Astronomy Today (5th Edition) - Hardcover

Chaisson, Eric; McMillan, Steve

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0131445960 ISBN 13: 9780131445963

Publisher: Benjamin Cummings, 2005

Synopsis

This straightforward volume presents a broad view of astronomy spanning known facts, evolving ideas, and frontier discoveries. The authors combine qualitative reasoning and analogies with familiar objects and phenomena to awaken readers to the excitement of the universe around them. Incorporates new understanding and emphases in contemporary astronomy, including the latest data on topics ranging from adaptive optics and solar system formation to extrasolar planets and the recent missions to Mars. Top-notch illustration program exploits the full range of the electromagnetic spectrum, including images taken at radio, infrared, ultraviolet, X-ray, or gamma-ray wavelengths, in addition to visible-light photographs. For anyone interested in learning more about astronomy.

About this title

From the Publisher:

The number-one, best-selling astronomy text, Astronomy Today, has been revised based on reviewers' comments and extensive development. Astronomy Today has been shortened (from 30 to 28 chapters), but retains its informal-but-scientific writing style, and exceptional art program. Its unique subscription program COMETS now includes computer-generated animations from NASA illustrator Dana Berry. Astronomy Today, Second Edition employs the familiar planets-sun-stars- galaxies organization. Key concepts are introduced in the familiar context of the Earth and solar system; the concepts are carefully developed as discussion moves outward towards the stars and galaxies. A highly praised approach to spectroscopy and light (topics often difficult for students) and outstanding treatment of active galaxies and cosmology are other highlights.

From the Back Cover:

Astronomy Today 4/e (ISBN 0-13-091542-4) is the more comprehensive text by this: proven team of authors. This twenty-eight chapter text begins with the foundations of the history of science and physics as they relate to astronomy (Part One), then proceeds with an "Earth-out" organization for coverage of the solar system (Part Two), stars and stellar evolution (Part Three), and galaxies and cosmology (Part Four). New with the fourth edition, the book is now available in two paperback splits:

Astronomy Today 4/e: The Solar System (ISBN 0-13-093560-3) covers Part One on foundations (Chapters 1-$); Part Two on the solar system (Chapters 6-15); the Sun chapter (Chapter 16); and the final chapter on life in the universe (Chapter 28).

Astronomy Today 4/e: Stars and Galaxies (ISBN 0-13-093571-9) includes Part One on foundations (Chapters 1-S); Part Three on stars and stellar evolution (Chapters 16-22); and Part Four on galaxies and cosmology (Chapters 23-28).

Astronomy: A Beginner's Guide to the Universe 4/e (ISBN 0-13-100727-0) is the authors' briefer text. It covers the same scope of material in the same order as Astronomy Today 4/e, but with less detail and in fewer chapters (eighteen instead of twenty-eight) and fewer pages.

About this edition

• Publisher: Benjamin Cummings
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0131445960
• ISBN 13: 9780131445963
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 5
• Number of pages: 848