Foundations of Astronomy (with InfoTrac and CD-ROM) - Hardcover

Seeds, Michael A.

4.02

87 ratings by Goodreads

9780534392048: Foundations of Astronomy (with InfoTrac and CD-ROM)

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0534392040 ISBN 13: 9780534392048

Publisher: Brooks Cole, 2002

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This newly revised and updated seventh edition of FOUNDATIONS OF ASTRONOMY shows students their place in the universe - not just their location, but also their role as planet dwellers in an evolving universe. Fascinating and engaging, the book illustrates how science works, and how scientists depend on evidence to test hypotheses. Students will learn to focus on the scientific method through the strong central theme of "how we know what we know." Through a discussion of this interplay between evidence and hypothesis, Seeds provides not just a series of facts, but also a conceptual framework for understanding the logic of astronomical knowledge. The book vividly conveys the author's love of astronomy, shows students how the universe can be described by a small set of physical laws, and illustrates how they can comprehend their place in the universe by understanding these laws, rather than simply memorizing facts. By crafting a story about astronomy, Seeds shows students how to ask questions of nature and therefore gradually puzzle out the beautiful secrets of the physical world. The book's use of mathematics is incorporated into the body of the text (as well as in separate sections for easy reference), but the arguments of the text do not depend on mathematical reasoning, allowing math-averse students to easily follow the story. The revision covers the history of astronomy, elementary physics concepts, stars and galaxies, the origins of the universe, and the solar system.

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About the Author:

Michael A. Seeds has been Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, since 1970. In 1989, he received F&M College's Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching. Seeds' love for the history of astronomy led him to create upper-level courses on Archaeoastronomy and Changing Concepts of the Universe. His research interests focus on variable stars and the automation of astronomical telescopes. Mike is coauthor with Dana Backman and Michele Montgomery of HORIZONS HYBRID: EXPLORING THE UNIVERSE, Thirteenth Edition, and UNIVERSE HYBRID: SOLAR SYSTEM, STARS AND GALAXIES, Eighth Edition, both published by Cengage. He was Senior Consultant in the creation of the twenty-six-episode telecourse accompanying the book HORIZONS: EXPLORING THE UNIVERSE, Twelfth Edition.

Review:

"The historical material in Chapters 4 and 5 is very sensitively presented, nuanced, and really quite up-to-date with respect to contemporary historical researches. It is a distinct cut above most of the texts I have been asked to review."

"I was impressed with the clarity of the illustrative color figures and the effective use of very recent science results (e.g. images from Chandra). I will certainly recommend the book for concept-based courses in astronomy."

"FOUNDATIONS is a remarkably well written book on introductory astronomy. The figures and diagrams are clear, instructive, visually aesthetic and of exceptionally high quality. I commend the author for this book which includes the latest discoveries in the various fields of astronomy."

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