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This fascinating book provides an accessible and up-to-date overview of modern cosmology. In particular, the book discusses the formation of the Cosmic Microwave Background and the evolution of large scale structures in the universe, the distribution of galaxies and clusters of galaxies on very large distance scales. Following a brief introduction, the authors describe the scientific method – how science is done. They then discuss observational cosmology, the instruments and what observations can be done with them, and what is derived from those observations. After discussing the constituents of the universe, including dark matter and dark energy, the authors provide an outline of the forces that shape the universe, with particular emphasis on gravitation. Following this, the reader is taken on a journey in time from the present day back to the very beginning of the universe, a period called inflation, which sets the initial conditions for the subsequent evolution of the universe. The book ends with a brief chapter on what lies beyond. Written by two experts, the book is aimed at the interested lay-person with little or no physics background, but an interest in modern cosmology.

Astronomy. --- Cosmology. --- Popular Science in Astronomy. --- Astronomy --- Deism --- Metaphysics

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In these pages, the reader can follow the engaging saga of astronomical exploration in the southern hemisphere, in a modern merger of aesthetics, science, and a story of human endeavor. This book is truly a celebration of southern skies.  Jerry Bonnell, Editor - Astronomy Picture of the Day The southern sky became accessible to scientific scrutiny only a few centuries ago, after the first European explorers ventured south of the equator. Modern observing and imaging techniques have since revealed what seems like a new Universe, previously hidden below the horizon, a fresh astronomical bounty of beauty and knowledge uniquely different from the northern sky. The authors have crafted a book that brings this hidden Universe to all, regardless of location or latitude. Treasures of the Southern Sky celebrates the remarkable beauty and richness of the southern sky in words and with world-class imagery. In part, a photographic anthology of deep sky wonders south of the celestial equator, this book also celebrates the human story of southern astronomy with an engaging and detailed history of key contributors to southern sky exploration. The accompanying text provides the reader with intriguing facts and useful information about the featured objects. The volume is arranged by southern hemisphere season and brings to the printed page many of the most provocative and beautiful astronomical images of our time, many in print for the first time. The collection of imagery covers a full range of deep sky astronomical objects, including the familiar and iconic as well as those that are more obscure but no less intriguing. Masterful, state of the art professional and amateur astrophotography highlights the authors' carefully selected deep sky "treasures." DUST JACKET: The beauty and richness of the southern night sky is legendary. From southern latitudes the finest globular clusters in the sky are visible to the unaided eye, as are the nearest galaxies, the Magellanic Clouds. The brightest part of the Milky Way passes overhead during the southern winter and the nearest bright star as well as the legendary asterism known as the Southern Cross are both observable throughout the year. Despite these stunning highlights, the southern sky has received has received less attention than its northern counterparty, and fewer photographs exist of its lesser known, yet equally stunning and intriguing objects. This visual anthology features striking photographic portraits of the most celebrated to the more obscure southern astronomical objects. Carefully selected world-class images have been assembled using the latest digital methods, revealing these southern gems in ways never before seen. To provide a context, the pictures capture the sky in variety of scales, from the wide vistas seen through hobby telescopes to the tiny fields relayed in exquisitely rich detail by the powerful optics of the largest professional telescopes, including the Hubbel Space Telescope and ESO's telescopes. The beauty of the night sky is on display in vivid color and dazzling detail. The presentation is further enhanced by a detailed history of southern sky exploration and lucid text that describes the southern night-sky wonders in ways that are engaging and non-technical.

Observations, Astronomical. --- Astronomy—Observations. --- Astronomy. --- Photography. --- Astronomy, Observations and Techniques. --- Popular Science in Astronomy.

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Many amateur astronomers live in urban and highly developed suburban areas, and many of them believe that they can’t observe deep-sky objects from such light-polluted locations. But it isn’t true. Given the right techniques, urban astronomers can routinely observe deep-sky objects night after night – something most of us would never do if it involved driving miles into the country to find a dark site. Rod Mollise has observed the entire Messier list from his urban backyard, without high-tech equipment, using only commercially-made telescopes and simple accessories. This is a guide to good deep-sky astronomy under bad skies. There are literally hundreds of spectacular objects to be seen from the average urban site. After dealing with equipment, locations and even urban safety, Rod invites you to join him on his virtual "walking tours" of the night sky, with physical and observational descriptions, at-the-eyepiece drawings, and photographs.

Astronomy --- Astronomy. --- Popular Science in Astronomy. --- Astronomy, Observations and Techniques. --- Observations, Astronomical. --- Astronomy—Observations. --- Astronomical observations --- Observations, Astronomical

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Sirius - A Diamond in the Night will tell two stories. The first and most obvious is why the star known as Sirius has been regarded as an important fixture of the night sky by many civilizations and cultures since the beginnings of history. A second, but related, narrative is the prominent part that Sirius has played in how we came to achieve our current scientific understanding of the nature and fate of the stars. These two topics have a long intertwined history, and the telling of one story eventually leads back to the other. Presently, new observations from space are revealing, in precise terms, how stars like Sirius and the Sun have evolved and what they will ultimately become, while at the same time answering some of the age-old questions about Sirius. The book is divided into five parts. The first (Chapters 1 and 2) describes how Sirius was viewed by the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece and Rome. The second part (Chapters 3-5) describes how early astronomers sought to determine the nature of the stars, including the prediction that Sirius possessed an unseen companion and the eventual discovery of this white dwarf companion 18 years later. The third part (chapters 6-9) describes the major discoveries in stellar astrophysics revealed by observations of Sirius. The fourth part (chapters 10 and 11) probes the modern scientific and pseudo scientific controversies involving Sirius, including the ‘Red Sirius’ and Dogon tribe stories. The final part (Chapters 12 and 13) highlights modern observations made with the Hubble Space Telescope and other spacecraft of the white dwarf companion.

Sirius. --- Astronomy. --- Popular Science in Astronomy. --- Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology. --- Astrophysics. --- Astronomical physics --- Astronomy --- Cosmic physics --- Physics

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About half a century ago a small satellite, Sputnik 1, was launched. The satellite did very little other than to transmit a radio signal to announce its presence in orbit. However, this humble beginning heralded the dawn of the Space Age. Today literally thousands of robotic spacecraft have been launched, many of which have flown to far-flung regions of the Solar System carrying with them the human spirit of scientific discovery and exploration. Numerous other satellites have been launched in orbit around the Earth providing services that support our technological society on the ground. How Spacecraft Fly: Spaceflight Without Formulae by Graham Swinerd focuses on how these spacecraft work. The book opens with a historical perspective of how we have come to understand our Solar System and the Universe. It then progresses through orbital flight, rocket science, the hostile environment within which spacecraft operate, and how they are designed. The concluding chapters give a glimpse of what the 21st century may hold in terms of human exploration of the Solar System and more futuristic propulsion technologies for interstellar travel. Graham Swinerd invites you to understand "how spacecraft fly," while becoming a convincing rocket scientist along the way!

Physics. --- Astronomy. --- Popular Science in Astronomy. --- Aerospace Technology and Astronautics. --- Astronautics. --- Physique --- Astronomie --- Astronautique --- Astronautics --- Space flight