Astrophysics Books
Princeton University Press From Dust to Life
Book SynopsisTells the story of how the celestial objects that make up the solar system arose from common beginnings billions of years ago, and how scientists and philosophers have sought to unravel this mystery down through the centuries, piecing together the clues that enabled them to deduce the solar system's layout, its age, and the likely way it formed.Trade Review"[T]here is much solid information to be gleaned from careful reading."--Publishers Weekly "[A] stellar read."--Nature "In this grand chronicle of the science behind the origins of our 4.6-billion-year-old Solar System, John Chambers and Jacqueline Mitton peruse everything from the giant collision thought to have formed our Moon to the nature of meteorites."--Rosalind Metcalfe, Nature "This is not your average tour of our solar system. Using clear, relatively jargon-free language, Chambers and Mitton provide a comprehensive examination of our current understanding of its formation, which should readily appeal to the general reader who enjoys scientific detail without getting into equations."--Library Journal "I recently built an app about the solar system, and my research would have been made a lot easier if I had possessed a copy of this excellent book. It provides a truly comprehensive overview of our solar system's origins and is written in plain, jargon-free language."--Marcus Chown, New Scientist "Chambers and Mitton stay focused on the science in From Dust to Life: unlike other books that create narratives around the scientists, they discuss the science and the history of its development, rather than the individuals who made it possible. That's a worthwhile trade: while there have been, and are today, interesting people studying the formation of the solar system, the science is even more fascinating as we find out just how complex the process is to turn a cloud of gas and dust into a star and planets."--Jeff Foust, Space Review "[I]ncredibly thorough and detailed, yet very accessible to non-scientists too... [A] compelling overview of the evolution of the Solar System."--Katia Moskvitch, BBC Sky at Night "Read From Dust to Life to gain a fascinating perspective on the current state of the science behind solar system formation."--David Dickinson, Astro Guys blog "This wild ride across the cosmos and through time covers a lot of territory but isn't merely a laundry list of observations. Instead, readers will find one lucid explanation piggybacked onto another... The authors, a planetary scientist and a space science writer, make celestial mechanics comprehensible even to readers with more curiosity than scientific background. Yet there are still insights for those who regularly pore over the astronomy stories in Science News. Best of all, the authors help readers glimpse the why of it all."--Science News "This book ... is accessible to a scientifically literate general reader... The author team is eminently qualified ... one is a well-known planetary scientist and the other an experienced science writer. The result of their efforts is a highly readable book."--Star Formation Newsletter "Chambers and Mitton present a well-researched, detailed, big-picture overview of the solar system that shows how all of people's observations of its contents contribute to a coherent model for its origin. The authors place the modern theory and latest observations in historical context by beginning each chapter with an overview of the development of these scientific ideas from their beginning."--Choice "This book is up-to date, thorough, and authoritative. It revels in the latest discussions and controversies... It is a joy to read and is accessible to any student with a scientific background... Read this book. Join the cosmogonists and help change the cosmogony/cosmology ratio."--David W. Hughes, Observatory "For the interested amateur with a degree of familiarity with the topics under discussion, From Dust to Life furnishes a comprehensive overview of current models for the formation of the solar system... Genuinely exciting."--Cait MacPhee, Times Higher EducationTable of ContentsList of Illustrations xi Preface xv ONE Cosmic Archaeology 1 A fascination with the past 1 A solar system to explain 3 Real worlds 9 Winding back the clock 12 Putting the pieces together 16 TWO Discovering the Solar System 19 Measuring the solar system 19 From wandering gods to geometrical constructions 22 The Sun takes center stage 25 Laws and order 27 Gravity rules 29 The missing planet 31 Asteroids enter the scene 34 Rocks in space 36 Uranus behaving badly 37 Completing the inventory 40 THREE An Evolving Solar System 43 A changing world 43 A nebulous idea begins to take shape 44 The nebular hypothesis in trouble 48 A chance encounter? 50 Nebular theory resurrected 54 FOUR The Question of Timing 56 Reading the cosmic clock 57 Early estimates: ingenious--but wrong 57 Geology versus physics 58 Radioactivity changes everything 61 Hubble and the age of the universe 63 How radioactive timers work 64 Meteorites hold the key 68 Dating the Sun 71 The age of the universe revisited 73 FIVE Meteorites 75 A dramatic entrance 75 Where do meteorites come from? 76 Irons and stones 80 Identifying the parents 83 Lunar and Martian meteorites 86 A rare and precious resource 87 What meteorites can tell us 88 SIX Cosmic Chemistry 92 Element 43: first a puzzle then a clue 92 An abundance of elements 94 The first elements 96 Cooking in the stellar furnace 98 Building heavier elements 104 Supernovae 105 SEVEN A Star Is Born 108 A child of the Milky Way 108 Where stars are born 110 First steps to a solar system 113 The solar system's birth environment 119 Essential ingredients 121 EIGHT Nursery for Planets 123 An excess of infrared 123 Two kinds of disks 125 Inside the solar nebula 129 Getting the dust to stick 131 The influence of gas 134 How to build planetesimals 135 The demise of the disk 137 NINE Worlds of Rock and Metal 140 Sisters but not twins 140 The era of planetesimals 141 Planetary embryos take over 144 The final four 147 Earth 148 Mercury 153 Venus 158 Mars 161 TEN the Making of the Moon 168 The Moon today 169 What the Moon is made of 170 The Moon's orbit 172 The fission theory 174 The capture hypothesis 175 The coaccretion hypothesis 176 The giant impact hypothesis 177 Encounter with Theia 179 Earth, Moon, and tidal forces 181 Late heavy bombardment 183 ELEVEN Earth, Cradle of Life 186 The Hadean era 186 The tree of life 191 The building blocks of life 193 The rise of oxygen 196 A favorable climate 199 Snowball Earth 202 Future habitability 204 TWELVE Worlds of Gas and Ice 205 Giants of the solar system 205 Building giants by core accretion 211 The disk instability model 214 Spin and tilt 215 Masters of many moons 217 Formation of regular satellites 219 The origin of irregular satellites 220 Rings 221 THIRTEEN What Happened to the Asteroid Belt? 225 The asteroid belt today 225 Ground down by collisions? 226 Emptied by gravity? 229 Asteroid families 231 The missing mantle problem 233 Asteroids revealed as worlds 236 FOURTEEN The Outermost Solar System 242 Where do comets come from? 242 Centaurs 246 Looking beyond Neptune 247 The Kuiper belt 248 Sedna 251 The nature of trans-Neptunian objects 252 Where have all the Plutos gone? 256 The Nice model 259 FIFTEEN Epilogue: Paradigms, Problems, and Predictions 263 The paradigm: solar system evolution in a nutshell 264 Unsolved puzzles 267 Searching the solar system for answers 268 Other planetary systems 271 Future evolution of the solar system 273 Glossary 277 Sources and Further Reading 291 Index 293
£23.80
Princeton University Press What Are GammaRay Bursts
Book SynopsisGamma-ray bursts are the brightest - and, until recently, among the least understood - cosmic events in the universe. This title offers an overview of gamma-ray bursts and the theoretical framework that physicists have developed to make sense of complex observations across the electromagnetic spectrum.Trade Review"This series of books (Princeton Frontiers of Physics) is aimed at 'students, scientists and scientifically minded general readers'. This particular book is on target, with reasonably clear explanations of most of the jargon, a useful glossary, a good index and a reference to a more advanced review for those who need it."--D.J. Miller, Contemporary PhysicsTable of ContentsPREFACE ix Chapter 1: Introduction 1 1.1 Serendipity during the Cold War 1 1.2 A New Field Begins 7 1.3 Precise Localizations and the Search for Counterparts 10 1.4 The March 5th Event and Soft Gamma-Ray Repeaters 12 1.5 BATSE and the Great Debate 16 1.6 The Afterglow Era Begins 23 1.7 Progenitors and Diversity 29 1.8 Gamma-Ray Bursts in a Universal Context 37 Chapter 2: Into the Belly of the Beast 40 2.1 What Are Gamma-Ray Bursts? 40 2.2 Understanding the Origin of the High-Energy Emission 52 2.3 The Central Engine 62 Chapter 3: Afterglows 72 3.1 Phenomenology 73 3.2 Origin of the Emission 90 3.3 Evidence for Jetting 105 3.4 Late-Time Observations 111 Chapter 4: The Events in Context 113 4.1 Local Scales 114 4.2 Galactic Scales 121 4.3 Universal Scales 127 Chapter 5: The Progenitors of Gamma-Ray Bursts 135 5.1 A Massive-Star Origin 137 5.2 Mergers of Compact Objects 150 5.3 Extragalactic Magnetars 163 5.4 Classification Challenges 165 Chapter 6: Gamma-Ray Bursts as Probes of the Universe 169 6.1 Studies of Gas, Dust, and Galaxies 171 6.2 The History of Star Formation 177 6.3 Cosmic Dawn: Measuring Reionization and the First Objects in the Universe 181 6.4 Neutrinos, Gravitational Waves, and Cosmic Rays 191 6.5 Quantum Gravity and the Expansion of the Universe 195 6.6 The Future of Gamma-Ray Bursts: At the Nexus of Physical and Astrophysical Inquiry 200 NOTES 203 SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING 227 GLOSSARY 231 INDEX 249
£31.50
Princeton University Press Exoplanet Atmospheres Physical Processes
Book SynopsisDescribes the basic physical processes - including radiative transfer, molecular absorption, and chemical processes - common to the various planetary atmospheres, as well as the transit, eclipse, and thermal phase variation observations that are unique to exoplanets.Trade Review"Seager provides an excellent contribution to the Princeton Series in Astrophysics, which will appeal to graduate students and working professionals in astronomy."--Choice "The author, an acknowledged leader in the field, has written a text intended for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and professional astronomers. The book is organized topically, and could easily be used alone or as part of a more general course in thermodynamics or radiation astrophysics... This is an excellent resource... The author's clear explanations are easy to follow."--April S. Whitt, Planetarian "As a basic textbook for an introductory course in atmospheric physics for undergraduates this book is fine; it's nicely and clearly written and includes model exam questions."--F. W. Taylor, Observatory "The book will certainly provide a useful starting point for what I suspect will be the increasing number of scientists wishing to work on the physics of exoplanets."--Jonathan Tennyson, Contemporary PhysicsTable of ContentsPreface xi Chapter 1: Introduction 1 1.1 Exoplanets from Afar 1 1.2 Two Paths to Observing Exoplanet Atmospheres 2 1.3 Types of Planets 4 Chapter 2: Intensity and Flux 9 2.1 Introduction 9 2.2 Intensity 9 2.3 Flux and Other Intensity Moments 10 2.4 Surface Flux 11 2.5 Observed Flux 14 2.6 Luminosity and Outgoing Energy 16 2.7 Incident Flux and Incident Energy 17 2.8 Black Body Intensity and Black Body Flux 19 2.9 Lambert Surface 20 2.10 Summary 22 Chapter 3: Temperature, Albedos, and Flux Ratios 25 3.1 Introduction 25 3.2 Energy Balance 25 3.3 Planetary Temperatures 27 3.4 Planetary Albedos 32 3.5 Planet-Star Flux Ratios 40 3.6 Planetary Phase Curves 45 3.7 Summary 47 Chapter 4: Composition of a Planetary Atmosphere 51 4.1 Introduction 51 4.2 Composition of Earth's and Jupiter's Atmospheres 51 4.3 Chemical Composition 56 4.4 Basic Cloud Physics 66 4.5 Atmospheric Escape 72 4.6 Atmospheric Evolution 81 4.7 Summary 83 Chapter 5: Radiative Transfer I: Fundamentals 87 5.1 Introduction 87 5.2 Opacity 87 5.3 Optical Depth 91 5.4 Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium 93 5.5 The Source Function 96 5.6 The Equation of Radiative Transfer 96 5.7 Summary 100 Chapter 6: Radiative Transfer II: Solutions 103 6.1 Introduction 103 6.2 A Conceptual Description of the Emergent Spectrum 103 6.3 An Introduction to Line Formation 108 6.4 Approximate Solutions to the Plane-Parallel Radiative Transfer Equation 113 6.5 Monte Carlo Radiative Transfer 125 6.6 Summary 127 Chapter 7: Polarization 133 7.1 Introduction 133 7.2 Description of Polarized Radiation 134 7.3 Polarization Calculations 138 7.4 Polarization from Planets 140 7.5 Summary 143 Chapter 8: Opacities 145 8.1 Introduction 145 8.2 Energy Levels in Atoms and Molecules 146 8.3 Molecular Absorption Cross Sections 161 8.4 Rayleigh Scattering 166 8.5 Condensate Opacities 167 8.6 Summary 176 Chapter 9: Vertical Thermal Structure of a Planetary Atmosphere 181 9.1 Introduction 181 9.2 Earth's Vertical Atmospheric Structure 181 9.3 Hydrostatic Equilibrium and the Pressure Scale Height 183 9.4 Surface Temperature for a Simplified Atmosphere 186 9.5 Convection versus Radiation 190 9.6 The Radiative Equilibrium Temperature Profile 192 9.7 The Adiabatic Temperature Profile 200 9.8 The One-Dimensional Temperature-Pressure Profile 202 9.9 Temperature Retrieval 205 9.10 Summary 207 10.Atmospheric Circulation 211 10.1 Introduction 211 10.2 Radiative and Advective Timescales 213 10.3 Large-Scale Flow and Patterns 215 10.4 Atmospheric Dynamics Equations 218 10.5 Connection to Observations 223 10.6 Summary 225 11.Atmospheric Biosignatures 229 11.1 Introduction 229 11.2 Earth's Biosignatures 229 11.3 The Ideal Biosignature Gas 230 11.4 Prospects 231 11.5 Summary 234 A. Planetary Data 237 Index 241
£52.70
Princeton University Press What Is Dark Matter
Book Synopsis
£25.50
Princeton University Press What Does a Black Hole Look Like
Book SynopsisEmitting no radiation or any other kind of information, black holes mark the edge of the universe - both physically and in our scientific understanding. Yet astronomers have found clear evidence for the existence of black holes, employing the same tools and techniques used to explore other celestial objects. This title deals with this topic.Trade Review"This book goes straight to the heart of astronomical intuition and evidence about black holes. Written in a highly accessible style, it provides enough information to educate an undergraduate astronomy or physics major without going into the many details required in a graduate class. I think students will greatly enjoy this book and derive significant insight from it."—Coleman Miller, University of Maryland, College Park"Providing the essential information on all the key topics, this concise and authoritative book covers the whole field of empirical black-hole studies."—W. Niel Brandt, Pennsylvania State UniversityTable of ContentsPREFACE xi 1. Introducing Black Holes: Event Horizons and Singularities 1 1.1 Escape Velocity and Event Horizons 3 1.2 The Metric 6 1.3 What Is a Black Hole? 11 2. Accretion onto a Black Hole 13 2.1 Spherical Accretion and the Eddington Limit 14 2.2 Standard Accretion Disks 17 2.3 Radiatively Inefficient Accretion Flows 23 2.4 Accretion Instabilities 24 2.5 Radiation Emission Mechanisms 27 2.6 Radiative Transfer 32 2.7 The alpha-Disk 35 3. Outflows and Jets 43 3.1 Superluminal Motion 45 3.2 Jet Physics and Magnetohydrodynamics 48 4. Stellar-Mass Black Holes 53 4.1 X-Ray Binaries 54 4.2 Varieties of X-Ray Binaries 58 4.3 X-Ray Accretion States 60 4.4 Compact Objects 63 4.5 Mass Measurements in X-Ray Binaries 68 4.6 Are High-Mass Compact Objects Black Holes? 73 4.7 Isolated Stellar-Mass Black Holes 76 4.8 The Chandrasekhar Limit 79 5. Supermassive Black Holes 84 5.1 Discovery of Quasars 85 5.2 Active Galaxies and Unification 88 5.3 Superluminal Jets and Blazars 94 5.4 Nonaccreting Central Black Holes 98 5.5 Mass Determinations for Extragalactic SMBHs 99 6. Formation and Evolution of Black Holes 106 6.1 Stellar-Mass Black Holes 107 6.2 Supermassive Black Holes 119 7. Do Intermediate-Mass Black Holes Exist? 127 7.1 Ultraluminous X-Ray Binaries 127 7.2 Black Holes in Star Clusters and Low-Mass Galaxies 132 8. Black Hole Spin 135 8.1 The Innermost Stable Circular Orbit 137 8.2 Observations of the ISCO through Line Emission 139 8.3 Observations of the ISCO through Thermal Emission 144 8.4 Consequences of Spin for Jets and Other Phenomena 147 9. Detecting Black Holes through Gravitational Waves 150 9.1 Gravitational Waves and Their Effects 152 9.2 Binary Pulsars 156 9.3 Direct Detection of Gravity Waves 158 9.4 Detecting Astrophysical Signals 163 10. Black Hole Exotica 167 10.1 Hawking Radiation 167 10.2 Primordial Black Holes 171 10.3 Wormholes 174 10.4 Multiverses 176 GLOSSARY 179 INDEX 187
£31.50
Princeton University Press How Do You Find an Exoplanet
Book SynopsisAn authoritative primer on the four key techniques that today's planet hunters use to detect the feeble signals of planets orbiting distant stars.Trade ReviewOne of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2016 "Johnson's enthusiasm for his vibrant field is palpable in this valuable, concise guide for amateur astronomers and anyone else not afraid of a few technicalities."--Lewis Dartnell, New Scientist "Johnson ... takes us on an enjoyable journey to the world of exoplanet hunters... An excellent book for anyone interested but also for astronomy students if their curriculum includes one?semester course in exoplanets."--Read about Science "This little red book is a thorough yet very understandable introduction to one of the hottest topics in astronomy--planets outside the solar system. Johnson, one of the leading scientists in the field, has created a great primer for undergraduate students wishing to gain enough knowledge to undertake a project or perhaps win an internship in the field."--ChoiceTable of ContentsPREFACE ix 1. Introduction 1 1.1 My Brief History 1 1.2 The Human Activity of Watching the Sky 3 1.3 Asking Why the Planets Move as They Do 8 1.4 Exoplanets and Completing the Copernican Revolution 16 2. Stellar Wobbles 23 2.1 At the Telescope 23 2.2 For Every Action 28 2.3 Eccentric Orbits 39 2.4 Measuring Precise Radial Velocities 45 2.5 Stellar Jitter 49 2.6 Design Considerations for a Doppler Survey 52 2.7 Concluding Remarks 57 3. Seeing the Shadows of Planets 59 3.1 Measuring and Reading Transit Signals 62 3.2 The Importance of a/R 71 3.3 Transit Timing Variations 74 3.4 Measuring the Brightness of a Star 77 3.5 Radial Velocities First, Transits Second 81 3.6 Transit First, Radial Velocities Second 83 3.7 From Close In to Further Out 89 4. Planets Bending Space-Time 90 4.1 The Geometry of Microlensing 94 4.2 The Microlensing Light Curve 103 4.3 The Microlensing Signal of a Planet 106 4.4 Microlensing Surveys 109 5. Directly Imaging Planets 114 5.1 The Problem of Angular Resolution 115 5.2 The Problem of Contrast 122 5.3 The Problem of Chance Alignment 129 5.4 Measuring the Properties of an Imaged Planet 130 6. The Future of Planet Hunting 132 6.1 Placing the Solar System in Context 133 6.2 Learning How Planets Form 138 6.3 Finding Life Outside the Solar System 141 6.4 Giant Planets as the Tip of the Iceberg 144 6.5 The Future of the Doppler Method: Moving to Dedicated Instrumentation 148 6.6 The Future of Transit Surveys 153 6.7 The Future of Microlensing 155 6.8 The Future of Direct Imaging 158 6.9 Concluding Remarks 160 BIBLIOGRAPHY 163 GLOSSARY 171 INDEX 177
£31.50
Princeton University Press Theory of Stellar Atmospheres
Book SynopsisThis book provides an in-depth and self-contained treatment of the latest advances achieved in quantitative spectroscopic analyses of the observable outer layers of stars and similar objects. Written by two leading researchers in the field, it presents a comprehensive account of both the physical foundations and numerical methods of such analyses.Trade Review"It is an excellent guide for anyone interested in radiation transport and spectral analyses in astrophysics."--Claudia-Veronika Meister, Zentralblatt MATH "A magisterial work that will surely be the definitive reference for many years to come."--Ian D. Howarth, The ObservatoryTable of ContentsPreface xi Chapter 1. Why Study Stellar Atmospheres? 1 1.1 A Historical Precis 1 1.2 The Bottom Line 15 Chapter 2. Observational Foundations 20 2.1 What Is a Stellar Atmosphere? 20 2.2 Spectroscopy 23 2.3 Spectrophotometry 29 2.4 Photometry 32 2.5 Mass, Luminosity, and Radius 46 2.6 Interpretation of Color-Magnitude Diagrams 53 Chapter 3. Radiation 61 3.1 Specific Intensity 61 3.2 Mean Intensity and Energy Density 65 3.3 Radiation Flux 72 3.4 Radiation Pressure Tensor 75 3.5 * Transformation Properties of I, E, F, P 78 3.6 Quantum Theory of Radiation in Vacuum 80 Chapter 4. Statistical Mechanics of Matter and Radiation 86 4.1 Thermodynamic Equilibrium 86 4.2 Boltzmann Statistics 88 4.3 Thermal Radiation 98 4.4 Quantum Statistics 103 4.5 Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium 111 Chapter 5. Absorption and Emission of Radiation 113 5.1 Absorption and Thermal Emission 114 5.2 Detailed Balance 116 5.3 Bound-Bound Absorption Probability 121 5.4 Bound-Bound Emission Probability 130 5.5 Photoionization 136 5.6 Free-Free Transitions 137 Chapter 6. Continuum Scattering 144 6.1 Thomson Scattering: Classical Analysis 145 6.2 Thomson Scattering: Quantum Mechanical Analysis 150 6.3 * Rayleigh and Raman Scattering 153 6.4 Compton Scattering 159 6.5 Compton Scattering in the Early Universe 165 Chapter 7. Atomic and Molecular Absorption Cross Sections 170 7.1 Hydrogen and Hydrogenic Ions 171 7.2 Multi-Electron Atoms 192 7.3 Molecules 208 Chapter 8. Spectral Line Broadening 228 8.1 Natural Damping Profile 228 8.2 Doppler Broadening: Voigt Function 231 8.3 Semiclassical Impact Theory 233 8.4 Statistical Theory: Quasi-Static Approximation 241 8.5 * Quantum Theory of Line Broadening 248 8.6 Applications 258 Chapter 9. Kinetic Equilibrium Equations 262 9.1 LTE versus Non-LTE 262 9.2 General Formulation 264 9.3 Transition Rates 267 9.4 Level Dissolution and Occupation Probabilities 278 9.5 Complete Rate Equations 282 Chapter 10. Scattering of Radiation in Spectral Lines 290 10.1 Semiclassical (Weisskopf-Woolley) Picture 291 10.2 * Quantum Mechanical Derivation of Redistribution Functions 301 10.3 Basic Redistribution Functions 308 10.4 More Complex Redistribution Functions 321 10.5 Emission Coefficient 327 Chapter 11. Radiative Transfer Equation 334 11.1 Absorption, Emission, and Scattering Coefficients 334 11.2 Formulation 339 11.3 Moments of the Transfer Equation 347 11.4 Time-Independent, Static, Planar Atmospheres 352 11.5 Schwarzschild-Milne Equations 361 11.6 Second-Order Form of the Transfer Equation 367 11.7 Discretization 370 11.8 Probabilistic Interpretation 373 11.9 Diffusion Limit 374 Chapter 12. Direct Solution of the Transfer Equation 378 12.1 The Problem of Scattering 379 12.2 Feautrier's Method 387 12.3 Rybicki's Method 397 12.4 Formal Solution 400 12.5 Variable Eddington Factors 418 Chapter 13. Iterative Solution of the Transfer Equation 421 13.1 Accelerated Lambda Iteration: A Heuristic View 421 13.2 Iteration Methods and Convergence Properties 425 13.3 Accelerated Lambda Iteration (ALI) 434 13.4 Acceleration of Convergence 440 13.5 Astrophysical Implementation 443 Chapter 14. NLTE Two-Level and Multi-Level Atoms 448 14.1 Formulation 448 14.2 Two-Level Atom 457 14.3 Approximate Solutions 471 14.4 Equivalent-Two-Level-Atom Approach 482 14.5 Numerical Solution of the Multi-level Atom Problem 488 14.6 Physical Interpretation 505 Chapter 15. Radiative Transfer with Partial Redistribution 511 15.1 Formulation 511 15.2 Simple Heuristic Model 515 15.3 Approximate Solutions 519 15.4 Exact Solutions 524 15.5 Multi-level Atoms 533 15.6 Applications 539 Chapter 16. Structural Equations 546 16.1 Equations of Hydrodynamics 546 16.2 1D Flow 554 16.3 1D Steady Flow 555 16.4 StaticAtmospheres 557 16.5 Convection 558 16.6 Stellar Interiors 565 Chapter 17. LTE Model Atmospheres 569 17.1 Gray Atmosphere 569 17.2 Equation of State 588 17.3 Non-Gray LTE Radiative-Equilibrium Models 593 17.4 Models with Convection 604 17.5 LTE Spectral Line Formation 606 17.6 Line Blanketing 620 17.7 Models with External Irradiation 627 17.8 Available Modeling Codes and Grids 631 Chapter 18. Non-LTE Model Atmospheres 633 18.1 Overview of Basic Equations 633 18.2 Complete Linearization 645 18.3 Overview of Possible Iterative Methods 660 18.4 Application of ALI and Related Methods 667 18.5 NLTE Metal Line Blanketing 676 18.6 Applications: Modeling Codes and Grids 684 Chapter 19. Extended and Expanding Atmospheres 691 19.1 Extended Atmospheres 691 19.2 Moving Atmospheres: Observer's-Frame Formulation 705 19.3 Moving Atmospheres: Comoving-Frame Formulation 713 19.4 Moving Atmospheres: Mixed-Frame Formulation 736 19.5 Sobolev Approximation 743 19.6 NLTE Line Formation 754 Chapter 20. Stellar Winds 764 20.1 Qualitative Picture 765 20.2 Thermally DrivenWinds 766 20.3 Radiation-Driven Winds 772 20.4 Global Model Atmospheres 800 Appendix A. Relativistic Particles 815 A.1 Kinematics and Dynamics of Point Particles 815 A.2 Relativistic Kinetic Theory 822 Appendix B. Photons 829 B.1 Lorentz Transformation of the Photon Four-Momentum 829 B.2 Photon Distribution Function 830 B.3 Thomas Transformations 831 Glossary of Symbols 833 Bibliography 849 Index 915
£73.60
Princeton University Press A Concise History of Solar and Stellar Physics
Book SynopsisThis book provides a comprehensive overview of the history of ideas about the sun and the stars, from antiquity to modern times. Two theoretical astrophysicists who have been active in the field since the early 1960s tell the story in fluent prose. About half of the book covers most of the theoretical research done from 1940 to the close of the tweTrade Review"This is a fascinating story well told. A host of brief biographies, portraits and figures brings the text to life."--David Hughes, New Scientist "The authors have compressed an amazing amount of information into a relatively slender book, and I expect that it will be a standard reference for many years."--William R. Green, The Leading Edge "Appendices and an index round out this excellent resource especially recommended for college library astrophysics shelves."--James A. Cox, Midwest Book ReviewTable of ContentsList of Figures vii Preface xi Chapter 1. The Age o Myths and Speculations 1 1.1 Ancient Egypt and the Middle East 2 1.2 Ionia: The Eastern Greek School 4 1.3 Southern Italy: The Western Greek School 6 1.4 The Athenian Period 7 1.5 The Alexandrian Period 12 1.6 From the Dark Age to the Renaissance 16 1.7 The Emergence of Modern Astronomy 22 Chapter 2. Three Centuries of Optical Discoveries: 1610-1910 29 2.1 Distances to the Sun and the Stars 30 2.2 The Beginnings of Spectroscopy 33 2.3 The Sun as a Star 40 2.4 Solar Activity and Rotation 43 2.5 Intrinsic Properties of Stars 47 2.6 Binary Stars and Stellar Masses 56 2.7 Variable and Unusual Stars 59 2.8 The Rise of Astrophysics 64 Chapter 3. The Time of Pioneers: 1840-1910 66 3.1 The Puzzle of the Sun's Energy 67 3.2 The First Solar Models 73 3.3 The Pulsation Theory of Variable Stars (I) 79 3.4 The Double-Star Problem 81 3.5 Early Views of Stellar Evolution 84 3.6 Outline of Solar Activity and Rotation 88 3.7 Retrospect: The Nineteenth-Century Advances 91 Chapter 4. The Formative Years: 1910-1940 94 4.1 The Beginnings of Quantitative Astrophysics 96 4.2 The Stellar-Energy Problem 100 4.3 The Internal Structure of Stars 103 4.4 Pre-1938 Views of Stellar Evolution 110 4.5 White Dwarfs and Neutron Stars 114 4.6 The Pulsation Theory of Variable Stars (II) 120 4.7 The Early Studies of Stellar Rotation 123 4.8 Solar and Stellar Hydrodynamics 128 Chapter 5. The Golden Age: 1940-1970 133 5.1 Nuclear Reactions and Energy Production in Stars 135 5.2 Calculation of Stellar Structure 143 5.3 A Brief Survey of Stellar Evolution 147 5.4 Postgiant Evolution and Stellar Remnants 156 5.5 Evolution of Close Binary Stars 166 5.6 The Pulsation Theory of Variable Stars (III) 173 5.7 Stellar Rotation and Magnetic Fields 177 5.8 The Maturing of Solar Physics 183 Chapter 6. The Era of Specialization: 1970-192 6.1 Single, Double, and Multiple Stars 193 6.2 Early-Type Stars 202 6.3 The Sun 210 6.4 Late-Type Stars 220 6.5 The Pulsation Theory of Variable Stars (IV) 228 6.6 Final Stages of Stellar Evolution 234 Epilogue 247 Appendix A. Lane's Fully Convective Gas Spheres 250 Appendix B. Ritter's Polytropic Gas Spheres 251 Appendix C. Ritter's Theory o Pulsating Stars 252 Appendix D. Radial and Nonradial Stellar Pulsations 254 Appendix E. Bohr's Model of the Atom 257 Appendix F. Einstein's Mass-Energy Relation 260 Appendix G. Three Important Nuclear Reactions 263 General Bibliography 265 Index of Names 269 Index of Subjects 277
£25.50
Princeton University Press Our Cosmic Habitat
Book SynopsisTrade Review"[This book] has an informal style and breadth of coverage that make it a joy to read... Rees's explanations are exactly right."--William G. Unruh, Science "Rees provides a nice summary of how we got here, how the universe began and how it might end... Lay readers will appreciate Rees' clear, uncomplicated prose, even when dealing with tough stuff that leaves most physicists tongue-tied. Most welcome of all, he explains how scientists know what they claim to know."--K.C. Cole, Los Angeles Times "[An] awe-inspiring survey... Rees is not only a world-class cosmologist but one of our best living science writers."--John Cornwell, Sunday Times "Probably the clearest and most easily understandable account of our Universe available."--Ian Morison, New Scientist "Our very own Astronomer Royal blasts off into space, in velvety, friendly prose. His musings on the possibilities of alien life and of time travel, the necessity to colonise space, and a vision of the far future make for a pleasingly concise and always intriguing tour d'horizon."--Steven Poole, The Guardian "In the crowded field of popular writing about the universe, Rees is genuinely in the forefront--an accomplished scientist with the superior writing skills... He exudes the instinctual curiosity we all possess when looking upward, and he focuses that wonderment on the narrow range of cosmological numbers that allow us to ruminate about it all. A wonderfully appealing presentation."--Booklist "There is a lot of stuff in the universe--the estimated number of stars is 10 followed by 22 zeros. But as to whether there are other planets with life like Earth's, Rees says the chance of two similar ecologies is less than the chance of two randomly typing monkeys producing the same Shakespearean play."--George F. Will, The Washington Post "In the instant after the big bang, there was only a one-part-per-billion preponderance of matter over antimatter, just enough to create the universe that created us. Rees, an accomplished scientist with superior writing skills, marvels over the wonder that matter even exists."--Booklist (Top 10 Sci-Tech Books of 2001) "Rees is one of the great astronomers royal; he is a leading cosmologist, and his skill in writing what may be termed popular science is probably unequaled today. I know of no other author who could present such difficult concepts in so lucid a manner. This is a brilliant book, to be read and enjoyed by all."--Sir Patrick Moore, Times Higher Education Supplement "A must-read book for people who are interested in the philosophical implications of the emerging idea that, possibly, we are not alone."--Science Books and Films "A fabulous journey round the cosmos in excellent company."--Maggie McDonald, New Scientist "As books encompassing the realm of everything in the universe (universes?) go, this one is relatively short. Its brevity, however ... its elaborate index (a point I find refreshing), and the fact that it was written by someone so esteemed in the astronomical community, begs the reader to ask why this couldn't be used as a one-semester introductory text. Well-written, clear visuals, great author: a good combination for a first book on the subject."--April S. Whitt, Planetarian
£13.49
Princeton University Press The Milky Way
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewOne of SkyNews Best Astronomy Books of the Year 2013, chosen by SkyNews editor, Terence Dickinson "The Milky Way is a good overview of our knowledge of the Milky Way... [F]or those who want to get up to speed on the Milky Way, or simply refresh their knowledge of it, this book can help the reader become an insider about our galactic home."--Jeff Foust, Space Review "Erudite, yet eminently accessible... [A] joy to read."--Bill Baker, ForeWord "The Milky Way: An Insider's Guide is a very comprehensive and up-to-date survey of its subject. The overall impression it leaves one with is of our galaxy as a very busy place, fizzing with what the author, in a particularly felicitous phrase, calls 'vigorous fecundity.' Our little burg may be a mere speck in the grand scheme of things, but there's a lot going on here."--John Derbyshire, American Spectator "The breadth of material Waller covers is astonishing... As a space journalist, I'll definitely keep this book on my shelf."--Elizabeth Howell, Universe Today "[R]ich with fascinating detail... The author delivers everything we need in a book about our Galaxy, bringing a welcome depth to our appreciation of those clear, dark nights."--Alastair Gunn, BBC Sky at Night "[W]ell-written and accessible... Strongly recommended, as this volume should have a wide readership among student and lay astronomers."--Library Journal "[A] thrilling story of our home galaxy, quite the best I've seen in popular astronomy books."--Simon Mitton, Times Higher Education "The photographs are quite stunning. As new techniques and more elaborate apparatus for exploring the universe are being developed, our knowledge and understanding are increasing exponentially. This excellent and comprehensive guide to the Milky Way may well be the definitive book on the subject for the time being, but it is unlikely to remain so for too long."--Anthony Toole, Shvoong.com "Waller's book provides an excellent starting point, telling the story of the formation and evolution of the Milky Way, and how this hard-won knowledge was obtained--and it does so in an entertaining and not overly detailed fashion. It should be among the first recommendations to new students of the field, as well as to citizen scientists who wish to deepen their understanding of one of the fundamental, as well as fast-advancing, areas of modern astronomy."--Timothy C. Beers, Nature Physics "This clearly written, largely nontechnical book balances the poetic interpretation of the starry realm with the modern scientific nature of the Milky Way galaxy... The book can be used as a textbook or be a good general read."--Choice "[W]aller's goal--fully achieved, in my opinion--is to familiarize readers with the history of the discovery of the Milky Way Galaxy's size, shape, and contents and our place in it. Attention is given to the origin of stars in general and to the nature of specific types of stars and how our galaxy came to be in the first place."--Terence Dickinson, SkyNews "This book is superb: written in an engaging, even folksy, style, it would be the perfect primer for a beginning undergraduate wanting an up-to-date overview of stellar and galactic astronomy."--David Stickland, Journal of Continuity and ChangeTable of ContentsPreface vii Chapter 1: First Impressions 1 Chapter 2: Historic Perceptions 10 Chapter 3: Panchromatic Vistas 53 Chapter 4: Neighbors of the Sun 82 Chapter 5: Beacons from Afar 102 Chapter 6: Star Birth 127 Chapter 7: Lives of the Stars 148 Chapter 8: Stellar Afterlives 171 Chapter 9: The Galactic Garden 194 Chapter 10: Monster in the Core 221 Chapter 11: Tales of Origin 236 Chapter 12: Life in the Milky Way 251 Glossary 277 Notes 295 Selected Readings 303 Index 311
£16.19
Princeton University Press Magnetic Reconnection
Book SynopsisThe essential introduction to magnetic reconnectionwritten by a leading pioneer of the fieldPlasmas comprise more than 99 percent of the visible universe; and, wherever plasmas are, magnetic reconnection occurs. In this common yet incompletely understood physical process, oppositely directed magnetic fields in a plasma meet, break, and then reconnect, converting the huge amounts of energy stored in magnetic fields into kinetic and thermal energy. In Magnetic Reconnection, Masaaki Yamada offers an illuminating synthesis of modern research and advances on this important topic. Magnetic reconnection produces such phenomena as solar flares and the northern lights, and occurs in nuclear fusion devices. A better understanding of this crucial cosmic activity is essential to comprehending the universe and varied technological applications, such as satellite communications. Most of our knowledge of magnetic reconnection comes from theoretical and computational models and laboratory experiment
£62.40
Princeton University Press Magnetic Reconnection
Book Synopsis
£116.80
Princeton University Press Machine Learning for Physics and Astronomy
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the Chambliss Astronomical Writing Award, American Astronomical Society"
£100.00
Princeton University Press A Brief Welcome to the Universe
Book Synopsis
£9.99
Princeton University Press How the Universe Got Its Spots
Book SynopsisTrade Review"[A] lovely, utterly original book. . . . This intimate account of the life and thought of a physicist is one of the nicest scientific books I have ever read—personal and honest, clear and informative, entertaining and difficult to put down."---Alejandro Gangui, American Scientist"Gorgeously written."---Mary Carmichael, Newsweek"Highly original. . . . Few scientists are capable of putting their understanding and experiences into words as effectively."---Peter Coles, Nature"Science as it is lived. . . . [Levin's] book is a gift."---Corey S. Powell, Discover"Gives a personal resonance to scientists’ attempts to understand the mysteries of the universe." * Washington Post *"Levin not only tours the wilder reaches of cosmology, but she also bares her soul." * New Scientist *"If the universe is infinite, then its possibilities are infinite as well. But in How the Universe Got Its Spots, the astrophysicist Janna Levin insists that infinity works as a hypothetical concept only, and that it is not found in nature."---Lauren Porcaro, New Yorker"Levin unpacks the technicalities with a skill honed from giving many lectures on the subject, and it is fascinating to read. . . . A book to be applauded."---Andrew Crumey, The Scotsman"[A] touchingly personal account."---Jim McClean, The Herald (Glasgow)"Levin interweaves enlightening insights into the most profound enigmas of space, time and infinity with reflections on her struggle to balance her personal and professional lives. The result suggests a blend of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and The History of Time."---Dan Kincaid, Arizona Republic "The intellectual-emotional balance, and the finely tuned prose, are what makes this different from the very many other books on cosmology. And Levin has found an interesting way to do this; the book is in the form of letters to her mother." * Globe and Mail *"How the Universe Got Its Spots is a genuine attempt to break down barriers, both intellectual and emotional, between scientists and their wished-for audience."---Ken Grimes and Alison Boyle, Astronomy
£13.49
DK The Practical Astronomer Explore the Wonders of
Book SynopsisDiscover the wonders of the Universe with this complete introduction to observing and understanding the night sky.This practical guide explains and demystifies stargazing, teaching you to recognize different kinds of objects and showing you how they move through the sky over the course of the night and the year. It shows you how to understand and enjoy the cosmos, building your practical astronomy skills from the basics to more advanced techniques. Beginning with an explanation of the Universe itself - how big is it, what shape is it, how old is it, and will it end? - it then takes you on a tour around the night sky, building up your knowledge in simple stages. Practical advice begins with naked-eye observations, then illustrated step-by-step instructions show you how to set up and use binoculars and telescopes and how to take your own pictures of the night sky. It also lets you take a closer look at the different objects you can view in the night sky, telling yo
£21.24
Taylor & Francis Ltd The Correspondence of John Flamsteed The First
Book SynopsisProfessor Eric Forbes left behind at his death an important collection of the letters of John Flamsteed (1646-1719), First Astronomer Royal. A leading figure in the final phases of the seventeenth-century scientific revolution, his extensive correspondence with 129 British and foreign scholars all over the world touches on many of the scientific discussions of the day.A detailed, scholarly work of reference, The Correspondence of John Flamsteed, The First Astronomer Royal: Volume 1 is an essential guide to the exciting developments in scientific thinking that occurred during the seventeenth century. It supplements the published correspondence of Isaac Newton and Henry Oldenburg, and will be an invaluable research tool, not only for historians of astronomy, but also for researchers examining how scientific thought developed.Trade Review"The letters will be of interest to all who care for the history of astronomy, and certainly no astronomical library would be complete without a copy … The editors and publishers of this volume have rendered a truly great service to historians and are to be warmly congratulated." -British Astronomical Association "… a big and beautifully produced volume that not only whets a reader's appetite for volumes 2 and 3, but also stands as a fine tribute to Forbes's scholarship." -Science "This is a superb, scholarly book, and a major addition to the collection of primary references required by the astronomical historian. It is beautifully produced, skillfully annotated, well indexed, and contains useful glossaries of astronomical terms and biographical details." -Observatory "This is an absolute delight. You feel as though you are privy to the musings of a pioneering astronomer and to the daily gossip at one of the world's premier observatories." -New Scientist "We are left in a state of high anticipation for the next volume in this important series." -Nature "The volume's value is enhanced by an excellent glossary of technical terms, useful bibliographical notes, and an index …Willmoth has written an excellent introduction …These letters provide an exciting view of eighteenth-century scientific politics …" -Katherine Neal, University of SydneyTable of ContentsPreface. Acknowledgements. List of letters. Editorial note. Abbreviated references. Glossary of astronomical and other technical terms. Introduction. Letters 1 - 450. Appendix - official documents. Biographical notes. Index.
£475.00
Taylor & Francis Ltd The Correspondence of John Flamsteed The First
Book SynopsisThe Correspondence of John Flamsteed: The First Astronomer Royal, Volume Two contains the letters Flamsteed wrote and received from June 1682 to the spring of 1703. A leading figure in the final phases of the seventeenth-century scientific revolution, his extensive correspondence with 129 British and foreign scholars touches on many of the scientific discussions of the day. Some of these exchanges involved established correspondents, chiefly Newton and Wallis, but members of a younger generation, such as Stephen Gray, William Derham, and Abraham Sharp, appear with increasing frequency, especially after 1700.Trade Review"For all the trauma of a midlife crisis read this book. It's riveting." -New Scientist, April 19, 1997 "Once again the editors, past and present, and the publishers are to be thoroughly congratulated on setting right 300 years of neglect of perhaps the most unjustly and persistently maligned figure in astronomical history." -Journal of the British Astronomy AssociationTable of ContentsAcknowledgements. List of letters. Glossary of astronomical and other technical terms. Introduction. Letters 451 - 900. Biographical notes. Index.
£128.25
Taylor & Francis Ltd Lepton and Baryon Number Violation in Particle
Book SynopsisCovers areas related to baryon number (B) and lepton number (L) violation in particle physics, nuclear physics, rare decays, and cosmology. This work also includes topics such as B and L violation and grand unified theories; B and L violation in the early universe, cosmology, and astrophysics; and B and L violation and collider physics.Table of ContentsPreface, Symposium Photographs, 1. ? and L Violation, Grand Unified Theories and SUSY, Theory, 2. ? and L Violation, Neutrino Mass and Oscillation, Proton Decay, 3. ? and L Violation, the Early Universe and Cosmology, 4. ? and L Violation and Astrophysics, 5. Lepton Family Number Violation, 6. ? and L Violation and Collider Physics, List of Participants, Author Index
£498.75
Taylor & Francis Ltd The Correspondence of John Flamsteed The First
Book SynopsisThe Correspondence of John Flamsteed discusses this leading figure in the final phases of the seventeenth-century scientific revolution, presents his extensive correspondence with 129 British and foreign scholars all over the world, and touches on many of the scientific discussions of the day. This book, the last volume of the set, contains his letters from number 901 to 1515.Trade Review"John Flamsteed was England's first Astronomer Royal. He lived and worked for over 40 years in Christopher Wren's Royal Observatory at Greenwich. Throughout those years he corresponded with key figures of the British and continental scientific communities. Astronomical observations, scientific instruments, and the publication of results were all discussed. Surviving letters written to and by Flamsteed during the last 16 years of his life are collected together in this third and final volume of correspondence. It is a window onto the life of a diligent astronomer and onto the scientific world of the early 18th Century.The letters … are arranged in chronological order. They are typed versions of handwritten missives in the Cambridge-based Greenwich archive and of others in the UK, St. Petersburg, Basel, New York, and Pisa. Willmoth's introductory essay is an excellent entrance to the letters. She embraces the broad themes, highlights details to look out for, and supplies incisive commentary. Two of Flamsteed's concerns, the publication of his Greenwich observations and his desire to retain independence from the Royal Society, feature in the correspondence.Present and future historians of science owe a debt to the thorough and assiduous work of Flamsteed's editors. They've not only made his correspondence available to a wide readership but have led them into this world of meticulously and expertly annotating each letter. A rich, largely untapped source of study is yours for the picking."-Carole Stott, The ObservatoryTable of ContentsAcknowledgments. List of Letters. Abbreviated References. Glossary of Astronomical and Other Technical Terms. List of Symbols. Introduction. Letters 901-1515. Appendix-Official Documents. Agenda to Previous Volumes. Biographical Notes. Index.
£498.75
Taylor & Francis Ltd The Restless Universe Applications of
Book SynopsisThe Restless Universe: Applications of Gravitational N-Body Dynamics to Planetary Stellar and Galactic Systems stimulates the cross-fertilization of ideas, methods, and applications among the different communities who work in the gravitational N-body problem arena, across diverse fields of astrophysics. The chapters and topics cover three broad themes: the dynamics of the solar system, the dynamics of galaxies and star clusters, and the large scale structure of the universe. The book is essential reading for scientists and graduate students studying N-body dynamics, from the fundamental techniques to the cutting edge of modern research in planetary, stellar, and galactic systems.Trade Review"As a quick guide to the book, the section headings are Solar Systems, Stellar Kinematics and Dynamics, General Dynamics. Most sections contain three to six articles. Inevitably with such a wide range of topics one finds some more interesting than others. In general I found the expositions to be clear and concise and to be good introductions, and in some cases more than introductions to the paritcular topic or method … As a graduate text, the book will remain relevant for some years and as a commentary on the state of the art it is of current interest. As a textbook, selected chapters could be used as a course text or as background reading but individual sections could be useful in providing a quick review or introduction to one or more of the approaches."-D.R. Matravers, University of Portsmouth, Hampshire, UKTable of ContentsSolar systems dynamics. Stellar kinematics and dynamics. Galatic dynamics. Cosmology-Large scale structure dynamics. General dynamics
£171.00
Taylor & Francis Ltd Joint Evolution of Black Holes and Galaxies
Book SynopsisUnderstanding galaxy formation and evolution is one of the major goals of physical cosmology. This book, arising from a SIGRAV School held in Como, focuses on observational and theoretical aspects of the research in this field at a level suitable for graduate students and young researchers.Table of ContentsIntroduction. Observational Evidence for Supermassive Black Holes. Joint Evolution of Black Holes and Galaxies: Observational Issues. Galaxy Formation in the Hierarchical Universe. Feedback in Cosmic Structures. The Formation of Primordial Luminous Objects. The Evolution of Baryons along Cosmic History. Feedback Processes at Cosmic Dawn. The Ecology of Black Holes in Star Clusters.
£194.75
IOP Publishing Spiral Structure in Galaxies
Book Synopsis
£33.26
IOP Publishing Essential Semiconductor Laser Device Physics
Book Synopsis
£47.25
IOP Publishing Metamaterial Multiverse
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£47.25
IOP Publishing Special and General Relativity
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£65.66
IOP Publishing Leonhard Eulers Letters to a German Princess
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£75.15
University Press of America Paranormal Claims
Book SynopsisThis academic text features articles regarding paranormal, extraordinary, or fringe-science claims. It logically examines the claims of astrology; psychic ability; alternative medicine and health claims; after-death communication; cryptozoology; and faith healing, all from a skeptical perspective. Paranormal Claims is a compilation of some of the most eye-opening articles about pseudoscience and extraordinary claims that often reveal logical, scientific explanations, or an outright scam. These articles, steeped in skepticism, teach critical thinking when approaching courses in psychology, sociology, philosophy, education, or science.Trade ReviewReading the chapters in this fine anthology will make you smarter and better able to cope...they will give you tools to allow you to sift sense from nonsense about all manner of claims and assertions that swirl about without much intelligent evaluation or response. This is your antidote to those. -- Kendrick Frazier, editor, Skeptical Inquirer: The Magazine for Science and ReasonDr. Farha has never had any misconceptions about how the universe really works. His book will encourage and help those for whom questions have arisen, and will give them points upon which to base arguments against the ever-growing dumbing-down of the public. We must awaken to this danger and oppose it. -- James Randi, Founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation...Bryan Farha's book is a compilation of serious, scientifically and logically grounded articles; balm for the mind. The importance of this book should not be underestimated. It's a concise vade mecum in our struggles against those who refuse to see logic. -- Angelo StagnaroA 'how to' book for apprehending nature in its true grandeur. -- Ann Druyan, co-writer, Co-Writer of the Cosmos TV series and wife of the late Carl SaganTable of ContentsForeword Preface General Critical Thinking Chapter 3 The Fine Art of Baloney Detection Chapter 4 Why Smart People Believe Weird Things Fortune-Telling Chapter 5 Cold Reading: How to Convince Strangers That You Know All About Them Chapter 6 Sylvia Brown: Psychic Guru or Quack? Afterlife and Related Phenomena Chapter 7 Deconstructing the Dead Chapter 8 Near-Death Experiences: In or Out of Body? Numerical Anomalies Chapter 9 Number Manipulation: The Not "So Spooky" Tim McVeigh Alternative Medicine and Health Claims Chapter 10 Why Bogus Therapies Often Seem to Work Chapter 11 A Close Look at Therapeutic Touch Chapter 12 Chiropractic's Dirty Little Secret: Neck Manipulation and Strokes Chapter 13 Magnet Therapy: A Skeptical View Chapter 14 The Great Dilution Delusion Celestial Influence and Extraterrestrial Chapter 15 The Case For and Against Astrology Chapter 16 Looking Up to Logic Faith Healing Chapter 17 Prayer and Healing: The Verdict Is In and the Results Are Null Chapter 18 Benny Hinn: Healer or Hypnotist? Chapter 19 John of God: ABC's Primetime Live Special about a Brazilian "Healer" Falls Short of Investigative Journalism Cryptozoology Chapter 20 Bigfoot at 50: Evaluating a Half-Century of Bigfoot Evidence About the Contributors
£36.00
Running Press Solar System
Book Synopsis
£27.00
Rowman & Littlefield Falling Sky The Science And History Of Meteorites
Book SynopsisTrade Review“Fascinating . . . rich in detail, informative, and entertaining . . . an insightful account.”—Nature magazine “Another scrupulously researched and cleverly assembled gem of explanation and revelation from Ted Nield, who is swiftly consolidating his reputation as the go-to guy for the unraveling of geology’s most fascinating mysteries.” —SIMON WINCHESTER “A fascinating account of how the arrival of extraterrestrial objects has influenced the history of life on Earth.” —Richard Fortey, winner of the Lewis Thomas Prize for science writing and winner of the Royal Society's Michael Faraday Prize for the public communication of science “Nobody writes better on matters geological than Ted Nield, and he has now broadened his scope to include impacts from space and the evolution of life on Earth. His gripping account of how the two seemingly disparate phenomena are related and how we may owe our existence to such impacts is a scientific page-turner of the best kind, rich with personal insights and anecdote as well as with sober (and not so sober) facts.” —John Gribbin, author of In Search of Schrödinger's Cat “Science for real at its very best.” —David Bellamy, current or past president of the UK Conservation Foundation, Wildlife Trusts Partnership, National Association for Environmental Education, and the Galapagos Conservation Trust “A witty and lively account not just of the perils of asteroids but also of their many mysteries. A entertaining story, delightfully told.”—Gabrielle Walker, former climate change editor at Nature and former features editor of The New Scientist “A splendid book. Nield recounts the dramatic and often amusing story of our encounters with the `thunderstones’ but goes far beyond this. There is much fascinating science involved in the discovery of where in our solar system meteorites come from and what set them on a collision course with Earth throughout its history.”—Aubrey Manning, professor emeritus of natural history at Edinburgh University, president of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, and winner of the Zoological Society of London Silver Medal for public understanding of science
£18.04
Johns Hopkins University Press Dark Side of the Universe Dark Matter Dark Energy
Book SynopsisHe describes techniques that astronomers use to explore the remote recesses of the cosmos in their quest to understand its composition, evolution, and ultimate fate.Trade ReviewA lucid essay on the cosmos-past, present and future-accompanied by clear diagrams, computer graphics and luminous telescopic photos... conveys the excitement of scientists tackling the largest problem yet uncovered. Wall Street Journal 2007 Full of lavish illustrations in beautiful colour-though not of course of dark matter and dark energy-it is a first-class overview for the non-specialist, with enough meaty detail for scientists too. New Scientist 2007 For the general reader and armchair astronomer alike, Nicolson's fascinating account shows how our ideas about the nature and the content of the universe have developed. Lunar and Planetary Information Bulletin 2007 Not just for college-level science collections strong in astronomy, but for the general-interest lending library catering to non-scientist readers. Midwest Book Review 2007 I particularly enjoyed how Nicolson explores topics that take a back seat in the mainstream media. -- Monica Bobra Sky and Telescope 2007 Beautifully illustrated... a valuable contribution to popular scientific literature. Choice 2007Table of Contents1. Anatomy of the Cosmos2. Big Bang and Cosmic Destiny3. More than Meets the Eye4. The Rise and Fall of MACHOs5. It's Matter: But Not as we Know it6. The Challenge of MOND: Does Dark Matter Exist at All?7. The WIMP Hunters8. Matter is not Enough9. Runaway Universe: Exploding Stars Point to Accelerating Expansion10. Einstein's Greatest Blunder11. Dark Energy – the Prime Mover12. Testing the New CosmologyEpilogue: A Good Time to be HereEndnotesIndexImage Credits
£41.80
University of Nebraska Press Realizing Tomorrow
Book SynopsisNearly forty years passed between the Apollo moon landings, the grandest accomplishment of a government-run space programme, and the Ansari X PRIZE–winning flights of SpaceShipOne, the greatest achievement of a private space programme. As we hover on the threshold of commercial spaceflight, authors Chris Dubbs and Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom look back at how we got to this point.Trade Review"Tighten your seat belt for a wonderful ride of a read that tells the incredible tale of the dedicated people who helped push the throttle forward to make private space travel reality. Dubbs and Paat-Dahlstrom take a masterful and history-rich look at the true roots of space tourism, providing a needed course-correction for those who think off-Earth passenger travel is more giggle-factor than fact."-Leonard David, Space Insider columnist, SPACE.com -- Leonard David "Many books have been written about the history of spaceflight, documenting the efforts to enter space 'for all mankind.' Realizing Tomorrow offers the first comprehensive history of what will be the future of spaceflight-'by all mankind.'"-Robert Pearlman, editor and founder of collectSPACE.com -- Robert Pearlman "Brimming with fascinating details-and never-before-told stories-Realizing Tomorrow is a riveting account of the growth of commercial space. It is required reading for anyone who wants to know how a group of visionaries overcame great obstacles to pioneer the final frontier for profit."-Douglas Messier, editor in chief of Parabolicarc.com -- Douglas Messier "Realizing Tomorrow is the compelling story of the pioneers of commercial spaceflight and their efforts to open up the final frontier to everyone."-Jeff Foust, editor and publisher of the Space Review -- Jeff Foust "Tighten your seat belt for a wonderful ride of a read that tells the incredible tale of the dedicated people who helped push the throttle forward to make private space travel reality."-Leonard David, Coalition for Space Exploration -- Leonard David Coalition for Space Exploration "With the conclusion of the space shuttle program impending, the topic of private spaceflight has never been timelier... This far-reaching, well-illustrated history oriented toward the future of spaceflight should catch many an eye."-Colleen Mondor, Booklist -- Colleen Mondor BooklistTable of ContentsList of IllustrationsForewordAcknowledgmentsPrologue1. The Entire Population of the Earth in Orbit2. The Birth of Private Rocket Companies3. Private Citizens Get Their Chance in Space4. Russia Commercializes Space5. Citizen Explorers6. The Quest for a Reusable Spaceship7. The Ansari x prize Launches an Industry8. Private Manned Spaceflight Makes History9. Space Tourism Goes Mainstream10. It Takes More Than a Spaceship to Build an IndustrySourcesIndex
£29.45
University of Nebraska Press Into That Silent Sea
Book Synopsis It was a time of bold new technology, historic moments, and international jousting on the final frontier. But it was also a time of human drama, of moments less public but no less dramatic in the lives of those who made the golden age of space flight happen. These are the moments and the lives that Into That Silent Sea captures, a book that tells the intimate stories of the men and women, American and Russian, who made the space race their own and gave the era its compelling character. These pages chronicle a varied and riveting cavalcade of human stories, including a look at Yuri Gagarin’s harrowing childhood in war-ravaged Russia and Alan Shepard’s firm purchase on the American dream. It also examines the controversial career of cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space, and the remarkable struggle and ultimate disappointment of her American counterparts. It tries to uncover the truth behind the allegations that shadoweTrade Review“[Into That Silent Sea] dispenses with distracting technical jargon and nationalistic jingoism to deliver ten superbly composed, thoughtfully balanced chapters about the astronauts and cosmonauts who flew Mercury and Vostok/Voskhod missions. . . . Avid readers will revel in the authors’ masterful compilation of these straight-forward, detailed mini-biographies.”—Air Power History“Eminently readable, well-crafted. . . . The merits of this popular history rest in the elegant narrative and the authors’ thoughtful awareness of the space explorer genre.”—Air & Space Smithsonian“French and Burgess’s history will engage the space-program audience.”—Booklist“A well-written account about the Americans and Russians who were the first to fly into space. . . . [The book] offers some excellent profiles of these individuals that are accessible to both newcomers to space history and well-read enthusiasts alike.”—Space Review"For space fans, this is a good read."—Choice“Into That Silent Sea is an excellent reminder of just what Gagarin and other trailblazers did and how they became international celebrities in their own right. We seem to have forgotten just how new the frontier of space was. . . . Many people today seem to view space programs as an extravagance or with disinterest. For those who remain interested in those programs and have read the prior histories and memoirs, it never hurts to be reminded of just how pioneering the first steps were.”—Tim Gebhart, Blogcritics.org, Boston.com“I enjoyed every page of this nearly 400-page tome. I was disappointed to finish it simply because I wanted to read more. . . . If you’re new to this field of reading I’d highly recommend starting with this book. The background on the spacefarers is very interesting.”—Today in Space History Blog“The straightforward yet engrossing writing style of this history will interest readers from the junior-high level to adults. . . . What is especially compelling about this race into space story is the humanistic narrative, describing the individual cosmonauts and astronauts. . . . For younger readers, the description emphasizes the characteristics of determination, scholarship, loyalty, comraderie, dedication, and fitness—traits that are essential for astronaut applicants.”—Rita Hoots, Journal of College Science Teaching"Through dozens of interviews and access to Russian and American official documents and family records, the authors bring to life the experiences that shaped the lives of the first astronauts and cosmonauts and forever changed their worlds and ours."—Space Flight"Into That Silent Sea explores the early Space Age from a very human-centric perspective."—Todd A. Mooring, Oral History ReviewTable of ContentsList of IllustrationsForewordAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. First to Fly2. Lighting the Candle3. The Pursuit of Liberty4. Flight of the Eagle5. To Rise Above6. Heavenly Twins7. The Two Wallys8. A Change of Altitude9. A Seagull in Flight10. Stepping into the VoidReferencesIndex
£17.09
University of Nebraska Press Footprints in the Dust
Book SynopsisFollowing the fortieth anniversary of Apollo 11, Footprints in the Dust offers a thorough, engrossing, and multifaceted account of the Apollo missions. Drawing on extensive research and interviews with key figures in the space program, the authors convey the human drama and chart the technological marvels that went into the Apollo missions.Trade Review"A superb work and well worth your time."—Brian Laslie, Balloons and Drones"[Footprints in the Dust is] an interesting account of US and Soviet lunar missions."—J.Z. Kiss, Choice“Elegantly written and scrupulously researched, this marvelous book not only opens a window on a truly dynamic period but is one of those rarities in spaceflight literature—a compelling and enjoyable page-turner. It captures magnificently the remarkable spirit of those involved in the Apollo story.”—Charles M. Duke Jr., Apollo 16 astronaut and moonwalker“We who engaged ourselves in making the Apollo program a reality realize the tremendous importance and responsibility of inspiring young people, our future space pioneers. This book emphasizes the notion that seemingly ordinary people can do quite extraordinary things, and we are not bound by our dreams. A remarkable tale of triumph and melancholy.”—Ed Buckbee, author (with Wally Schirra) of The Real Space Cowboys“Like its predecessors in the Outward Odyssey series, this vivid and entertaining book reveals the human side of space exploration. We all too often think of the Apollo program as a technical achievement, when, in fact, it was the human element that made it successful.”—Al Worden, Apollo 15 astronaut and chairman of the Astronaut Scholarship FoundationTable of ContentsList of IllustrationsForewordAcknowledgmentsRice University Address by President John F. KennedyPrologue: Realization of a Dream of Ages Colin Burgess1. The Whole World Was Watching Rick Houston2. The Eagle and the Bear Dominic Phelan3. Rendezvous on the Ocean of Storms John Youskauskas4. Apollo 13, We Have a Solution Stephen Cass5. Altered Directions Colin Burgess6. Science, and a Little Golf Philip Baker7. A Whole New Focus Colin Burgess8. On a Roll at Hadley Geoffrey Bowman9. Worth the Wait Simon A. Vaughan10. One More Time Melvin Croft11. Beyond the Moon Colin Burgess12. The Last Apollo Geoffrey BowmanEpilogue: Souvenirs of Small Steps Robert PearlmanAppendix: Apollo-Saturn MissionsReferencesContributorsIndex List of ContributorsPhilip BakerGeoffrey BowmanColin BurgessStephen CassMelvin CroftRick HoustonRobert PearlmanDominic PhelanSimon A. VaughanJohn Youskauskas
£26.09
University of Nebraska Press The X15 Rocket Plane Flying the First Wings into
Book SynopsisThe story of the X-15, the pioneering research flight program in the fifties and sixties, and its pilots. Trade Review"[The X-15 Rocket Plane is] a cogently written and well-deserved tribute to the individuals who helped take a winged rocket beyond Earth's confining atmosphere."—John Carver Edwards, Book Verdict "Engle and Armstrong devotees won’t be disappointed with the stories about their heroes in this tome."—American Space"The X-15 Rocket Plane is an engaging account of America's push into space before pilots became astronauts, and America began a new era of exploration beyond the Earth to the Moon."—Anthony Young, Space Review"The importance of the X-15 on the early exploration of space and the subsequent development of the Shuttle program cannot be overstated."—Book Bit, WTBF-AM/FM"This is a remarkably fine work, one that, despite all the writings on the X-15 to date, has found its own authentic voice."—Richard P. Hallion, Quest"The social element in this splendid book adds much to the overall history of this remarkably successful research aircraft."—Mick Jeffries, Aerospace"[The X-15 Rocket Plane] is a serious and substantial work of history . . . it deserves a wide readership among space enthusiasts and professional historians alike."—A. Bowdoin Van Riper, The Historian"Michelle Evans has written the definitive book on the X-15, the men who flew her, and the managers and support people who kept her flying."—Allen G. Taylor, National Space Society“Long before the space shuttle, the United States was flying astronauts with the courage of lions into space aboard wings of steel. This is the story of the astonishing X-15, America’s first space plane, which broke records nearly every time it flew. It is a magnificent tale, well told in this meticulously researched book. Everyone with an interest in aviation, space, or high-flying adventure should read it.”—Homer Hickam, author of Rocket Boys“This book gives a fascinating and superbly detailed look into X-15 technology and the dedicated people who first took a winged craft beyond the atmosphere. Along the way it teaches valuable and pertinent lessons for those of us in the private space sector now working to build on that phenomenal legacy.”—Col. Rick Searfoss, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), former space shuttle commander and pilotTable of ContentsList of IllustrationsForewordAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. The Whole Nine Yards2. A Record High3. Gaining Speed4. Naval Engagement5. Changing Course6. Straight and Steady7. Skipping Out8. On a Roll9. Inconel Meets Celluloid10. Fastest Man Alive11. Chasing Experiments12. In the Line of Duty13. Snow at EdwardsAfterwordGlossarySourcesIndex
£29.45
University of Nebraska Press Wheels Stop
Book SynopsisThe human story of the Space Shuttle program from the aftermath of the Challenger accident and ending with the final flight in 2011. Trade Review"[An] enthusiastic portrayal of the heroic age of American space travel."—Publishers Weekly "Houston focuses on themes and makes extensive (and effective) use of oral histories provided by astronauts and others."—J. Z. Kiss, Choice"Houston preserves the candid reflections of some who wrote the shuttle's story aloft, and their exultations and confessions are reason enough to fly with them until "wheels stop.""—Air and Space“When we talk about the Space Shuttle, we talk about the people. Author Rick Houston’s work here takes it a step further. He reaches to the heart and soul of the people.”—Milt Heflin, former lead Space Shuttle flight director and chief of the flight director office“With the Space Shuttle program now at an end, documenting the amazing thirty-year career of these iconic orbiters holds an untold amount of historical importance. Spaceflight isn’t easy, people pay in blood and sweat to make it happen. Author Rick Houston lends a voice to some of the key people involved in what is not only an American treasure but a global superstar.”—Chris Bergin, managing editor, NASASpaceflight.com“Rick Houston skillfully recounts the shuttle program from a front row center seat, full of engaging, first person accounts—direct from the flight deck and the vacuum of space during some of the program’s wildest spacewalks. From triumph to tragedy and back again, this book is the next best thing to being there.”—Dr. Scott Parazynski, five-time shuttle astronaut and Everest mountaineerTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Foreword Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Back in the Game 2. Cloak and Dagger, Science on Orbit 3. Hubble Huggers 4. Sleeping with the Enemy 5. A Home on Orbit 6. "The Debris Was Talking to Me" 7. "We Came Home" 8. A Kick in the Pants 9. The End of an Era 10. A Magnificent Machine Epilogue Sources Index
£29.45
MQ - University of Nebraska Press Homesteading Space
Book SynopsisTells the dramatic story of America's first space station from beginning to fiery endTrade Review"A worthy account of an important but largely forgotten program. . . . For those who would like to learn more about the achievement, Homesteading Space offers valuable personal recollections from those who were there."—Roger Launius, Air & Space“A well-told saga of Skylab from start to fiery fall.”—Coalition for Space Exploration“Savvy consumers of space history have come to expect high quality in the ‘Outward Odyssey—A People's History of Spaceflight’ series edited by Colin Burgess. This fourth volume definitely does not disappoint.”—Rick W. Sturdevant, Air Power History “Published here for the first time, [Alan] Bean’s diary, added to voice transcripts of space walks, produces the you-are-there immediacy that buffs crave.”—Gilbert Taylor, Booklist"Homesteading Space is not just about the scientific knowledge that was obtained in orbit—this is the story of the astronauts who conducted the experiments, who lived in space for weeks or months at a time, and how they coped."—Andrew J. Liptak, Worlds in a Grain of Sand blog"The success of our nation's first space station did not come easily. The challenges were met with vision, courage, and competence. Those who personified these traits forcefully and honestly tell their stories here unfiltered by writers or press. The result is both historically significant and a great read."—Ed Gibson, Skylab III science pilot and authorTable of ContentsList of IllustrationsForeword by Homer HickamPrefaceAcknowledgmentsAbbreviations1. From the Ground Up2. The Homesteaders3. Getting Ready to Fly4. Fifty-six Days in a Can5. A Tour of Skylab6. Ten Days in May7. "We Fix Anything"8. "Marooned"9. High Performance10. Sprinting a Marathon11. Science on Skylab12. What Goes Up13. The Legacy of SkylabAppendix: Alan Bean's In-Flight DiaryBibliographyIndex
£17.99
University of Nebraska Press To a Distant Day
Book SynopsisAlthough the dream of flying is as old as the human imagination, the notion of rocketing into space may have originated with Chinese gunpowder experiments during the Middle Ages. Rockets as both weapons and entertainment are examined in this engaging history of how human beings acquired the ability to catapult themselves into space.Trade Review"Let us hope for as good a companion volume taking the story to the shuttle and space-station era and the emergence of space powers other than Russia and the U.S."-Roland Green, Booklist -- Roland Green Booklist "As much a story of cultural ambition and personal destiny as of scientific progress and technological history, To a Distant Day offers a thoroughly compelling account of humankind's determined efforts-sometimes poignant, sometimes amazing, sometimes mad-to leave Earth behind."-Quest Quest "As someone who has been teaching a course on space exploration for many years and has visited most of NASA's space centers, I have found plenty of new and valuable material in To a Distant Day... I recommend the book to all who wish to know more about the conditions, people, and discoveries between 1890 and 1960 that led to the space age."-Pangratios Papacosta, Physics Today -- Pangratios Papacosta Physics Today "To a Distant Day is not simply about scientific and technical developments. It provides insight into the social and political context of the early rocket pioneers and how progress emerged amidst competing egos, political pressures, and technical challenges... Insightful, instructive, and definitely worth the read."-Greg Andres, Journal of The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada -- Greg Andres Journal of The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada "Since the dawn of time, mankind has looked skyward and longed to travel the heavens, to feel the glow of distant stars, to explore the celestial bodies of our galactic neighborhood, and to venture beyond this earthly cradle. Chris Gainor's work, To a Distant Day, tells of the engineers, the scientists, and the explorers who realized the ancient dream and ventured from Earth."-David R. Self, Technology and Culture -- David R. Self Technology and Culture "Chris Gainor's new book, To a Distant Day, recreates the colorful history of how rocketry came to be."-David Reneke, davidreneke.com -- David Reneke davidreneke.comTable of ContentsAcknowledgementsForeword from Col. Alfred WordenAcronymsChapter 1 Space Dreams and War DrumsChapter 2 Tsiolkovsky and the Birth of Soviet AstronauticsChapter 3 Robert Goddard’s Solitary TrailChapter 4 Hermann Oberth and Early German RocketryChapter 5 Von Braun, Dornberger and World War IIChapter 6 Rockets, Balloons and the Right StuffChapter 7 Korolev and the First ICBMChapter 8 The Military Industrial ComplexChapter 9 Sputniks and MuttniksChapter 10 The Birth of NASAChapter 11 Man In Space SoonestEpilog: July 6, 1969SourcesIndex
£16.19
University of Nebraska Press Ambassadors from Earth
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Many space buffs, especially young ones, should find this a satisfying narrative."—Publishers Weekly"Ambassadors is written in an accessible and engaging style, introducing readers to behind-the-scenes players most of us have never heard of."—Russell Lewis, NPR"[Ambassadors from Earth] offers an accessible account of the U.S. and Soviet planetary missions of the Space Race era, as well as the more widespread efforts of more recent times."—Roger Launius, Air & Space Magazine"Utilising original interviews with key players, bolstered by never-before-seen photographs, journal excerpts, and primary source documents, Gallentine delivers a quirky and unforgettable look at the lives and legacy of the Americans and Soviets who conceived, built, and guided those unmanned missions to the planets and beyond."—Philip Corneille, Spaceflight"This book provides a wonderful way of renewing interest in the pioneering contributions of the robotic space programs pursued by the United States and the Soviet Union."—De Witt Douglas Kilgore, Quest"An intriguing and essential read on the history of unmanned space programs and especially the tug-of-war between the United States and the Soviety Union for space supremacy in the late 1950s and the decade of the 1960s."—Dale A. Stirling, Journal for the History of Discoveries Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Aboard the Glacier 2. Problem Child 3. The Convict 4. Light Fuse, GET AWAY 5. New Moon 6. Let's Make a Deal 7. The Creators and the Makers 8. Storming the Sea of Dreams 9. Moving at the Speed of Design 10. Job Number MA-11 11. The Science and the Cyclist 12. Get Off the Bus 13. Swing in Time 14. The Meeting and the Mechta 15. Think Like Gravity 16. Didn't They Get It? 17. The Death and the Funeral 18. One Hundred Percent Failure 19. Three-Problem Shipley 20. Pete and Al's Little Field Trip 21. Irradiated Plans 22. Embarking 23. Get It 24. Instant Science 25. Circles of Gold 26. Last Light 27. Continuum Sources Index
£18.99
University of Nebraska Press Realizing Tomorrow
Book SynopsisNearly forty years passed between the Apollo moon landings, the grandest accomplishment of a government-run space programme, and the Ansari X PRIZE - winning flights of SpaceShipOne, the greatest achievement of a private space programme. Now, as we hover on the threshold of commercial spaceflight, Chris Dubbs and Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom look back at how we got to this point.Trade Review"Tighten your seat belt for a wonderful ride of a read that tells the incredible tale of the dedicated people who helped push the throttle forward to make private space travel reality. Dubbs and Paat-Dahlstrom take a masterful and history-rich look at the true roots of space tourism, providing a needed course-correction for those who think off-Earth passenger travel is more giggle-factor than fact."-Leonard David, Space Insider columnist, SPACE.com -- Leonard David "Many books have been written about the history of spaceflight, documenting the efforts to enter space 'for all mankind.' Realizing Tomorrow offers the first comprehensive history of what will be the future of spaceflight-'by all mankind.'"-Robert Pearlman, editor and founder of collectSPACE.com -- Robert Pearlman "Brimming with fascinating details-and never-before-told stories-Realizing Tomorrow is a riveting account of the growth of commercial space. It is required reading for anyone who wants to know how a group of visionaries overcame great obstacles to pioneer the final frontier for profit."-Douglas Messier, editor in chief of Parabolicarc.com -- Douglas Messier "Realizing Tomorrow is the compelling story of the pioneers of commercial spaceflight and their efforts to open up the final frontier to everyone."-Jeff Foust, editor and publisher of the Space Review -- Jeff Foust "Tighten your seat belt for a wonderful ride of a read that tells the incredible tale of the dedicated people who helped push the throttle forward to make private space travel reality."-Leonard David, Coalition for Space Exploration -- Leonard David Coalition for Space Exploration "With the conclusion of the space shuttle program impending, the topic of private spaceflight has never been timelier... This far-reaching, well-illustrated history oriented toward the future of spaceflight should catch many an eye."-Colleen Mondor, Booklist -- Colleen Mondor BooklistTable of ContentsList of IllustrationsForewordAcknowledgmentsPrologue1. The Entire Population of the Earth in Orbit2. The Birth of Private Rocket Companies3. Private Citizens Get Their Chance in Space4. Russia Commercializes Space5. Citizen Explorers6. The Quest for a Reusable Spaceship7. The Ansari x prize Launches an Industry8. Private Manned Spaceflight Makes History9. Space Tourism Goes Mainstream10. It Takes More Than a Spaceship to Build an IndustrySourcesIndex
£17.99
Stackpole Books Project Space Station Plans for a Permanent
Book Synopsis
£14.36
Stackpole Books Space Trek The Endless Migration Stackpole
Book Synopsis
£15.26
Stackpole Books Toward Distant Suns A Bold New Prospectus for
Book SynopsisThe prospectus of humans living, working, and establishing communities in space can no longer be dismissed as the romantic notions of science fiction writers and space buffs. With the launch of the space shuttle human kind will enter a new era in space exploration, one giant step closer to the goal of human colonization. Our understanding of man's role in space is maturing, and the myths of life in space as a slick Buck Rogers episode or a scene from Star Wars must give way to a realistic plan for human life in other part of the solar system. We are ready now for a factual assessment of the challenges ahead: in Toward Distant Suns, the prospects of space exploration and space colonization have come of age. Here, for the first time, is a realistic look at what humankind must accomplish in order to colonize near space. Based on the most up-to-date research available, Toward Distant Suns tackles the problems of technology and lifestyle that will face those men and women whose mission is t
£15.26
Rowman & Littlefield A Case against Accident and SelfOrganization
Book SynopsisIn this study of the origins of life and the universe the author demonstrates that it is mathematically impossible that accidental processes produced the first living matter.Trade ReviewOverman's 'brief' finds implausible the claims that life evolved from nonlife by chance and that the conditions for life in the universe are without cause. . . . As clear and straightforward an argument as one can find. * First Things *The author has provided an eminently readable and interesting book. -- Glenn Wyper * Reformed Review, Fall 98, Vo. 52 N0. 1 *The writing is very clear, with hierarchic organization of numbered sections and subsections. Overman writes for the intelligent layperson, making this fine presentation of the argument for Design accessible to a wide audience. -- Charles E. Chaffey, Universtiy of Toronto * Book Reviews, March 99 *Overman's Brilliant book A Case Against Accident and Self-Organization will demonstrate to any reader that the universe we know could hardly have arisen by chance. * The American Enterprise *For entertainment, Mr. Overman likes to ponder the origins of life on Earth, the mysteries of quantum mechanics and the nuances of particle physics. His mastery of these fields has earned him the respect and admiration of scholars from Cambridge to Harvard. -- Mona Charen * The Washington Times *A valuable contribution to the discussion about the relationship between natural science and theology. -- Wolfhart Pannenberg, University of Munich...impressive work. * Philosophia Christi *
£29.25
Oldcastle Books Ltd The Universe
Book SynopsisA witty, accessible and entertaining journey through teh philosophies of time and space.Trade ReviewIf it's true that very few of the many thousands who bought Stephen Hawkins' A Brief History of Time actually read it, then Osborne's may be the book to catch up with. Certainly, this reviewer ended the book a good deal wiser * Financial Times *the perfect introduction for those who would like to understand the vast space that is our universe * The Good Book Guide *
£6.74
Oneworld Publications The Last Stargazers The Enduring Story of
Book SynopsisThe story of the people who see beyond the starsTrade Review‘The awesome endeavours and intellectual adventures in the physical practice and gains in understanding that are the heart and passion of astronomers is gloriously portrayed from the mind of a wonderful practitioner, Emily Levesque. Her range of experiences and insights through the recent period of rapid developments and future planning in this progressive human effort gloriously reach out to everyone.’ -- Professor Alec Boksenberg, former director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory‘The Last Stargazers is perfect for anyone who has ever wondered what it’s like to actually be an astronomer, or who has dreamt of staring up at the stars. Amidst the stories of mishaps and mistakes is a surprisingly romantic view of the glory of exploration, taken one dark night at a time.’ -- Dr Chris Lintott, BBC The Sky at Night‘If you’ve ever wondered what astronomers do—what they really do—and the human journey from the era of eyepieces to gigantic robotic cameras, The Last Stargazers puts you there with compelling honesty, following the scientists and students with hundred-ton telescopes as backdrop.’ -- Erik Asphaug, author of When the Earth Had Two Moons‘Through captivating stories, Levesque gives us both a vivid and accessible inside look at the enigmatic mountain-top astronomers. A unique and engaging read.’ -- Dr Sara Seager, professor of astronomy at MIT‘Emily Levesque is smart and funny, and her insider’s tale of stars and the astronomers who study them bursts with color and energy.’ -- Edward Dolnick, author of The Clockwork Universe‘Emily’s book is a compulsive read. It demonstrates what being an observational astronomer is really like—the highs, the lows, and the unscheduled things that can happen at telescopes around the world! Give this book to every young person (especially the girls!) that you know who likes math and science.’ -- Jocelyn Bell Burnell, astrophysicist at Oxford University‘Astronomy is dangerous. Wild (sometimes venomous) animals, thin air, heavy equipment, hazardous chemicals… Dr. Levesque captures all this with amusement and personal experience, making this a delightful read for everyone.’ -- Phil Plait, astronomer and author of Bad Astronomy‘Emily Levesque depicts the adventurous life of professional hands-on astronomers, from the top of the Andes, Chile through the Arizona cliffs to Big Island, Hawaii, telling stories of the cosmic silence of an observing night. … I have hugely enjoyed this book. It is engaging, humorous, full of quotes and stories of well-reputed colleagues. To be read, before all astronomical observations become fully automatized!’ -- Professor Claudia Maraston, Eddington Medal for Astronomy 2018, University of Portsmouth‘This will particularly appeal to young women interested in science, but any stargazer would enjoy this joyous adventure through modern astronomy.’ -- Publishers Weekly‘It’s like catching a glimpse of the magic behind the curtain galaxies away, and leaves you hanging on every spectacular word. A must read for anyone who has looked up at the sky and felt a sense of wonder, as well as those considering the world of astrophysics and astronomy.’ -- Tamara Robertson, host of Mythbusters: The Search and STEM speaker‘The perfect primer for a future astronomer or an amateur astronomy buff, it captures the highlights, lowlights, and day-to-day life of the professional stargazer.’ -- Zach Weinersmith, author of Soonish and Open Borders‘Childhood stargazers who’ve since become inquisitive adults, and any fans of Sagan’s Cosmos, will devour this book.’ -- Booklist‘Entertaining, ardent tales from an era of stargazing that may not last much longer.’ -- Kirkus Reviews‘Levesque does a wonderful job explaining the science behind astronomy as she conveys the awe and beauty of the universe, the dedication of the people who study it, and the excitement of discovery in this fascinating account that will appeal to fans of narrative nonfiction and fellow stargazers.’ -- Library Journal‘Levesque writes with great energy, bringing the world of the astronomers to life… this book does do what most astronomy books do not. It puts you in the world of practising astronomers and lets you imagine what a career as an observer would be like.’ -- Physics Education‘An insightful view of the daily (and often nightly) regime of the modern observational astronomer. The passion, adventure, challenge, humour and, yes, danger, in the pursuit of knowledge are palpably brought to life… a must-read for the uninitiated, the armchair stargazer, or anyone contemplating a career in astronomical research: a funny, romantic, intriguing real-life adventure.’ -- Dr Alastair Gunn, BBC Sky at Night‘[Levesque] sweeps the reader along with her in this very humorous and accessible book. As I was reading, I kept thinking of how many people I know who would love to read it. A perfect gift for anyone interested in astronomy… From Galileo to gravitational waves, pulsars, or black holes, it’s compulsive reading, written in an easy, chatty style… A beautiful book sharing her love of the wonders of the universe.’ * Astronomy Ireland *‘Astronomer Emily Levesque shares stories of modern-day stargazers in this fascinating new release, profiling people willing to traverse mountaintops and the most remote areas of the world, all in the name of science. There’s something for everyone in here, from the world’s most powerful telescopes to wild bears running loose in an observatory—recommended for anyone who enjoys gazing upward at the night sky.’ -- Reader’s Digest
£10.44
University of Iowa Press Origins of Magnetospheric Physics
Book SynopsisEarly in 1958, instruments on the space satellites Explorer I and Explorer III revealed the presence of radiation belts, enormous populations of energetic particles trapped in the magnetic field of the earth. This work tells the story of this dramatic and hugely transformative period in scientific and cold war history.
£21.80
Scion Publishing Astrophysics Of QuasiStellar Objects And Active
Book Synopsis
£39.89
