Book Description

This second volume of a comprehensive three-volume work on theoretical astrophysics deals with stellar physics. After reviewing the key observational results and nomenclature used in stellar astronomy, the book develops a solid understanding of central concepts including stellar structure and evolution, the physics of stellar remnants, pulsars, binary stars, the sun and planetary systems, interstellar medium and globular clusters. Throughout, the reader's comprehension is developed and tested with more than seventy-five exercises.This indispensable volume will allow graduate students to master the material sufficiently to read and engage in research with heightened understanding.It can be used alone or in conjunction with Volume 1, which covers a wide range of astrophysical processes, and the forthcoming Volume 3, on galaxies and cosmology. ... Read more

Amazon.com

You don't need expensive instruments to appreciate the beauty of the night sky, as Bob Berman exuberantly demonstrates in Secrets of the Night Sky. Berman takes you on a tour of the night sky, pointing out its highlights and its history, along with a wealth of practical tips and tricks, such as how to categorize satellites that appear overhead.Secrets of the Night Sky is not only a how-to manual for enjoying the celestial sphere but is also a painless introduction to the science of cosmology. With a flair for analogies, Berman imparts a visceral understanding of the scale of stellar objects. And in case your explorations do lead you to buy a telescope, the book's appendices contain a variety of no-nonsense advice that may save you from getting fleeced. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Mediocre but maybe it's just me
I really wasn't too impressed with this work with respect to either content or quality of writing. I would recommend this as good introductory material to people who don't pursue stargazing or amateur astronomy at all. But for those of you with at least a good appreciation for the night sky: you've likely read or heard most of this stuff before. It seemed to me like a book version of a Discovery channel TV show about space: diluted for mass consumption, overly dramatic in some parts, containing mostly basic information that enthusiasts of the hobby already know, and in general leaving a lot to be desired.

I don't intend to make this review come across as scathingly negative. After all, I did give it three stars. There were a few interesting bits of information, e.g. speculation on the African Dogon tribe's knowledge of Sirius' companion. I was simply expecting more from a book that got great reviews otherwise, and what I read was decidedly "average"!

Your money is better spent elsewhere. For the amateur or even very-interested layman, I would recommend Burnham's Celestial Handbook as a near-perfect melding of technical data on celestial objects and wonderfully descriptive notes. That three-volume work is simply a requirement for every stargazer's library.

My favorite book on astronomy
This book, written at a very accessible level, is one of my favorite books on astronomy. It's filled with fascinating information on all sorts of amazing things you can see any night you step outside. E.g., did you know that we can see about 3,000 stars with our naked eye? That if you were jogging on the surface of the moon at 10 miles per hour, you could stay ahead of the line separating the dark and lit portions of the Moon? That the earth spins at 1,040 miles per hour and orbits the sun at 18 miles per second, and that our sun rotates around our galaxy at 200 miles per second, and that our galaxy is moving towards the Andromeda galaxy at 50 miles per second? That interstellar space is less than 3 degrees from the coldest possible temperature? That sunlight takes 8 minutes to get to Earth?

If you'd like to know which star (besides the sun)is closest to us and where to find it, or how to locate (by eye) satellites as they orbit the earth, or which star is 25 billion times the size of earth, this is your type of book.

Mr. Berman shares the Universe with us in such a way that we feel the same type of awe we did as children. Excellent, excellent book.

A wonderful book
I have been in amateur astronomy for 15 years, and this is one of my favorite books, for beginner or astronomy hobbyist. This is, mercifully, NOT a textbook. You can learn your way around the sky with Raymo's "365 Starry Nights" (also an excellent book), but Berman supplies the humor. The beauty of the night sky is, unfortunatly, a "secret," as few people know anything about it! Let Bob Berman describe the scene up there, get yourself a star chart, and get outdoors!

General knowledge only
This book is probably intended for the vast masses that want and look for general information about the universe. The writer indeed contribute a little bit of amazing information about the sizes of stars but many pages are wasted on tidbits which contribute nothing for the science of astronomy. The book is written in light English with not so many words in every page. The diagrams and pictures are of a very low quality and it is very difficult to understand the names of the stars in the diagrams. The pictures are simply disappointing and the paper quality is low as well. The book is as far as possible from a scientific book. Don't come closer to this book if you are after the science of astronomy.

sky at night
Very good book for the lovers of sky , especially at night..
beautiful examination and imagination... lovely and kind ... Read more

Book Description

Which is larger, Sirius or Vega? What is the luminosity of Rigel? When will Mira come up to full brightness? Here’s one simple-to-use reference which quickly answers these questions and many more. This handy star catalog gives the characteristics of over 2,000 stars to a brightness of 5.25 visual magnitude (plus many dimmer exceptions) updated with Epoch 2000 data. The book brings together information not available in any other single source. Employing a unique, easy-to-use constellation-by-constellation format, StarList 2000 gives you all these properties for each star: location, visual and absolute magnitude, spectra, distance in light years, proper motion, spatial and radial velocity, parallax, size, and luminosity. Notes compare discrepancies in data from well-known sources and point out additional interesting facts and figures about selected stars and deep sky objects, such as nearby nebulae. There are special sections on binaries and variables. Rapid-motion binaries are covered in detail, giving exact locations at January 1, 2000. There is also a collection of drawn orbits and a listing of orbital elements of selected binaries. Data on variable stars include type of variability, maximum and minimum visual magnitude, epoch, and period of variability. The author also offers a unique feature—"Most Favorable Viewing Date"—that tells readers when variables are expected to be at their brightest. StarList 2000 includes an appendix of computer programs for calculating such information as the Julian Date, the date of midnight transit for any star, and the azimuth and altitude of any star viewed from your own backyard. Indexes list stars by right ascension, popular name, and constellation. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent for Astronomy buffs and Science Fiction buffs
This book has three parts: the Starlist, the visual binary stars (includes drawn orbits), and the variable stars (includes graphs of maxima/minima). Excellent ephemerides.

The first part, the Starlist, has been an indispensable source of information. Stars are listed by constellation and includes: RA/Dec, spectral classification, absolute magnitude, apparent magnitude, distance (in light years), parallax, proper motion, direction of apparent motion (disregarding precession), space velocity, radial velocity (where known), size (in solar diameters), luminosity, and Henry Draper Catalogue star reference number (HD). There are many remarks/comments throughout, on various stars. These remarks are concise and helpful, and show Mr. Dibon-Smith's love for the field. Think of it as a one volume condensed Burnham's Celestial Handbook.

The second section of this book, visual binaries, includes the combined magnitude, apparent magnitude of each component (with a few exceptions, only the brightest pair of a multiple system), PA/Sep, and orbital information. At the end of the section is a graphic representation of the orbits of binaries with periods of 300 years or less.

The third section, variable stars. They are listed by subgroup: pulsating, eruptive, rotating, peculiar, eclipsing, and type uncertain. The first part has graphs of the maxima/minima of Mira type stars, and some semiregular variable stars. Part three also lists type of variable, maximum range, epoch, period, and best viewing dates.

That's not all this book offers. There is a section on computer programs (in BASIC) to find: day of the week (given the Julian date), Julian date (given the calendar date), calendar date/day of the week (given the Julian date), position of a star (given the RA/Dec and latitude/longitude of the observer), RA on the meridian (given the calendar date), midnight transit of a star (given the RA), and the approximate date of maxima of a long-period variable. Another section lists stars by RA. Another section identifies star names (fun if you had no idea where Zubenalgubi is...it's Sigma Librae). The bibliography and indices are also helpful.

I learned that this book is also tons-o-fun for the science fiction buff, too. So, the space ninja chased the nasty asteroid pirates all the way to Phi Eridani, did they? Well, now you'll know that Phi Eridani is a B8 V, and 180 light years away.

Seriously, this book has been indispensable. It's fun to browse though for kicks, and it's extremely helpful if you're into Astronomy. ... Read more

Book Description

A practical guide to binocular and small telescope observing.

Night Sky Atlas combines clear, accurate star maps with reliable and informative text. This is a highly practical atlas for beginning sky gazers using binoculars or a small telescope.

Sturdy binding makes it suitable for outdoor use. Cover flaps can be used as page-markers. The sewn binding allows the atlas to be opened flat. The star maps are drawn with black stars on a white background, allowing observers to pencil in their own observations. The high quality paper can withstand repeated use of an eraser.

The book begins by presenting the whole sky in a series of six maps, showing stars down to magnitude 5.5 -- all visible with binoculars or a small telescope. Opposite each map is a photo-realistic image that shows how the same portion of sky looks to the naked eye, allowing less-experienced observers to quickly find specific objects of interest.

The maps can be used for planning observations, navigating from one part of the sky to another and for a quick reference guide.

Other features include:- Forty large scale constellation charts- A full set of seasonal charts- Maps of the Moon and the planets- Deep sky maps identifying double stars, nebula and more.

A comprehensive index provides the location of information for all the night sky objects and features covered in the atlas.

The Night Sky Atlas is the ideal portable reference for backyard astronomers. ... Read more

Book Description

In the winter of 2001, Charles Laird Calia lay down on the lawn in his front yard, looked up at the sky, and rediscovered a childhood passion. Part primer on the science and history of astronomy, part love poem to the night sky, The Stargazing Year is this amateur astronomer's memoir of a year spent gazing upward. In chapters spanning the twelve months of the night sky, the author invites readers to discover the mystery and beauty of stargazing.

Throughout the world, on any given night, thousands of people direct their telescopes to the heavens. Two centuries ago, an amateur observer was largely up against himself and his optics. Now, much of that has changed and, with the affordable equipment available today, amateur astronomers have made inroads in the study of variable stars, novas, and eclipsing binaries that have proven to be immensely valuable to scientists. Calia elegantly weaves the history of amateur astronomy and astronomers with his own personal story of how, one starlit evening when he was in his early forties, the galaxy opened its arms to him again. The Stargazing Year is a paean to the universe and its many mysteries. ... Read more

Book Description

The Pocket Naturalist card is a pocket-sized, folding card which provides simplified, easy-to-use reference highlighting the most prominent stars and constellations visible throughout the Southern Hemisphere in summer and winter. Every card is laminated so that it is waterproof and practical for use in the field. Card glows in the dark (flashlight illuminates the star charts). ... Read more

Book Description

Astronomy has never been a more popular pastime than it is today. The increased availability of less expensive, more powerful, and more sophisticated telescopes has given rise to a new generation of stargazers. And for these beginning astronomers here is the comprehensive book covering everything from the difficult task of selecting an instrument to the equally daunting choices that arise when a telescope is turned to the heavens.

Renowned British astronomer and author James Muirden takes the fledgling astronomer by the hand in his new book, offering tips on:

* the purchase, assembly, and orientation of your new telescope
* how to observe and chart the Sun, Moon, planets, stars and comets
* how to investigate the deep-sky objects -- clusters, nebulae, and other galaxies beyond the Milky Way

The final chapter, "Windows into Space," explores ten carefully selected regions featuring noteworthy examples of double stars, galaxies, and nebulae, as well as more obscure objects seldom examined by astronomers.

How to Use an Astronomical Telescope offers completely revised and updated location charts with detailed coordinates, tables, appendixes, and numerous illustrations and photographs, making it the essential volume for one's first exploration of the cosmos. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

More than I bargained for
As a beginner in astronomy I hoped for a book to hold my hand each step of the way, but I got more than I bargained for. This is not a true beginner's book, however the more I read the book the more I liked it. The fundamental information is there, you just have to read some paragraphs over a time or two to absorb the knowledge, and then it begins to make more sense. Maybe good astronomy is like that anyway - not easy at first, but the more you learn the more it draws you deeper into the study. The author is not afraid to be complete and provides an easy reading of the subject. Great information on different types of telescopes. Excellent information for a beginner on major objects in the sky, cataloged nicely. I found some of the objects my first night out with my new telescope - knew then I was hooked on this hobby! Highly recommend this book to someone who wants more than just a beginner's book, but is willing to take the time to absorb the excellent information found within. If you are serious about astronomy as a hobby this is a great book to own.

Plenty of information for the money.
The subtitle "A Beginner's Guide to Observing the Cosmos" could have omitted the word "beginner's." This book packs a lot of information for the experienced amateur. The text goes much deeper than the little techniques we have seen in other observing guides, like averted vision and proper dark adaptation. It provides specific recommendations for most types of celestial targets suitable for amateur telescopes.

The book reveals its age and could stand an updated edition. Technology moves quickly, and many of today's computer capabilities and newer telescope and eyepiece designs are not covered in the chapter on Astronomical Telescopes. Also, the Appendix lists the planet locations starting in Jan 1988 and ending in Dec 2000. This is forgivable, since the main thrust is not on the equipment, but how best to use it.

The author stresses training the eye and a systematic thoroughness when at the eyepiece, and one starts to feel that the concept of "fun observing" would seem an oxymoron in this volume. Pardon my saying, but this does not seem inconsistent with his being English. On the other hand, he reveals his own romantic enthusiasm when describing celestial objects such as certain double stars.

"A most beautiful double, clear white and pale blue, in a low-power field that includes several faint pairs. The whole effect is superb."

Speaking of double stars, the book is worth the price if these are your only interest. At 59 pages, Observing Double and Multiple Stars is the book's longest chapter, and provides an excellent list with descriptions. The list and descriptions in the chapter on Clusters, Nebulae, and Galaxies is also well suited for amateurs, most visible with scopes of 200mm aperture or less and many with higher quality scopes of 75mm or less. There is also a chapter called Windows into space, which includes ten sample star charts to the 7th magnitude and lists of double stars, Clusters, and Nebulae (heavy on the double stars).

In the end I must admit that the often-wearisome training to becoming proficient with observing techniques does allow one to see beauty where others only see "faint fuzzies." ... Read more

Book Description

If, as Immanuel Kant once said, we are guided by the starry sky above and the moral law within, then, thanks to David Levy, we can now conceptualize Kant's adage at least half-way. David Levy's Guide to the Night Sky is designed to satisfy observers who have just become interested in the sky and want to navigate their way around it. By stirring the imagination and putting observation in a framework of personal adventure, Levy explains how to discover the Moon, planets, comets, meteors, and distant galaxies through a small telescope.Fully updated, the new edition includes:

Book Description

On his historic 1962 orbital flight, John Glenn made a request to carry a camera. From that moment forward photography became a vital duty for all astronauts. In this astonishing book, National Geographic gathers the most spectacular images from 41 years of orbital photography—many never before seen—to reveal an astronaut’s view of home.

Each photograph featured in Orbit was taken by a NASA astronaut with a hand-held camera and features detail that far exceeds the electronic images sent from satellites. These photographs capture the most magnificent sights on earth: Mount Everest casting its shadow over lesser peaks, the sands of the Sahara arrayed in endless patterns, the eerily atmospheric aurora australis. And they document the effects of human negligence on the Earth: pollution, scarred forests, and topsoil washing into the sea. As Americans contemplate the U.S. space program in the wake of recent tragedy, Orbit is an excellent reminder of the magnificent achievements of space travel.

Detailed maps, ground-based photographs, and informative captions give further depth to this definitive and remarkable history of how our Earth has changed since we first ventured into space. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Another Great Space Book From National Geographic
Astronaut Jay Apt, with the help of geographer Justin Wilkinson and climatologist Michael Helfert, has assembled a book full of pictures of Earth taken from orbit. These photographs were chosen from over a 145,000 that are available from the NASA photographic library and focus on many different aspects of our planet's geology and climate. The large coffee table style format and the high quality of the reproductions allows this book bring out the stunning features of our home and is welcome addition to anyone who is interested in space photography, especially since most of the book is photographs and very little text.

The book is divided into sections covering each continent, the Pacific Ocean and the aurora. To show the range of Earth's geology and climate, each section highlights the major geological features found in each region and if appropriate mankind's influence. To further emphasis to geological diversity of the planet, occasional surface photographs that correspond to an orbital photograph are also included. For example, in the section on Africa, there are photos of the Nile, Nile cities, the Sahara desert, various coastline features and cloud formations. The only portions of the Earth not covered are the North and South Poles, since the shuttle does not fly over these regions. There is also one extremely interesting two page map spread which shows the location of each one of the 268,000 photographs taken by the astronauts.

This book is one of my favorite space photography books and I look at it often and each time that I do I always notice something different. This is a great book and well worth the price.

Home Never Looked So Good.
The book is published by National Geographic, so it goes without saying that the quality of the photographs is superb. But to look at this collection of space-born images is to never see the earth in the same way again. All the contintents and oceans are covered and even the Aurora is documented. The astronauts who took these photographs are some of the luckiest men and women on (or off) the earth, and this book will show you why.

Despite all that man has done to harm the environment, many of the photographs give you an eerie sense of what it might've been like to look down on the earth thousands of years ago, seeing only a beautiful collection of shapes, colors and clouds. Some pictures of the African desert and its coastline will leave you breathless.

A wonderful collection that beats satellite imagery any day of the week.

High flyers!
Shuttle astronaut Jay Apt, together with scientists Michael Helfert and Justin Wilkinson, has put together a wonderful book of photographs under the auspices of National Geographic, Orbit. These are all photographs taken by astronauts from the space shuttle while in orbit (with a few exceptions, historically significant photographs from moon circlings and early trips into space). Photography, interestingly enough, is never really scheduled as a shuttle activity, but rather done 'in between' the other assignments. The photographs included in this book do not come from special 'space' cameras, but rather from regular hand-held, off-the-shelf cameras that astronauts took with them.

The shuttle offers a unique platform for photography, to say the least. It has 11 different windows, and as the shuttle orbits in what one might consider an upside-down position, the windows and cargo-bay with doors open are almost always facing the earth. Astronauts take lots of film with them, and record many phenomena. This book is divided geographically, by earth region: Africa, Europe and the Middle East, Asia, the Pacific, Middle and South America, and North America. There is also a special section on the Aurora, with dazzling photographs of things that look right out of Star Trek!

The images include daytime and nighttime views, calm views and stormy views. One can see hurricanes and cyclones from high above, stretching their entire lengths across great portions of the globe. One can see the difference lighting makes in an urban area at night, the way terrain and human-engineering connect, and how much of the world seems to remain unspoilt when viewed from a distance of even a few hundred miles away.

This is a remarkable book, full of glorious photographs of the 'home world', a great coffee-table book, a great gift, and a great guide of inspiration for younger readers who might be interested in science, geography, or even becoming an astronaut.

A must for every household
Truely a magnificent piece of work to wiew the wonder of God's creation leaves you in awe of the beauty of the Earth. I pick it up regularly, for maximum enjoyment choose times where you are not rushed so you can drink in the superb pictures. A book no household can afford to be without.

Fabulous
I first heard about ORBIT while paging through a National Geographic. The images were disorienting and intriguing. Each photo challenged me to look at the planet like I never had before. "Why is that river so muddy?" "Where do those colors come from?" "How could those shapes be natural?" I would highly recommend getting a magnifying glass to best experience these pictures. They are so rich in detail that constant and close-up attention would be very rewarding. The book is divided into chapters of the continents. To look at the whole book in one sitting is so overwhelming, I would suggest perusing it a chapter at a time. ... Read more

Book Description

A comprehensive book explaining the use of the 2102D star finder, and the many applications it offers in planning navigation. Its numerous examples and diagrams make it a most definitive treatment. In addition to a description of the star finder and its basic use, the book covers: brightness and color of stars, planet identification, choosing optimum star-moon-planet combinations, choosing time between sunlines and running fixes, and emergency steering. This book is an indispensable companion to the star finder itself. ... Read more

Book Description

More than 150 full-color photographs and illustrations capture the spectacular wonder and drama of space • More than 60 easy-to-read color star charts guide you star by star and month by month through the winter, spring, summer, and fall skies • Reference pages and feature boxes provide further background information • A practical, high-quality planisphere (star-finder), pictured above, lets you identify the stars overhead at any given time on any day of the year Informative, clear, easy-to-use and lavishly illustrated, The Star Guide puts the Universe at your fingertips and lets you learn about the heavens through actual observation. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

I quickly put this on the shelf.
This was my very first book on astronomy and it was quickly replaced by another book. There are better beginners guides to buy.

While the maps are of good quality, blue background and divided by the month, I quickly learned that the maps contain errors in placement of some celestial objects. Organization of the description of the constellations in the monthly section is poor because you have to jump around to different pages to locate a description of nearly half of the constellations for that month. While there are in-depth analysis of the most commonly known constellations, the infomation on the lesser known constellations would be better organized as a separate section with a small skymap for each.

The sections on the Moon, Planets and Sun are good, but most amature astronomers veiw this information as a side interest. These sections should be condensed and more space given to the constellations. Better treatment of our solar system would be on how to view these objects.

The planisphere that comes with the book is mediocre. A spiral bound form of the book with dew-resistant pages would be better.

My recommendation would be to get Nightwatch, the Audubon pocket guide, and David Levy's Guide to the Stars.

A book for beginners that's a reference for the experienced.
A large format book with full color throughout, this work takes beginning star-gazers by the hand and quickly shows them what, when, where, and how. Its detail is presented logically and intuitively such that it makes a very nice reference for the experienced amateur astronomer as well.

Well written with great photographs and charts.
This book is a great introductory book on astronomy. Not only is it replete with information on and pictures of the moon, planets, stars, nebulae, and galaxies, it is a very practical, visually-oriented guide for the amateur astronomer. ... Read more

Book Description

Look to the stars--and find them, at any evening hour, any season of the year! And don't forget the planets, too. You'll feel as if you have a personalized tour guide to outer space (as seen in the northern latitudes) when you set the date and time on this movable disk. Hold the planisphere directly overhead and with the midnight mark pointing north. All the constellations on the map will then come into focus for you. Just begin by locating one, and move along the sky, helped by the lines joining the stars on the chart. Finding the planets takes a little more work, because they all revolve at different rates and can't be plotted permanently; but the tables will show you how to figure out the position of the brightest (Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn). Bonus: you can calculate sunrise and sunset for any particular day! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Most detailed Planisphere
I've been an astronomy buff for 28 years and this is the most detailed planisphere I've found.It is simple and easy to use.You can look up the night sky by standard and military time and each day of the month.Most planispheres only show days by groupings, not individually as this one does.The brighest stars are named without destroying the readability.Also included is the declination and right ascension for the more advanced user. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (6)

Add this to your collection (but NOT as your ONLY book)
Great Book, GREAT Charts (the grey section), but I had to drop a star due to a lack of Messier Photos and the terrible binding. I don't know HOW the review can say "4th - 8th grade reading level". If you find a 4th grader who can absorb this excellent material, he/she's in the wrong class! This book takes you from ignorance to comprehension painlessly. It even lists wonderful items which can be seen with only a pair of binoculars. It explains everything in the charts, listing the Messier objects and describing them, ie. "9th magnitude open-armed galaxy". Includes solar system, moon, stars, and deep space. A well done book, lacking nothing as a "text book", but as a "Field Guide" the above listed deficiences are intolerable. Well worth the small price.

A very Handy Little Reference
This little book is a great reference that handles most any issue an amateur astronomer might encounter in his gazing exploits. There is a thorough yet concise treatment of Basic Astronomy, followed by sections on Astronomical Instruments, Stars, The Various planets, and other celestial bodies. The illustrations and charts are wonderful and there is a very thorough treatment of each constellation, many tables, a good bibliography, and index of observatories and planetariums. It amazing what has been packed into this very small book!

Best book, worst binding...
The one and only knock against this great field guide (and kudos to the others who have pointed out that it's NOT a children's book, but simply the best introductory handbook to astronomy ever published) is that it will fall apart with regular use within a couple of years. This is inexcusable in a field guide, but the book is so wonderful and user-friendly that it still gets my five stars. If I could split the review: the book would get 5 stars, the publisher 0 stars.

But it's so cheap compared to other guides, like the lousy Norton's Star Atlas, that you can afford another when it shreds in your hands after a couple years use at the scope.

Bottom line: great book, but should be sewn-bound!!!

This field guide should be in every astronomer's pocket
The definitive field guide for astronomers. It covers everthing from telescopes, to star types, to star charts, to the constellations, and our solar system. Full color pictures, illustrations, formulas, and definitions make this book a serious resource.

An excellent pocket-sized guide for any amateur astronomer.
I concur with Barry Johnson's thoughtful review of Skyguide. I would like to point out that the book's "grey pages" are it's finest feature. The constellation charts and their accompanying descriptions are superb, and are the most useful of any that I have seen in this size format. Contrary to the publisher's reading level description at he top of the page - the level is NOT 4 to 8 -- this is not a "children's" book. The reading level is 8 to adult. For a much more basic and simplified introduction to astronomy with younger enthusiasts in mind I would recommend Herbert S. Zim's "Stars" by the same publisher. By the way both of these books have been revised for the "90's". ... Read more

Book Description

One of the world's leading astronomers, Robert Kirshner, takes readers inside a lively research team on the quest that led them to an extraordinary cosmological discovery: the expansion of the universe is accelerating under the influence of a dark energy that makes space itself expand. In addition to sharing the story of this exciting discovery, Kirshner also brings the science up-to-date in a new epilogue. He explains how the idea of an accelerating universe--once a daring interpretation of sketchy data--is now the standard assumption in cosmology today.

This measurement of dark energy--a quality of space itself that causes cosmic acceleration--points to a gaping hole in our understanding of fundamental physics. In 1917, Einstein proposed the "cosmological constant" to explain a static universe. When observations proved that the universe was expanding, he cast this early form of dark energy aside. But recent observations described first-hand in this book show that the cosmological constant--or something just like it--dominates the universe's mass and energy budget and determines its fate and shape.

Warned by Einstein's blunder, and contradicted by the initial results of a competing research team, Kirshner and his colleagues were reluctant to accept their own result. But, convinced by evidence built on their hard-earned understanding of exploding stars, they announced their conclusion that the universe is accelerating in February 1998. Other lines of inquiry and parallel supernova research now support a new synthesis of a cosmos dominated by dark energy but also containing several forms of dark matter. We live in an extravagant universe with a surprising number of essential ingredients: the real universe we measure is not the simplest one we could imagine.

This book invites any reader to share in the excitement of a remarkable adventure of discovery.

... Read more

Reviews (13)

An absorbing story of a recent monumental discovery
In early 1998, scientist Robert Kirshner and his team published the astonishing claim that the universe's expansion was accelerating due to the power of dark energy. Subsequent research has not been able to disprove the results obtained by Kirshner's "high-z supernova search team." This book is Kirshner's discussion of that finding and its importance to cosmology.

The first half of the book is essentially a crash course in the basics of cosmology, with many anecdotes and background from earlier research since Einstein or even before. Kirshner's witty style keeps this section entertaining even for those familiar with the information. He compares several distance indicators, such as Cepheid variables, redshifts, and supernovae. We learn how supernovae can be used to measure distances to remote galaxies due to their incredible brightness. We also become familiar with the pitfalls of using supernovae as standard candles, because there are a few different types.

Then the author gets into the real purpose of his book: to describe his research team's methods, results, and road to success with the press. The subtitle of the book is somewhat misleading; it should have been something like "The Story of the High-Z Supernova Search Team". Though the information wasn't presented in quite the way I was expecting, Kirshner gets the job done. He patiently educates the layman reader in many aspects of astronomy and cosmology. Towards the end it becomes a race between two supernova search teams using different methods. Though I found this yarn interesting, I would have preferred a general discourse to the narrative presented here.

Overall, this book is probably one of the most well-written and absorbing reads on this specific subject. Science and astronomy buffs should enjoy it greatly.

Fascinating...
Robert Kirshner's book, 'The Extravagant Universe: Exploding Stars, Dark Energy and the Accelerating Cosmos', is another in a series of interesting texts on cosmology written essentially for those who are science-illiterate, or at least only somewhat informed, and who wish to know some of the key insights and discoveries of our time regarding astronomy. Particularly at the end of this text, where Kirshner explains the importance of this kind of scientific research (why would the government or private agencies want to spend money on research that has little if anything to do with addressing the desires of humanity, encapsulated by Kirshner, as wanting to 'rich, safe and immortal'?) for the average person - it is not just for intellectual fancy or whim, but the long-term implications of understanding the universe can affect our lives in ways we can't even contemplate today.

Kirshner's narrative looks at many of the key discoveries, controversies, and personalities of the field of astrophysics, theoretical physics and cosmology in the twentieth century. Kirshner lays the groundwork not with Einstein (as so many texts do) but rather goes behind Einstein to the earlier work of Gauss and Riemann, with mathematics that, at the time, would not have been considered useful in the ways Einstein's general relativity made it. Kirshner looks at observation (Hubble Telescope, observations of background radiation through various methods, etc.) as well as theoretical conjectures to show the strand of thinking from the early universal constructs to present day theories.

Kirshner traces the history of recent astronomy and cosmology through researchers in history such as Einstein and Hubble as well as persons he knows personally and professionally at work in the field today. Particularly in the last half-to-third of the book, where Kirshner brings in this personal level of acquaintance with the people involved, the science comes alive in a very human way. Kirshner is good at showing the limitations, as well - sometimes you just get lucky, or your gifts complement others. With regard to Hubble and Hale, for example, Kirshner recounts the evidence that they did not really understand Einstein's general relativity or the mathematics of his cosmological thinking; nonetheless, they continued their observational researches, and when Hubble discovered the expansion of the universe, Kirshner states that you don't have to know all of the mathematical and technical details involved in science, but rather 'you just have to face in the right direction and go forward' with those things that you can do!

Some of the key concepts Kirshner develops include the life-cycle of stars, the overall shape and structure of the universe, the idea of dark matter/dark energy that has gone unknown for so long, and the ideas of reaching back to the origins of the universe and drawing conclusions for the acceleration of the universal expansion. Kirshner does not develop the areas of planetary science or solar-system type ideas in this text except very peripherally - this is a book for grand topics on a cosmic scale indeed.

The book is very readable and accessible to any with an advanced high-school or undergraduate beginning ability in science. How could it not be, given an author whose mis-spent youth watching 'Rocky and Bullwinkle' cartoons is confessed in the endnotes? There are technical terms, and (gasp!) even a few equations thrown in here and there, but understanding the narrative is not dependent upon being able to process the equations. There are colour plates in the centre, with other black-and-white photographs and images throughout. In keeping with the non-technical nature of the text, endnotes are kept to a minimum, and recommended readings are few.

An interesting text, and a very good subject.

Nice story - science lacking
Dr. Kirshiner spins a good yarn. The focus of the book is mostly on the story and history of the accelerating universe theory, presented in a very readable style. I would only fault the book in that after reading it, while I'm now comfortable with the idea of the accelerating universe, I would have liked to see more of the science and math involved. It's a great overview, though; recommended!

A good description of a challenging discovery
"Extravagant Universe" is one of the best books on the market if you're looking to fathom the recent discoveries regarding the apparent acceleration of the universe's expansion. Kirshner is not just an outside observer but a direct participant in the science, so you get a perspective from someone "who was there." Kirshner explains robustly how a special class of star became recruited as a sort of measuring stick for studying apparent and actual brightnesses of distant supernovae, whose unexpected dimness provides strong evidence for an accelerating spacetime expansion. Moreover, Kirshner delves into the still impenetrable mystery of the so-called dark energy that seems to be driving the expansionary push. Perhaps the book's best asset is its relative modesty. While Kirshner does suggest some possible implications of the recent findings, he's careful not to go too far, noting the unanswered questions and the ease-- even probability-- that new data and interpretations may overthrow the current consensus altogether rather quickly. Such a perspective is often missing in much of the lay science literature and is a major failing of many books on the market. That Kirshner, who himself is on the leading edge of these discoveries, holds back in comparison, is a testament to his discipline as a scientist.

Could have been better!
This book focus more on the writer's biography than anything else. Little scientifical explanations are given considering the bulk of the book. Very narrow and somewhat shallow. Overall: Mediocre. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The first edition of Hubble Vision was published in 1995, when the Hubble Space Telescope was already "the foremost observatory of our age." This second edition has been almost completely rewritten to emphasize the telescope's impressive list of new discoveries.

The 100 new illustrations include many glorious images: exploding stars and colliding galaxies, the profound vision of the Hubble Deep Field, gravitational lenses, the impact of Comet Shoemaker-Levy on Jupiter, and pictures of other solar systems.But the book is not just a collection of pretty pictures; it's also an excellent introduction to astronomy. Since it describes both objects (from the level of the nearby planets to the level of the big bang) and instruments, it gives laypeople a particularly accurate idea of what astronomers actually do--and of how much fun they have doing it.

Brandt is an astronomer at the University of Colorado and a principal investigator for the space telescope, while his collaborator Collins Petersen is a science writer with practical experience in astronomy.Their combined expertise results in a book that is authoritative but not daunting, gorgeous but not superficial.You may want to keep it on your coffee table, but you should also actually read it. --Mary Ellen Curtin ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Hubble Heaven
To the average person like myself it is simple uncomprehensable that way out here is all of this energy, peacefully and sometimes horrifically looming around us. Reading this book, and particularly looking intensely at the wonderful colour photographs, I cannot feel anything else but awe for the sheer original beauty of our universe, and the great bridges that we need to cross scientifically to even make an inch of sense of it. The text is easy enough for the pure enthusiast to understand the concepts, but for those with a thirst for knowledge, these pages reveal centuries of human time devoted to exploring milleniums and milleniums of universal time. It really does make you feel as though the only thing between us and the secret of everything is our humble mortality, not our need to know. Hubble Vision gives you a snapshot of the heavens, and beyond, something we'll never experince first hand in our life-time at least! ... Read more

Book Description

This comprehensive work takes you on a personal tour of the universe using nothing more than a pair of binoculars. More comprehensive than any book currently available, it starts with Earth's nearest neighbor, the moon, and then goes on to explore each planet in the solar system, asteroids, meteors, comets and the sun. Following this, the reader is whisked away into deep space to explore celestial bodies including stars that are known and many sights less familiar. The final chapter includes a detailed atlas of deep-sky objects visible through binoculars. The appendices include guidance on how to buy, care for and maintain astronomical binoculars, tips and hints on using them, and detailed information on several home-made binocular mounts. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

A Classic Reference and Observing Guide
Touring the Universe Through Binoculars remains the single most authoritative source for people who want to view the night sky with binoculars. Sure, there are other books on the subject, but Touring the Universe stands apart for its thorough survey of the binocular sky. This book lists objects that the other books miss entirely (and that the authors probably don't even know exist!).

But readers should keep in mind that Touring the Universe is really aimed more toward seasoned amateur astronomers. Those new to astronomy may find some of the discussion a little beyond them, at least at this point. But you will certainly grow into the book if you stick with the hobby. And thanks to the flowing words from the author, that's an enjoyable task.

Readers should also be aware that the book does not have any star charts. That means you will need to get either a star atlas like Sky Atlas 2000 or the author's companion CD-ROM (which Amazon does not offer, but Sky Publishing and Orion Telescope Center do). It's great software even without the book!

If you have large binos, don't miss this book
This book covers +1000 deep sky objects plus solar system objects for binoculars. It includes many faint objects that can be seen with ordinary binos under very favourable conditions so the observers with large binoculars can use this book better. Although there are +1000 objects given in the book, most of them are not explained but rather their basic data like coordinates and magnitude are given. It does not have maps so you need an atlas with this book. However; this book is very useful with its tabulated data and constellation-based organisation. You cannot find any other complete and well prepared list and data of objects visible in binoculars. The author also groups Messier objects into 4 difficulty groups which is helpful for inexperienced observers.

A Useful Book
I am a professional scientist and have an 8" amateur telescope (Meade) plus a variety of binoculars plus books and software.

Here is the problem. Living in the city and living a hectic life the opportunities to observe the sky and one's schedule rarely mix in any ideal fashion. Often I am in the coutryside when the light conditions are near perfect - a cold night in Canada in the country where there is no light is truly amazing - so I like to keep one good 7x50 pair in my car with this book.

It is a nice backup. Almost 300 pages, lots of stuff, 1000 objects listed, nice index, easy to read. Not many photos and they are black and white. Quick reference manual.

Jack in Toronto

poor organization makes it hard to find doable observations
The first problem with this book is that for the urban or suburban observer with less than giant binoculars, it is too hard to find objects that you will really have any luck with. You have to sort through long lists of 9th-magnitude star clusters to find anything that would really be visible. The second problem is that a large percentage of the objects listed are pretty dim and crummy open clusters, and in most cases it is extremely hard to tell whether you are seeing the cluster or not. The photos are no help, because they are all long photographic exposures taken through telescopes, nothing like what you actually see through binox.

A terrific book now even better with new star atlas CD-ROM
I have used this book since it first came out almost ten years ago, and have always found it a big help when planning an observing session with my binoculars. It talks about sky objects that are ignored by just about every other book out there, but that are *easily* visible through binoculars! Guess none of the other binoculars books bothered to really research the topic.

But now, the book has gotten even better with the new Touring the Universe Through Binoculars Atlas CD-ROM. A great value for the price too! I first looked for it on Amazon.com, but I guess they don't sell it. (hey, Amazon! hint hint). I ended up buying it right through Harrington's home page. Together, the book and CD are the most complete survey of the binocular sky ever created! My advice is to buy the book here and get the CD separately. If you like binocular observing as much as I do, they make a great team. ... Read more

Book Description

Electric green pierced by neon blue, shocking pink spinning into violent red, and shimmering purple sidled up against deep indigo: never before have you seen such high-octane colors in the sky, and never before has a book shown the northern lights—aurora borealis—in such vivid color. In Northern Lights, photographers Calvin Hall and Daryl Pederson bring to print nearly a hundred photographs of this amazing natural phenomenon, shot from remote locations all over Alaska and using no filters or digital enhancement. Just as fascinating are the legends, myths, and science surrounding this polar phenomenon, described by George Bryson. As 2002 marks the peak viewing time of the northern lights in an eleven-year cycle, this book brings the elusive magic of the northern lights to stargazers near and far. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A beautiful coffee table book!

This one was given to me as a gift by an Alaskan friend, and I shall cherish it. It is an absolutely awesome collection of photographs of the Northern Lights, with accompanying text describing the legends, myths and theories surrounding the phenomenon.

The typography and layout are first-class, and the whole project is an absolutely flawless collection of photographs and prose relating to the Aurora Borealis.

What an exquisite gift, Ted!

Joseph Pierre,BR>
author of The Road to Damascus and other books

In a word...Awesome!
This spectacular collection of Aurora Borealis photographs is absolutely breathtaking. Daryl Pederson and Calvin Hall have captured the essence of the mysterious wonders of the Northern Lights with their combined abilities. Having lived in Alaska we have long admired the rare talents of Mr Pederson. My husband and I own many of his prints and continue to enjoy them daily. We most definately will order some from this offering. This book is a must for everyone who appreciates the visual splenders displayed by the Aurora Borealis or just loves to look at georgeous photography. ... Read more

Book Description

There are as many different kinds of stars as there are stars themselves. Each an individual, every one unique. In this arresting and lavishly illustrated volume, noted astronomy writer and teacher Jim Kaler choose 100 stars to illustrate the mind-boggling variety of the stars' shapes and sizes, their immense ages, and the vast range of configurations in which they exist.||From AG Draconis to Z Andromedae, this alphabetically arranged volume first lists each star's resident constellation, its class, its apparent brightness as viewed from Earth, its distance from our Sun, and its visual luminosity. Then the real story begins. In choosing his "top 100," Kaler has aimed not just at providing a representative sample of the Universe's extraordinarily diverse population, but at capturing their complexity, their dynamism, and the amazing view they provide into the extraordinary physical forces at play in the Universe.||James B. Kaler is Professor of Astronomy at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has held both Fulbright and Guggenheim Fellowships, and has been awarded medals for his work from the University of Liege (Belgium) and the University of Mexico. He is the author of six books and dozens of articles on astronomy, including The Little Book of Stars (Copernicus Books, 2000) and lectures frequently.Enter The Hundred Greatest Stars by James Kaler...Following a very clear general introduction to stellar astronomy, Kaler embarks on an informative tour through his hundred favourite stars, each given a page of text with an appropriate illustration on the facing page...The really clever aspect of the book is that as well as describing the hundred stars, often bringing out aspects which are unfamiliar, Kaler succeeds in giving an excellent broad survey of recent developments in stellar astronomy. As is to be expected, the text is immensely authoritative...The illustrations are beautiful..."|-New Scientist ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Hundred Greatest Stars by Kaler
This book has spectacular views of major stars/ clusters.
The 3 brightest stars of the Southern Hemisphere are depicted.
These stars are Sirius, Canopus and Alpha Centauri.
Important scientific rule structures are explained. i.e.
The apparent magnitude of a star is a function of distance.
In addition, Absolute Magnitude and Color are proportional to
temperature. Important statistics are provided for stars: i.e.

Blue-White Stars have 32-50 illumination with Ionized Helium.

Infrared stars are 1000 degrees with prominent methane bands.

Stars with > 10 solar masses--are exploding stars

Ag Dra has powerful eruptions. Celestial Harp is approximately
880 Light Years with a 2600 times the sun luminosity.

This work is a virtual treasure-chest of scientific facts and
data about stars. It is perfect for a school science project.
The book is written for a large constituency of readers. i.e.
Astronomers, scientists, general audiences, teachers,
museum administrators and many others.

His Best Yet!
I was not a big fan of Kaler's until this book. I had read his "Extreme Stars" -- very difficult to follow with his writing style, but still a good book. I begged the library to order this one, which they did. Very impressive -- I was enthralled. He discusses each star with true passion and on a level the ordinary amateur astronomer can understand. If someone can get me excited looking at a boring 5th magnitude 51 Pegasii, then he's done a good job :) --- he has. Excellent illustrations to boot! Buy this book - you won't be disappointed.

Update: January 2004 - after 3 times checking it out from the library -- decided it was too good of a reference book to pass up and ordered from Amazon.com at discounted price! A true gem - I will observe outside, then use this to enrich my knowledge of some of the stars I've looked at afterwards. All the "biggies" are here - Arcturus, Sirius, Capella, Vega, Betelguese, and some other obscure ones -- but all so well chosen that it's hard to argue with his 100 picks! I wish he'd write another on his next top 100. I am also half through his "Little Book of Stars" and recommend that too! Will write a review on that when I am finished. Bottomline: Buy this book - you won't be disappointed if you are an astronomy buff.

Informative and colorful
No Katharine Hepburn or Al Pacino here. Instead we have Betelgeuse and Cygnus X-1, Deneb and MXB 1730-335 and 96 other illuminators of the night sky as selected by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Professor of Astronomy James B. Kaler. They are called "the greatest" mostly because they are significant in one way or another and partly because they are Kaler's favorites.

Of course included are Alpha Centauri, our closest interstellar neighbors, and Barnard's Star, the fastest moving star across our line of sight, and Polaris, the North Star, friend to navigators. The sun is included for comparison and reference.

Kaler begins the book with what he calls an "Introduction and Allegro" in which he explains what stars are and how they are classified and how they evolve. Then come mini essays on the each of the chosen stars, what's interesting and important about them, their history and vital statistics beginning with number zero, the sun. He identifies the "Residence" of each star according to astronomical constellation, alternative name, its class such as F2 giant (Beta Cassiopeiae), its visual magnitude, its distance from us, its absolute visual magnitude, and its "Significance" (e.g., ESO 439-26 is "The faintest known white dwarf.") Because of the range of different types of stars that Kaler has chosen (with wildly differing system configurations), double and triple stars, stars with known planets, pulsars, neutron stars, black holes, etc., reading through the various essays amounts to a modest astronomical education in itself.

There are color plates pertaining to each star, sometimes of the star and sometimes of the area of the sky in which the star can be found, and sometimes pertaining to something significant about the star such as a colorful drawing of the inflowing gas from the giant surrounding the black hole at Cygnus X-1.

There's a modest glossary and three appendices, one listing the stars by their various names for easy recognition, the second by their evolutionary status (Main Sequence stars, Neutron stars, etc.), and the third by position (by Declination and Right Association).

This works well as an introduction to stars and their nature and as a source of reference for the amateur star-gazer. It is an attractive book that would make a fine gift especially for a young person just becoming interested in astronomy. It is technical in spots, but overall it is readily accessible to the general reader.

Informative, superbly illustrated, astronomical reference
Accessibly written by James B. Kaler (Professor of Astronomy, University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign), The Hundred Greatest Stars is an incredible, informative, superbly illustrated, astronomical reference describing one hundred different stars ranging from Acrux to ZZ Ceti. Each individual star has a full color photograph and an accompanying page of scientific description with close attention to detail. The Hundred Greatest Stars is a strongly recommended, beautifully illustrated study for astronomy buffs. ... Read more

Book Description

One look at a starry night sky is often enough to arouse an individual's curiosity and generate a desire to discover the wonders of the heavens.But how do you learn the identities of all those stars and constellations and when they appear?What is a planetary nebula or a globular star cluster--where do you find them and how do you tell them apart?Acclaimed popular science writer Fred Schaaf has created this eloquent guide that both beginners and veteran skywatchers will find rewarding.

According to Schaaf, the secret to learning astronomy is to begin with one night and one part of the sky or one constellation and then let the passing nights add to your framework of knowledge and sights.To that end, after a introductory primer covering the basics of astronomy, the rest of the book uses a month-by-month organization, highlighting the constellations, stars, meteor showers, and other special phenomena visible each month, with many fascinating insights into the science, history, and lore of various celestial objects.Schaaf's many years of writing for "Sky & Telescope", the "Old Farmer's Almanac", "Mother Earth News", and other publications make him the world's leading expert in the monthly format of astronomy sights and the perfect guide through the year of the stars.

Complete with beautiful maps, drawings, photos, a very useful glossary, and Schaaf as a guide, this is the perfect book for the amateur astronomer or anyone curious about our place in the universe. ... Read more

Book Description

This is the most detailed guide to observing galaxies, clusters and nebulae available in a single volume. The objects included range from those visible in binoculars to faint galaxies requiring a 30 cm telescop