Description
Book SynopsisSince humans first looked up at the stars, astronomy has had a particular ability to stir the imagination and challenge the thinking of scientists and non-scientists alike. Astronomy: The Human Quest for Understanding is an introductory astronomy textbook specifically designed to relate to non-science majors across a wide variety of disciplines, nurture their curiosity, and develop vital science-based critical-thinking skills. This textbook provides an introduction to how science operates in practice and what makes it so successful in uncovering nature''s secrets. Given that the study of astronomy dates back thousands of years, it is the ideal subject for tracing the development of the physical sciences and how our evolving understanding of nature has influenced, and been influenced by, mathematics, philosophy, religion, geography, politics, and more. This historical approach also illustrates how wrong turns have been taken, and how the inherent self-correcting nature of science throug
Trade ReviewThis hefty volume includes standard textbook-type supplements-such as problem sets with some of the answers provided in an appendix but could also serve as a mini-reference book or self-study guide for a wide range of astronomical topics...The writing style is fresh and approachable, encouraging an understanding of the nature of science as something that people do when curious about how nature works. * Choice *
The writing style is fresh and approachable, encouraging an understanding of the nature of science as something that people do when curious about how nature works. The level of mathematics is low, but math is used extensively. This well-illustratedbook includes a nice glossary and an index. An accompanying website offers tutorials and further examples as well as updates, such as discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), that came in after thebook was printed. * M.-K. Hemenway, formerly, University of Texas at Austin, CHOICE connect *
Dale Ostlie has wonderfully redefined what knowledge of the physical universe an introductory textbook on astronomy should convey. * Simon Mitton, St Edmund's College Cambridge *
Ostlie presents an interesting approach to introductory astronomy and one that will help students better learn and understand not just astronomy, but how science in general works as well. * Aaron Grocholski, American University, Washington DC *
Table of ContentsI The Process of Science Through the Lens of Astronomy 1: The Nature of Science 2: The Heavens: A Realm of Mystery 3: On the Path Toward Modern Science 4: The Copernican Revolution 5: Sir Isaac Newton's Universe 6: The Universality of Physical Law 7: Revealing Secrets Hidden in Light and Matter 8: Modern Physics: New Science to Study the Universe II The Sun, Our Solar System, and Exoplanets 9: The Sun, Our Parent Star 10: An Overview of the Solar System 11: The Rocky Planets and Our Moon 12: The Giant Planet Systems 13: Dwarf Planets and Small Bodies 14: Planets Everywhere and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life III Stars and the Universe Beyond 15: Measuring the Stars 16: The Lives of Stars 17: The End of a Stellar Life 18: Galaxies Galore 19: The Once and Future Universe Appendices
