A contemporary classic of astronomical writing, this edition of The Science of Astronomy invites readers to explore the cosmos through a clear, engaging lecture on celestial wonders.
From the birth of Neptune to the power of spectrum analysis, the book traces how bold ideas and careful calculations revealed hidden order in the heavens. It explains how mathematicians Leverrier and Adams predicted a new planet, how Prof. Galle confirmed it, and how the science of observing light uncovered the sun, stars, and the makeup of the cosmos. The narrative also covers the sun’s enormous size, the vast distances in space, and the idea that the universe is in constant motion, not at rest.
- How Neptune was predicted by math and confirmed by observation.
- How spectrum analysis uses light to identify substances in celestial bodies.
- Key facts about the sun, its distance, and how we measure cosmic scales.
- The idea that the stars and planets are always moving through space.
Ideal for readers who enjoy the history and science of astronomy, and who want a clear, readable introduction to how we learn about the universe.