Astronomy: The Cosmic Journey - Hardcover

William K. Hartmann

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0534211925 ISBN 13: 9780534211929

Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1994

Synopsis

This book should be of interest to students on introductory and general astronomy courses.

About this title

About the Author

William K. Hartmann is known internationally as a planetary astronomer, writer, and painter. He is a Senior Scientist at the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Arizona. His research has involved the origin and evolution of planets and studies of the surfaces of Mars, the moon, asteroids, and comets. Asteroid 3341 is named after him in recognition of this work, and in 1998 he was named first recipient of the Carl Sagan medal of the American Astronomical Society for communicating planetary science to the public. In 2002 he was awarded a medal from the European Geophysical Society for his work on planetary cratering. He has authored three other astronomy books for Thomson, Brooks-Cole, several popular astronomy books, and two novels, MARS UNDERGROUND and CITIES OF GOLD.

Chris Impey is the Deputy Department Head and a Professor of Astronomy at the University of Arizona. His research interests center on cosmology and the study of diffuse galaxies, active galaxies, and quasars. He has over 100 research publications in the professional literature, and has had 14 projects approved for observations with the Hubble Space Telescope. His work to develop interactive teaching materials for the Web is supported by a major grant from the National Science Foundation. He is a former Associate Director of the NASA Arizona Space Grant Program, which supports a variety of education and outreach activities. He has won six University awards for undergraduate teaching, and is coauthor of the Brooks/Cole textbook Astronomy: The Cosmic Journey.

Review

0. Invitation to the Cosmic Journey. Our Definition of Astronomy. A Survey of the Universe. A Word about Mathematics. A Note about Names of People. A Hint on Using This Book. Face To Face with the Universe. Concepts/Problem. 1. Prehistoric Astronomy: Origins of Science and Superstition. The Earliest Astronomy: Motives and Artifacts (c. 30,000 BC). Calendar Refinements (10,000-3,000 BC). Other Early Discoveries. Origin of the Constellations. The Seasons: Solstices, Equinoxes, and Their Applications. Astrology: Ancient Origins of a Superstition. Eclipses: Occasions for Awe. Summary. Concepts. Problems. Advanced Problem. Projects. 2. Historic Advances: Worlds in the Sky. Early Cosmologies and the Abstract Thinking (2500-100 BC). The System of Angular Measurement. Early Greek Astronomy (c. 600 BC to AD 150). Optional Basic Equation I: The Small-Angle Equation. Ancient Astronomy beyond the Mediterranean. Summary. Concepts. Problems. Advanced Problems. Projects. 3. Discovering the Layout of the Solar System. Clues to the Solar System's Configuration. Problems with the Ptolemaic Model. The Copernican Revolution. Bode's Rule. The Solar System as We Know it Today. Summary. Concepts. Problems. Advanced Problems. Projects. 4. Gravity and the Conquest of Space. Dreams of Escaping Earth. Newton's Law of Gravitational Force. Optional Basic Equation II: Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation. Optional Basic Equation III: Calculating Circular and Escape Velocities. Rockets and Spaceships. The Decision to Explore the Moon: Science and the National Policy. After Apollo. Space Exploration and Science: Cost and Results. Looking to the Future. Summary. Concepts. Problems. Advanced Problems. 5. Light and the Spectrum: Messages from Space. The Nature of Light: Waves vs. Particles. The Spectrum. Origins of Light: Electromagnetic Disturbances. Emission Lines and Bands. Optional Basic Equation IV: Measuring Temperatures of Astronomical Bodies: Wien's Law. Absorption Lines and Bands. Analyzing Spectra. The Three Functions of Telescopes. Using Visual Telescopes. Photography with Telescopes. Photometry. Image Processing Spectrophotometry. Light Pollution: A Threat to Astronomy. Detecting Nature's Messages from Space. Interferometry. New Frontiers. Summary. Concepts. Problems. Advanced Problems. Projects. 6. Earth as a Planet. Earth's Age. Earth's Internal Structure. Lithospheres and Plate Tectonics: An Explanation of Planetary Landscapes. Other Important Processes in Earth's Evolution. Earth's Magnetic Field. Earth's Atmosphere and Oceans. The Cosmic Connection. Environmental Changes on Today's Earth. Summary. Concepts. Problems. Advanced Problems. Projects. 7. The Moon's Phases and Rotation. Tidal Evolution of the Earth-Moon System. Surface Features of the Moon. Flights to the Moon. Lunar Rocks: Implications for the Moon and Earth. The Interior of the Moon. Cratering of the Moon and Earth. Optional Basic Equation V: The Definition of Mean Density. Ice Deposits at the Lunar Poles? Where Did the Moon Come From? Return to the Moon? Summary. Concepts. Problems. Advanced Problems. Projects. 8. Introducing the Planets-Mercury. A Survey of the Planets. Comparative Planetology: An Approach to Studying Planets. The Planet Mercury. Summary. Concepts. Problems. Advanced Problems. Projects. 9. Venus. The Slow Retrograde Rotation of Venus. Venus' Infernal Atmosphere. The Rocky Landscapes of Venus. Lesson 1 In Comparative Planetology: Surface Features vs. Planet Size. Lesson 2 in Comparative Planetology: Why Do Some Planets Lack Atmospheres? Summary. Concepts. Problems. Advanced Problems. Projects. 10. Mars. Mars as Seen with Earth-Based Telescopes. The Lure of Mars. Voyages to the Surface of Mars. Major Geological Features. Two Great Mysteries of Mars: Ancient Climate and Ancient Life. Martian Satellites: Phobos and Deimos. A Lesson in Comparative Planetology: The Topography of Earth, Venus, and Mars. Summary. Concepts. Problems. Advanced Problems. Projects. 11. Jupiter, Saturn, and their Moons. Introducing the Outer Solar System. Jupiter and Saturn:The Planets. Rings of Jupiter and Saturn. Satellite Systems of Giant Planets: General Properties. Satellites of Jupiter. Satellites of Saturn. Future Studies of Jupiter and Saturn. Summary. Concepts. Problems. Advanced Problems. Projects. 12. The Outermost Planets and Their Moons. Uranus and Neptune - The Planets. A Lesson in Comparative Planetology: Why Giant Planets Have Massive Atmospheres. Rings of Uranus and Neptune. Optional Basic Equation VI: Typical Velocities of Atoms and Molecules in a Gas. The Satellite System of Uranus. The Satellite System of Neptune. Pluto: Ninth Planet or Interplanetary Body? "Planet X"? Summary. Concepts. Problems. Advanced Problems. Project. 13. Comets, Meteors, Asteroids, and Meteorites. Comets and Meteors: Relationships. Comets. Meteors, Meteor Showers and the Comet Connection. Asteroids. Meteorites. Zodiacal Light. Asteroid Threat or Asteroid Opportunity? Summary. Concepts. Problems. Advanced Problems. Projects. 14. The Origin of the Solar System. Facts to Be Explained by a Theory of Origin. The Protosun. The Solar Nebula. A Presolar Explosion?. From Planetesimals to Planets. The Chemical Compositions of Planets. A Lesson in Comparative Paleontology: Comparisons Among Moon Systems. Gradual Evolution Plus a Few Catastrophes. Stellar Evidence from Other Planetary Systems. Summary. Concepts. Problems. Advanced Problems. 15. The Sun: The Nature of the Nearest Star. Remotely Probing the Sun. Composition of the Sun. Solar Energy from Nuclear Reactions. The Sun's Interior Structure. The Photosphere: the Solar Surface. Chromosphere and Corona: The Solar Atmosphere. Sunspots and Sunspot Activity. Solar Wind. Aurorae and Solar-Terrestrial Relations. Is the Sun Constant?. Solar Energy and Other Cosmic Fuels. Summary. Concepts. Problems. Advanced Problems. Projects. 16. Measuring the Basic Properties of Stars. Names of Stars. Defining Stellar Distances: Light-Years and Parsecs. Defining a Brightness Scale. Measuring Distances to Nearby Stars. Basic Principles of Stellar Spectra. Spectra of Stars. Measuring Important Stellar Properties. Optional Basic Equation VII: The Stefan-Boltzmann Law: Rate of Energy Radiation. The Doppler Effect. Optional Basic Equation VIII: The Doppler Effect: Approach and Recession Velocities. Other Information Available from Spectra. Summary. Concepts. Problems. Advanced Problems. Project. 17. Behavior of Nearby Stars: The H-R Diagram. Classifying Star Types: The H-R Diagram. Stars of Different Masses and Different Ages. Philosophical Implications of Theoretical Astrophysics. Summary. Concepts. Problems. Advanced Problems. Project. 18. Stellar Evolution I: Birth and Middle Age. Three Proofs of "Present-Day" Star Formation. The Protostar Stage. The Pre-Main-Sequence Stage. Examples of Pre-Main-Sequence Objects. The Main-Sequence Stage. Summary. Concepts. Problems. Advanced Problem. Project. 19. Stellar Evolution II: Death and Transfiguration. Hydrostatic Equilibrium. The Giant Stage. The Variable Stage. Mass Loss among Evolved Stars. The Demise of Sun-Like Stars: White Dwarfs. The Demise of Very Massive Stars: Supernovae. Neutron Stars (Pulsars): New Light on Old Stars. Summary. Concepts. Problems. Advanced Problems. Projects. 20. Interstellar Atoms, Dust, and Nebulae. The Effects of Interstellar Material on Starlight. Observed Types of Interstellar Material. Four Types of Interstellar Regions. Life Cycle of a Star-Forming Region. Summary. Concepts. Problems. Advanced Problems. Projects. 21. Companions to Stars. Optical Doubles vs. Physical Binaries. Types of Physical Binaries. What Can We Learn From Binary Stars? How Many Stars are Binary or Multiple? Evolution of Binary Systems: Mass Transfer. Novae: Exploding Members of Binary Pairs. Contact Binaries and Other Unusual Phenomena. Talking About Cataclysmic Variable Stars with Danuta Dobrzycka. The Search for Alien Planets. The Origin of Binary and Multiple Stars. Summary. Concepts. Problems. Advanced Problems. Projects. 22. Star Clusters and Associations. Three Types of Star Groupings. Measuring Distances of Clusters. The Nature of Open Clusters and Associations. The Nature of Globular Clusters. Origin of Clusters and Associations. Summary. Concepts. Problems. Advanced Problems. Projects. 23. The Milky Way Galaxy. Discovering and Mapping the Galactic Disk. The Age of the Galaxy. The Rotation of the Galaxy. Measuring the Galaxy's Mass. The Two Populations of Stars. Probing the Galactic Center. Homing in on the Galactic Nucleus. Summary. Concepts. Problems. Advanced Problems. Projects. 24. The Local Galaxies. Distances to Galaxies. Surveying and Classifying Galaxies. The Nearby Galaxies. Dark Matter. The Environment and Evolution of Galaxies. Summary. Concepts. Problems. Advanced Problems. Projects. 25. Galaxies and the Expanding Universe. Interpreting the Redshift. Large-Scale Structure. Active Galaxies and Quasars. Optional Basic Equation IX: The Hubble Law and the Age of the Universe. Active Galaxies and Quasars. Summary. Concepts. Problems. Advanced Problems. Project. 26. Size and Structure of the Universe. Early Cosmologies. Modern Cosmology. Age and Structure. Summary. Concepts. Problems. Advanced Problems. 27. Origin and Evolution of the Universe. The Birth of the Universe. Exploring the Big Bang. The Very Early Universe. Summary. Concepts. Problems. Advanced Problems. 28. Life in the Universe. The Nature of Life. The Origin of Life on Earth. Has Life Evolved Elsewhere? Summary. Concepts. Problems. Advanced Problems. Appendix 1: Powers of 10. Appendix 2: Units of Measurement. Glossary. References. Index. Star Maps.

About this edition

• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing Company
• Publication date: 1994
• ISBN 10: 0534211925
• ISBN 13: 9780534211929
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 5
• Number of pages: 28