting the universe many, many years in the future.

The book however, is not mainly about life but about the decay of the universe as it ages billions, trillions, quadrillions of years. It specifically details how stars will die, protons will decay and eventually after a googol (10 to the 100th power) number of years, how black holes decay. It is impossible to fully grasp the size and enormity of these numbers but the authors make a good attempt.

Suprisingly, the book is a somewhat light read, which is a good thing. It won't bog you down with equations and abstruse theories. I read the entire book on a flight from NYC to SF and was immersed throughout trying to imagine the universe as it will be.

Its temporal scope left me breathless, my mind reeling.
This book changed the way I look at the universe around me. Although it didn't enter my thoughts daily, I used to occasionally experience the feeling of isolation associated with contemplating the position of the earth within our unimaginably large and sparse universe. After reading what is to come for our cosmos, however, I'm filled with optimism about the density and energy of the space we live in today. I am, like many people, I think, interested in the prospects for life in the universe's past, present, and future. This book handily incorporates this discussion, even contemplating a lifeform whose "atoms" are black holes, when all regular matter has faded away. I would have liked to read more about the even more distant "Dark Age," when the only "matter" left in the cosmos is the "compound" positronium, whose "atoms" are the size of our current known universe. If any intelligent life exists at that time, could it possibly conceive of the life of today? Could we ourselves even imagine a life form existing in the cosmic blast furnace of the first seconds following the Big Bang? "Five Ages" left me with as many questions as answers, and my head was spinning, but it was an E-ticket ride.

One of the laymen
This book describes what I hope is the ultimate fate of the universe, that is, a gentle, long-lasting slip into beautiful quiescence. Alas, we are only babies in this universe, and should this prove to be true, all our offspring, and their offspring, and so on shall continue to be babies in this increasingly grandiose yet dimming universe. Then, maybe, intelligence shall cease and true existence, that is, non-existence, will prevail into the dark eternity...far out man:)

Fascinating theories about universe
I thought this book was very fascinating! I enjoyed reading not only about theories regarding the past and present eras of the universe, but also about future eras. As the title implies, authors Fred Adams and Greg Laughlin divide the lifetime of the universe into five eras, and we're living in the second. It was fun to imagine what the night sky should look like trillions of years into the future, and many more. It was also fun to read about the time when it can be expected that only black holes will be left, and to go even beyond that. This is the only book I know that deals much with the question of the far future of the universe.
The authors also brings up questions which are probably beyond our ability to know the answer to(for example, whether our universe is one of many), but such an idea is interesting to think about. They do mention a few ideas that I'm skeptical of (for example, the idea of a "Darwinian view of universes"), though they also acknowledge that this remains speculative.
Although this is a scientific (not a theological) book, I will also mention that I am a believing Catholic. So I believe that God created all things, including the whole universe. However, I also believe that the scientific theories mentioned in this book are compatible with Catholic Church teaching, provided we understand that everything that happens is in the providence of God. Of course we should also understand that theories are not doctrines, and so theories could be subject to change upon future discoveries.
I highly recommend this book, at least for those who have some general knowledge of astronomy and physics.

Universe in laymans terms
Many of the ideas in this book result from a translation for the layperson of Adams and Laughlin's April 1997 Reviews of Modern Physics article. The five chapters treat different eras in the evolution of the universe: The chapter on the primordial era discusses the early universe; most of the energy in the universe derives from nuclear fusion in the stelliferous era. The degenerate era is characterized by stellar remnants; in the distant future, black holes and their evaporation dominate the universe. Finally, in the very distant future, we find ourselves in the dark era in which the remnants that constitute the universe are photons, neutrinos, electrons, and positrons. The audience for whom the book was prepared will not find it "user friendly." There is an unpleasant mixture of statements that must be taken on faith and those which are explained. Further, some of the physics is puzzling, e.g., the statements that "gravity . . . organizes structures" and acts to counter entropy increase, and "the total energy (of the universe) must be conserved" are, at best, misleading. Perhaps a second edition will turn an adequate book into a really good one. A complete college library probably should have a copy. General readers; lower-division undergraduates. ... Read more

Book Description

In this accessible, student-friendly text, astronomy is treated as a fundamental human endeavor rather than an enterprise reserved for professionals. The authors engage students' curiosity through cutting-edge material that focuses on the themes of human achievement, physics in the universe, continuity of matter, the dynamic systems that sustain life, and astronomy and physics as foundations for our world view.

Throughout, the emphasis is on important ideas, with relevant details, techniques, and formulas presented after concepts. A Time Out to Think feature, which encourages students to check their understanding as they read, is just one of many pedagogical aids that reinforce learning. Text discussions are complemented by a distinctive art program, with figures not seen before in astronomy texts. A rich Web site includes student and instructor resources and coverage of current events. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Reviewed by an astronomy student
As an astronomy student at the University of Colorado, I have used "The Cosmic Perspective" as a text book for two of my classes (one on stars and galaxies, and one on the solar system). This book is perfect for both: the text is clear and full of insight; the illustrations and photographs are abundant and extremely professional, and they complement the text superbly; the sections called "Mathematical Insight" give the reader a clear understanding of the science involved, and the sections called "Common Misconceptions" are as fun to read as they are informative.

I have read this book cover-to-cover, and although it is intended as a text book, it reads like many of the very popular science books I have read. If you enjoyed reading Sagan's "Cosmos", Gribbin's "In Search of the Big Bang", Feynman's "The Character of Physical Law", Lederman's "The God Particle" or Hawking's "A Brief History of Time", you will enjoy this very well-conceived and well-written book.

"The Cosmic Perspective" is very comprehensive. Besides covering the fundamental concepts of astronomy (such as light as the cosmic messenger; universal motion; celestial timekeeping; and telescopes), this book details how stars are born, evolve and die; the fundamentals of relativity; how the galaxies were formed, as well as how our solar system was formed; how vast space really is; how we know the distances to various objects in our universe; and how we know what happened at the early moments of the Big Bang. Since this book is new (published in 1999), it contains the latest facts and the latest thinking of modern astronomy. This book captured my interest and my enthusiasm the moment I began reading it.

Most comprehensive astronomy book with clearest explanations
For beginner or intermediate astronomy students, this book not only has all topics covered, but touches on many other branches of science that are essential to the understanding of astronomy. Clear, concise explanations with very careful attention to units in sample problems make many basic science concepts understandable. The depth of current knowledge covered on a wide variety of astronomical topics is remarkable for inclusiion in just one book. The graphic diagrams, drawings, charts, illustrations, and photographs are also outstanding in what they add to one's ability to visualize the material presented. Overall, this is by far the best astronomy book I've seen. ... Read more

Book Description

Leading experts explain the discoveries of modern astrophysics in an illustrated companion to the American Museum of Natural History's newly renovated Rose Center for Earth and Space. Cosmic Horizons illuminates the most recent discoveries of modern astrophysics with essays by leading astronomers, including NASA scientists. The book also features profiles of astronomers such as Carl Sagan and Georges Lemaître (father of the Big Bang theory), case studies that cover the controversial evidence for the possibility of life on Mars, and stunning four-color photographs throughout. Written for the general reader, Cosmic Horizons makes the complex, abstract areas of astronomy and astrophysics—from the Big Bang to black holes—accessible and comprehensible to the public. Complementing the museum's acclaimed new Frederick Phineas and Sandra Priest Rose Center exhibition, the book investigates how the universe expands to produce galaxies, stars, and planets, and, perhaps, life on other worlds. It also examines some of the emerging technologies that make these discoveries possible. With more than eighty full-color images and a resource section that includes a bibliography and an extensive glossary, Cosmic Horizons offers a new appreciation of the complexities of time and space and a greater understanding of our fragile planet and the universe beyond. Four-color illustrations throughout.

The New Press is pleased to announce the publication of this new title with the American Museum of Natural History, a collaboration that began with the publication of Epidemic! in 2000.

Founded in 1869, the American Museum of Natural History in New York City is one of the world's preeminent institutions for scientific research and education, visited by more than four million people annually. Three new titles, Earth, The Biodiversity Crisis, and Cosmic Horizons, are companion volumes to three major new permanent exhibitions at the museum: the David S. and Ruth L. Gottesman Hall of Planet Earth, the Hall of Biodiversity, and the Frederick Phineas and Sandra Priest Rose Center for Earth and Space. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Nice Text
Modern Stellar Astrophysics was a nice book. It was organized very well and presented the material in an orderly fashion. I thought that it lacked depth though. It gave many concepts, but they lacked mathematical examples to go with those concepts. A good book for people who already understand modern physics, but for those without a deep understanding of modern physics it will leave many open questions. Lastly, the homework questions at the end of the chapters resembled those examples throughtout the chapters themselves very closely and even identically, thus answering them takes absolutely no analytical skills just mere copying.

An Excellent Comprehensive Introduction to the subject..
This is an excellent introduction to Stellar Astrophysics, covering from the very start the essential concepts needed to undertake the subject, and gradually building up untill a nice introductory level is achieved. The book is well organized: divided into two blocks, starts by setting a solid basis upon which later presents the subject. In the first and introductory part, the essential astronomical concepts are explained, and in the second part the author gets into the actual Astrophysics of Stars. The book is pleasant on several levels; conceptually, coherently and aesthetically, all this while making use of a clear, straightforward matheticall formalism which is simple enough to follow. It is well suited for an introductory course at the undergraduate level, and one of the few books which actually bridges the gap between the high-level available pieces and the general public oriented literature on the subject. ... Read more

Book Description

Physics and Chemistry of the Solar System, Revised Edition is a comprehensive survey of the planetary physics and physical chemistry of the part of the universe that is best understood--our own solar system. Although many fundamental questions remain unanswered, or even unasked, research in these areas has advanced quickly, and the planetary sciences have benefited from both earth-based and spacecraft-based experimentation. These experiments form the basis of thisencyclopedic reference, which skillfully fuses synthesis and explanation. Detailed chapters review each of the major planetary bodies as well as asteroids, comets, and other small orbitals. With this reference, astronomers, physicists, and planetary scientists will have a state-of-the-art book whose uses include both teaching and research. This new version, featuring approximately 10% new material, will also prove an invaluable addition to any library in astronomy, planetary physics, and astrophysics.

* Contains updated material since the first edition
* Aimed at a higher level with a broader scope than previous texts
* Examines the astronomical content of the solar system and the planetary content of earth
* Amply illustrated throughout
* Reviews each of the major planetary bodies as well as asteroids, comets, and other small orbitals ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A great book loaded with practical information.
Chapters: I. Introduction; II. Astronomical Perspective; III. General Description of the Solar System; IV. The Sun and the Solar Nebula; V. The Major Planets; VI. Pluto and the Icy Satellites of the Outer Planets; VII. Comets and Meteors; VIII. Meteorites and Asteroids; IX. The Airless Rocky Bodies: Io, Phobos, Deimos, the Moon, and Mercury; X. The Terrestrial Planets: Mars, Venus, and Earth; XI. Planets and Life about Other Stars; XII. Future Prospects; Appendices; Suggested Reading; Index

This book discusses the physics and chemistry of the Solar System in great detail. It assumes that the reader has completed one year of mathematics, physics, and chemistry at the university level. Appropriate physics and chemistry formulas and equations are sprinkled throughout the book. The focus is on practicality, not on rigorous derivation: Formulas are often introduced with a phrase like "It can be shown that...", though some key concepts are discussed in more math! ematical detail in the appendices. For the reader who wants more, the "Suggested Reading" section lists many more publications dealing with aspects of the subject matter of this book, ranging in intended readership between non-mathematical and professional scientific.

The text is informative and to the point. Inclusion of many results from recent space missions to various planets, asteroids, and comets is evident. The author includes many pictures (mostly in black and white) of (parts of) the planets and other discussed celestial bodies. Also included are a great number of plots and diagrams that illustrate points made in the text. Many provide specific information on characteristics of the materials being discussed. I particularly like these diagrams: A general discussion of, for instance, the different kinds of water ice is interesting in its own right, but the inclusion of a diagram where you can look up your own favorite combination of temperature and press! ure to find which kind of water ice exists under those cond! itions allows you to consider also many situations that are not explicitly treated in the text.

The book starts with a discussion that puts the Solar System in a wider astronomical context (involving galaxies and the universe at large), and ends (after extensive discussion of the members of the Solar System) with a discussion of the physics and chemistry of life and planets around other stars, and of the future prospects for answering remaining questions about our celestial neighbors. Some exercises are included at the end of each chapter.

The only negative point I found about this book is that it does not discuss the one topic I was looking for when I bought it: the physics of the shape of celestial bodies. For instance, why can Mars support much taller mountains that the Earth? How irregular can the shape be of a moon or asteroid, depending on its size? This certainly falls within the scope of the title. Nevertheless, the great wealth and practicality of the other i! nformation contained in this volume ensure that I do not at all regret buying it. ... Read more

Book Description

Many amateur astronomers live in or near cities and have to carry out their observing from relatively light-polluted sites. Fortunately this is not the problem it used to be, and a combination of skill, observing techniques, and modern technology, such as image-intensifiers, can now be used to astonishing effect to view the night sky in real-time. Illustrating the book with images and some of his own superb drawings, Antony Cooke explains how to observe some of the most spectacular objects from less than perfect observing sites.

·The only practical guide to observing truly spectacular astronomical objects from less than perfect locations ·The only book to deal in depth with the application of image intensifiers to real-time astronomy ·Includes extensive catalogs of spectacular objects that can be seen from suburban sites in both hemispheres ·Gives advice on viewing objects and on making realistic images by drawing or video ·Contains spectacular images and drawings from the author's own collection ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Visual Astronomy In The Suburbs
Great book! Packed with useful information, incredibly thorough and well researched. Cooke is obviously passionate about his subject, and conveys this on every page. Forget sleep, nights are for galaxy gazing, wherever you live.

Perfect for Backyard Stargazing
Visual Astronomy in the Suburbs is expertly written and well punctuated with helpful photographs and illustrations. The author has created the perfect companion for backyard stargazing.

Very Informative
The book is filled with great information! I highly recommend it.

This is amazing!
What a unique approach - I didn't imagine what was really possible from my own backyard. The detail in this book is incredible, and put forth in such understandable and compelling terms - it is beautifully presented and the images are fantastic. Everything is covered, from light pollution to image intensifiers. A whole new level of possibility is opened up to us amatuers - this is very exciting! ... Read more

Book Description

This comprehensive volume reviews our current knowledge of the origin and evolution of elements, from stellar nucleosynthesis to the chemical evolution of the cosmos. Chapters by leading authorities in the field describe models of how the elements are produced by stars, inbdicating the nuclear processes involved, and how the quantity of elements evolved in our Galaxy and distant galaxies. The authoritative volume is a valuable resource for graduate students and research astronomers. ... Read more

Book Description

This is an introductory textbook on spherical and positional astronomy. It is entirely suitable for use by students with no prior knowledge of classical astronomy. At the same time, it is sufficiently comprehensive to make it a useful background reference book for anyone engaged in practical astronomy. The first three chapters sketch essential background: mathematical techniques and coordinate systems. Successive chapters then give treatments of refraction, aberration, stellar parallex, precession, nutation and proper motion. An entire chapter is devoted to astrographic plate measurements. The gravitational two-body problem is solved and applied to solar system dynamics. Novel areas include a full treatment of binary star orbits and two chapters on developments in radio astronomy. Worked examples and problems to be solved by the reader ensure that this is a valuable textbook. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Spherical Astronomy
Spherical Astronomy by Robin Michael Gree ... Read more

Book Description

This authoritative text provides a lively, thought-provoking and informative summary of neutrino astrophysics. Neutrino astronomy is being revolutionized by the availability of new observational facilities. Theoretical work in astrophysics and in particle physics in increasing rapidly. The subject of solar neutrinos has many seemingly independent aspects, both in its theoretical basis (involving nuclear, atomic, and particle physics, geochemistry, and astronomy). For many physicists, solar neutrinos constitute the low-energy frontier of high-energy physics. Results from all these disciplines are combined here, providing a timely and unified discussion of the field. Each chapter begins with a succinct overview of material to be presented and ends with an annotated bibliography. For advanced undergraduate students, but will be essential reading for all researchers interested in the physics of neutrinos and what they reveal about the nature of the Universe. ... Read more

Book Description

In October 2003 Yang Liwei made history as the first Chinese citizen in space, orbiting the globe 14 times in the Shenzhou 5.  The Chinese space program has sometimes been called the last of the secret space programs. Although it is far less secretive now than formerly, fascinating revelations are still being made. Brian Harvey examines the history of the Chinese space program, from it's earliest times to the historic breakthrough of manned flight. ... Read more

Book Description

What is the Universe made of? How old is it? How does a supernova explode? Can we detect black holes? And where do cosmic rays originate? This volume provides a comprehensive and pedagogical introduction to modern ideas and challenging problems in nuclear and particle astrophysics. Articles written by eight leading experts cover a wealth of exciting topics. Together, they present the Universe as a laboratory for testing cutting-edge physics. This timely volume successfully bridges the gap between conference proceedings and specialized monographs. It provides an invaluable resource for graduate students and active researchers in nuclear and particle physics, astrophysics and cosmology. ... Read more

Book Description

Long believed to have been cold, dead, and dry for aeons, there is now striking new proof that not only was Mars a relatively warm and wet place in geologically recent times, but that even today there are vast reserves of water frozen beneath the planet's surface. As well as casting fascinating new insights into Mars' past, this discovery is also forcing a complete reevaluation of the mechanisms of global planetary change. ·What does the drastic turn of events on Mars mean for Earth's climate system? ·Could life have thrived on Mars very recently, and might it survive even today? ·Will humans be able to live off the natural resources that Martian hydrogeology now seems to offer? ·How could Mars be transformed into the New World - and should this even be contemplated? In this absorbing, beautifully illustrated book, Jeffrey Kargel describes the still unfolding revolution in our knowledge about the Red Planet and how future concepts of Mars will continue to be molded by new revelations of four billion years of geology. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Cosmology from a big perspective
This is a book about Cosmology from a big perspective. It takes a view on the very existance of our universe. How it may have come into being and what there may be beyond it in time and space.

Of course, these matters are not the subject of simple experiments but it is remarkable that our understanding of nature allows such speculation.

This book is aimed at a non-technical audience and the overall style is clear and the arguments lucid.

The author starts with an introduction that explains our universe as it has been understood through the main developments of physics in the last one hundred years. The sections on gravitation effects, ranging from stellar collapse to massive black holes missing mass and expansion were presented with great clarity.

However, if you are looking for a book that talks about "Before the Beginning", you may just find yourself wondering why you read the first nine chapters. They are a good, non-technical introduction but they are about our universe from the big bang to the present time.

The last 40% of the book actually contains material hinted at in the title. The author makes the point that our universe is remarkable in the way that it is fit for human life. He then links this observation to the current thinking about the origins of the universe.

Perhaps, our universe is one of many. Very, very many and this one just happens to suit the development of life but there may be many universes "out there" that are still born in the sense that they cannot support life.

Reese explains how space time inflation may lead to universes with different laws of physics and how universes may spawn new universes through the formation of black holes. At the end of this arguement, he talks about the "Anthropomorphic Reasoning" by which we can understand this. These ideas are very speculative and are disputed by many others. Reese achieves a good balance by writing about these disputes.

If you want a book that will give you the current state of the art view of cosmology together with some fascinating speculation about fuuture developments then this is just the job.

I can only level a small number of criticisms at the book. I suspect that most of the target audience will already be familiar with the first 60% of the book so, perhaps, it would have been better to condense that material. The "Further Reading" list at the end just has a collection of titles and authors with no expansion on the contents of these references. Some more information here would be a huge help to readers wondering what to look at next.

Stimulating Cosmology
This fascinating book deals with inter alia pregalactic history, black holes, dark matter, time in other possible universes, ecology of universes, omega and lambda, great attractors, pulsars, neutron stars and anthropic reasoning, which the author defends. It represents a drastic enlarging of our cosmic perspectives - the cosmos is more spectacular by far than we could have imagined. He also believes that the apparent fine-tuning that our existence depends on cannot be a coincidence. What we call the universe is likely to be just one member of an ensemble, but ours may be in an unusual subset that permits complexity and consciousness to develop. Our universe could be an atom in an infinite collection, a cosmic archipelago in which impassable barriers prohibit communication between the islands. Quoting scientists like Hawking, Chandrasekar and others throughout, the author broadens our understanding of cosmology and quantum science while offering unique and interesting new perspectives on our views of consciousness and existence. Highly recommended.

A Walk Through Cosmology
Sir Martin Rees earned his degrees in mathematics and astronomy at the University of Cambridge. Currently he is a professor of astronomy and cosmology and was formerly director of the Institute of Astronomy. He sometimes writes articles for Scientific American and New Scientist magazines.

In this book, Before the Beginning, Dr. Rees touches on many topics of cosmology, established theories and highly speculative subjects such as dark matter, multiverse, and superstring theory, . The book , in my opinion, is not watered-down science as one of the reviewers complains. In his introduction, Dr. Rees informs the reader that he will abstain from using references to deity(s) that lead to more copies being sold and complicated physical formulas that decrease profits. One complaint I have is that the book has no glossary section. Although Rees does describe things like quasars, lambda, and omega, white dwarfs, steady-state theory some readers may not be satisfied with the depth of definitions given within the text.

Anyone who picks up this book must read Chapter 12 "Toward Infinity: The Far Future" in which Rees explains the most likely fate of the Solar System. "In about 5 billion years the Sun will die, swelling up into a red giant, engulfing the inner planets, and vaporizing all life on Earth; it will the settle down as a slowly fading white dwarf. At about the same time the Andromeda Galaxy , already falling toward us, will merge with our own Milky Way." He also speculates as to what would happen if the universe expands forever or collapses according the Big Crunch Theory. How life will have to adopt to this new environment...

Overall, the book is a great read for an amateur interested in cosmology. However, those with no prior experience may become stressed understanding some of the concepts laid out in the book.

Instructive.
Before the Beginning is one of Sir Martin Rees best endeavors in unraveling the concepts of cosmology for the average reader. As Royal Society Professor at King's College, Cambridge--succeeding Fred Hoyle to the privilege--and Astronomer Royal of Great Britain, his research spans the breadth of astrophysical research, including issues about cosmology, galaxy formation, black holes, and high energy processes like gravitational waves.

While his participation in the forefront of research gives Martin Rees eminent credibility, his ability as a writer gives him great accessibility as well. I am not really a math-physics person, although I enjoy this type of popular work on physics and cosmology and read extensively in the genre. I found this title to be thoroughly understandable. I was lost somewhat in the final chapters of the book especially "How Constant are Nature's 'Constants,'" but pulled more out of the material after rereading it a couple of times. I think that most readers of a skill level of high school and above will understand the material. Even precocious junior high students with an interest in the topic should be able to comprehend much of it.

The author is very methodical in his approach to his topic, introducing it from the point of view of the history of original thinking and research in the field. He gives credit to each participant in that history, even those whose failed attempts have put others on the right path to discovery. He is especially complimentary to Fred Hoyle, who while he helped to create and thoroughly supported the concept of the Steady State Universe, was open minded enough to actually supply some of the tenants of the Big Bang as well. Much is made of the collective contributions of workers in the field, even those who "almost ran." Most important, credit is given to Russian contributions that had been ignored, minimalized, or denied during the Cold War years. By approaching his topic from an historical vantage point, Rees helps the reader to think much the way the discoverers did as they added each additional piece of information to the body of cosmological research as it stands today. While much of actual physics is a plethora of numbers and intricate mathematics even more of it, especially in cosmology, involves logical and creative thought.

From an instructional stand point, the book might be a good way of introducing high school science students to the manner of thought of scientists, to the ideal professional relations between them, to the step by step cumulative logic of this type of thought, and to the actual product of scientific effort.

Fundamental questions.
The first chapters of the book are a summary of 'The first three minutes' by Steven Weinberg and 'A brief history of time ' by Steven Hawking.
Thereafter, this work becomes a very exciting read.
It deals with the origin of the universe that was created ex nihilo (zero energy), the evolution of the universe (with a first millisecond as an eventful era, and the first 10-36 seconds as an inflationary expansion).
Like John Barrow, he is pessimistic that a 'Theory of Everything' will be found. We don't know the physical laws that prevailed at the Planck time. More, the particles and forces in our universe could be inherently arbitrary. He states that the multiverse may be governed by some unified theory, but each universe may cool down in a fashion that has 'accidental' features ending up ruled by different laws and different physical connstants. His hope to find it lays with the theory of superstrings.
A fundamental question remains the nature of black matter (90 % of the matter in the universe).
On the quantum level, he explains that some processes in the microworld 'know' the direction of time and that there could be a link between consciousness and quantum mechanics.
Importantly,he also states that there is more than one chance in one million that, within the next 50 years, the Earth will be hit by an asteroid large enough to cause worldwide devastation.
A must read for everybody interested in what happened 'before the beginning'. ... Read more

Book Description

Big ideas made simple -- six books in an incredible new series that explains important scientific ideas more clearly than ever before.

How the universe formed, what it consists of, and how it will end are central concerns of physicists, astronomers, and other residents of planet Earth. This book explains it all, from the creation theory to the Big Bang, from gas giants to black holes. This stimulating new series uses an innovative mix of graphics, artwork, and photographs to explain and illuminate the most important scientific topics of the day. Unique in popular science guides, Essential Science uses bright, full-color images to make traditionally "difficult" subjects more accessible. Each title focuses on a scientific or technological topic that is currently provoking debate and is likely to have a widespread impact on our lives. Lively, readable text from top science writers ensures all readers -- from 14+ schoolchildren to academics -- gain a full understanding of the facts and related issues. Under the direction of renowned science writer John Gribbin, expert authors describe, in lively, jargon-free text, the principles and discoveries behind each subject, summarize what is currently known, and predict future issues and trends. ... Read more

Book Description

A realistic and down-to-earth assessment of the possibility of intelligent alien life. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Facinating Book!
Professor Harrison's treatment of this topic was excellent and the book was really fun to read! As a psychology student I really enjoyed this book, not because I'm a fan of SciFi, (I am), but because Harrison's points are so well supported and tied in to existing research in psychology and many other fields. By the end of the book, you start to think you'd want Al Harrison to be on the team that made first contact with ET. (I wonder if the writers of the movie Sphere where aware of this book.) Harrison's After Contact made me consider many practical aspects of contact with intelligent life from another world. Even as a long time Star Trek and Sci Fi fan, this book was full of new and facinating ideas to consider, all the more facinating because the decisions outlined in the book that we'd need to make regarding contact are real. Bravo.

The most thoughtful book on the topic of ET contact
AFTER CONTACT: The Human Response to Extraterrestrial Life Albert A. Harrison, Ph.D. Plenum Trade, 1997

Most people have become comfortable with the notion that there may be intelligent extraterrestrial life elsewhere in the universe. Even the conservative astronomer Carl Sagan calculated that it was mathematically probable that such life must exist. Sagan's book Contact, later made into the 1997 movie of the same name, postulated that a life form could contact humans here on earth. The SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institute employs people using radio telescopes to explore the heavens for signs of intelligent life. Recently the National Air and Space Administration created the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NABI) to consider the development of ET life forms. NABI examines the possibility from the standpoint of materials and conditions necessary to support life. They also consider the implications of the origin of life and question whether ! ! life is a cosmic imperative.

In After Contact Professor Al Harrison of the University of California-Davis thoughtfully takes the obvious next step. In pragmatic detail he examines the human consequences of contact with such an intelligent extraterrestrial entity. Except for fictional accounts, no one previously has explored as comprehensively the many ramifications such contact would pose for those of us who live in what we believe to be technologically advanced societies. Just what would happen if we learned that we were not at the top of the evolutionary pyramid?

Harrison first lays out the background information surrounding current search methodologies used by SETI and their radio-telescopic efforts to listen for signs of life. He also covers the supporting probabilities that mathematically suggest that some form of extraterrestrial life should exist elsewhere in the universe. It is not just in independent evolution of ETI on some far distant planet that l! ! ife could exist, but also through a seeding or colonizatio! n effort. The search for ETI, he argues, requires a broad multidisciplinary approach. The complexities of communication should contact be established demand that a wide variety of sciences would be necessary including biologists, physicists, chemists, computer scientists and linguists just to name a few. Harrison states that while there is no compelling evidence that we have been visited by an ETI, there are sufficient clues to make exploration worthwhile. Further, the enormity of the impact on society dictates that these are prudent steps.

In an overview of popular literature regarding UFOs and other aerial phenomena, he demonstrates a breadth of understanding of the material widely available to the general public. This is an important addition as it provides the background from which people are making decisions about their beliefs in ETI and probability of contact. It also shows why there is a dramatic disconnect between the general population and most mains! ! tream scientists.

Living systems theory of James Grier Miller serves as a foundation for considering how extraterrestrial organisms and societies might function. Based on building blocks of matter, energy, and information, living systems theory is a logical approach to potentially disparate life forms. After all, there is no known reason for unanimity among advanced extraterrestrial life forms. Harrison goes beyond the organism level and considers what factors might impact ET societies. These include such varied considerations as resource bases, processing of information, decision-making strategies, adaptation and use of energy, and development of culture. He then addresses the fundamental issues related to first contact; how it might be made, who would do it, and how that information would be transmitted to the public.

After Contact considers the various ways in which information concerning ETI existence would be received and acted upon by the public. There ! ! are many fictional accounts of ET contact, as well as scie! ntific studies of people exposed to unusual or stressful events, from which inferences of psycho-social reactions can drawn. The individual and societal differences in responding to such a dramatic discovery are examined.

Travelling beyond the initial encounter, Harrison discusses the inevitable complex issues in building of relationships between the ETI and humans. In this section he has considered in some depth just what types of interactions might transpire. He then explores the consequences to our societal structures such as the economy, political systems, impact on values and beliefs, and differentials in technological development.

After Contact is a comprehensive and thought-provoking examination of the inscrutable aspects of an encounter between humans and an advanced extraterrestrial intelligence. It is a must for anyone interested in the possibility that an initial event might occur within his or her lifetime. The book is a landmark publication and ! ! serves as a signpost for directing further research into a most fascinating, and under resourced area of science.

Reviewed by: John B. Alexander, Ph.D.

Where did God go?
I read this book simply for pleasure. I am a science teacher by eduaction so why not get a few fresh ideas about exo-biology.
The problem human searches for intelligence is we are seeing it around us everyday and disgrading it as life on Earth. For example how probable is it that molecules can conspire to generate a living system, then advance to a level where the molecules now build a complex living system ? How probable is it that the sum could so exceed its whole? A conscious being arises from a system of what we believe is dead and lifeless atoms.
We should behold the World about us, as it is as close as we will ever get to seeing what alien life is all about.

STOP! FOR GOD'S SAKE STOP!
A very good book but....consider this: Two workers are about to begin bulldozing. They notice a couple of ant hills. One comments,"Gee, they're clever little guys." The other agrees. Then, a few minutes later, they begin work and completely destroy the colony without a thought. By now, we all agree that the cosmos is downright filthy with intelligent life. A super-advanced intelligent life form would be all too aware of this. If their projects called for it, they would think nothing of eliminating far lesser life forms. They would be no more malcious or evil than the two workers mentioned above.Someday, we will indeed discover other intelligences.When we do let us assume the "Mother of all low-profiles" Contact,assuming we haven't \ been detected, is the LAST thing we want until after one incredibly profound investigation.

Why Not Both?
No book review, merely a reply:

SETI research these days is supported almost entirely by private funds, companies and individuals. If Mr. Carlberg feels that's a problem, a more constructive solution might be for him to work towards finding funding for the projects he prefers. It's hardly as if greedy astronomers are somehow snatching public funds away from primate research, after all. ... Read more