The diverse planetary environments in the solar system react in somewhat different ways to the encompassing influence of the Sun. These different interactions define the electrostatic phenomena that take place on and near planetary surfaces. The desire to understand the electrostatic environments of planetary surfaces goes beyond scientific inquiry. These environments have enormous implications for both human and robotic exploration of the solar system. This book describes in some detail what is known about the electrostatic environment of the solar system from early and current experiments on Earth as well as what is being learned from the instrumentation on the space exploration missions (NASA, European Space Agency, and the Japanese Space Agency) of the last few decades. It begins with a brief review of the basic principles of electrostatics.

The book is an introduction to the subject of fluid mechanics, essential for students and researchers in many branches of science. It illustrates its fundamental principles with a variety of examples drawn mainly from astrophysics and geophysics as well as from everyday experience. Prior familiarity with basic thermodynamics and vector calculus is assumed.

Full color publication. NP-2009-066-GSFC. This colorful book provides concise explanations and descriptions-easily read and readily understood-of what is now known of the chain of events and processes that connect the Sun to the Earth, with special emphasis on space weather and sun-climate.

In this book we will look at what planetary nebulae are, where they come from and where they go. We will discuss what mechanisms cause these beautiful markers of stellar demise as well as what causes them to form their variety of shapes. How we measure various aspects of planetary nebulae such as what they are made of will also be explored. Though we will give some aspects of planetary nebulae mathematical treatment, the main points should be accessible to people with only a limited background in mathematics. A short glossary of some of the more arcane astronomical terms is at the end of the book to help in understanding. Included at the end of each chapter is an extensive bibliography to the peer reviewed research on these objects and I would encourage the reader interested in an even deeper understanding to read these articles.

This book is the Second Edition of the ground-breaking book on faster-than-light travel Bright Stars, Bright Universe: Advancing Civilization by Colonization of the Solar System and the Stars using a Fast Quark Drive which described a new approach to spacecraft propulsion that could enable Mankind to travel to the stars, and beyond, to the galaxies of the known universe. In this edition we add Appendices to the original edition (together with a few minor changes to the First Edition) on Seeing and Navigating through the Cosmos on superluminal starships; Complex Thrust using Braided Accelerators; Suspended Animation to keep the biological clocks of starship occupants in sync with earth time; Engineering very long life starship and life support components; Robot guidance and robot exploratory starships; and Fuel consumption on starships. At the time of this writing the United States appears headed towards a deficit of ten or eleven trillion dollars over the next ten years. It appears that a likely cost for starship R&D would be of the order of half a trillion dollars spread over perhaps thirty years - a small amount relative to the projected US deficit - with an enormous reward for success. On a yearly basis this expense averages to about seventeen billion dollars per year. Since the NASA budget is eighteen billion dollars a year, the cost of the starship program is comparable and quite affordable. The formation of an international consortium would further reduce the per country costs. If the United States paid sixty per cent of the costs then its share would be about ten billion dollars per year. It is a venture of great significance to the future of Mankind. The cost is relatively small; the benefits are potentially enormous! In a series of recent books we explored the theoretical importance of superluminal (faster-than-light) particles called tachyons in the derivation of the form of the Standard Model of Elementary Particles. We also showed some of the remarkable features of superluminal particles such as reverse fission, length dilation, and time contraction - quite the opposite of sublight phenomena. In this book we examine the possibility of superluminal starship propulsion for interstellar exploration and colonization. We begin the book with a statement of the earth's present condition and the need to expand into space or face a slow decline into a cultural and social miasma. Then we develop a new plan for the exploration and colonization of this solar system since it appears that current announced plans have missed the mark and do not have an overall long-term approach. Since this solar system lacks enough planets that are congenial for human life we consider the possibility of colonizing planets around other stars. Many plans have been proposed for interstellar spaceships - starships. But they are usually impractical for some good reason(s). In this book we will consider superluminal (beyond light speed) starships based on tachyon dynamics. They provide a practical means of starship propulsion although much R&D must be done before the proposed starships can be built. Once built they will support speeds up to 5,000 to 30,000 times the speed of light and beyond making the universe Mankind's backyard. Travel times to other galaxies could be as short as a few months. Superluminal starships open the door to a vast expansion of humanity into the universe in the large! As world population grows, and human social needs also grow, the capacity of the world to mount a major space effort will diminish. So a major space initiative with a well-thought out game plan is required now, while we still have the resources.

This book is intended to be a course about the creation and evolution of the universe at large, including the basic macroscopic building blocks (galaxies) and the overall large-scale structure. This text covers a broad range of topics for a graduate-level class in a physics department where students' available credit hours for astrophysics classes are limited. The sections cover galactic structure, external galaxies, galaxy clustering, active galaxies, general relativity and cosmology.

"Venus has always been associated with the feminine in astrology and in culture, yet little emphasis is placed upon the wisdom aspect of the planet. With the cycles of Venus we are given insight into the unfolding of wisdom within ourselves and society, especially with the cycle of Venus' inferior conjunctions - the so-called 2nd order cycle of the planet. In her timely and much-needed work, Firegazing, Gail has brilliantly outlined the meaning and import of these cycles and the deeper meaning of a planet that often only receives a passing notice in astrology, yet is so intimately connected with our own lives and what it is to be human. When Venus passes across the face of the solar orb, we are given opportunity to gaze into the very fire of the soul itself. Well done, Gail " - Malvin Artley

With over 150 alphabetically arranged entries about key scientists, concepts, discoveries, technological innovations, and learned institutions, the Oxford Guide to Physics and Astronomy traces the history of physics and astronomy from the Renaissance to the present. For students, teachers, historians, scientists, and readers of popular science books such as Galileo's Daughter, this guide deciphers the methods and philosophies of physics and astronomy as well as the historical periods from which they emerged. Meant to serve the lay reader and the professional alike, this book can be turned to for the answer to how scientists learned to measure the speed of light, or consulted for neat, careful summaries of topics as complicated as quantum field theory and as vast as the universe.
The entries, each written by a noted scholar and edited by J. L. Heilbron, Professor of History and Vice Chancellor, Emeritus, University of California, Berkeley, reflect the most up-to-date research and discuss the applications of the scientific disciplines to the wider world of religion, law, war, art and literature. No other source on these two branches of science is as informative or as inviting. Thoroughly cross-referenced and accented by dozens of black and white illustrations, the Oxford Guide to Physics and Astronomy is the source to turn to for anyone looking for a quick explanation of alchemy, x-rays and any type of matter or energy in between.

This book reports on the extraordinary observation of TeV gamma rays from the Crab Pulsar, the most energetic light ever detected from this type of object. It presents detailed information on the painstaking analysis of the unprecedentedly large dataset from the MAGIC telescopes, and comprehensively discusses the implications of pulsed TeV gamma rays for state-of-the-art pulsar emission models. Using these results, the book subsequently explores new testing methodologies for Lorentz Invariance Violation, in terms of a wavelength-dependent speed of light. The book also covers an updated search for Very-High-Energy (VHE), >100 GeV, emissions from millisecond pulsars using the Large Area Telescope on board the Fermi satellite, as well as a study on the promising Pulsar Wind Nebula candidate PSR J0631. The observation of VHE gamma rays is essential to studying the non-thermal sources of radiation in our Universe. Rotating neutron stars, also known as pulsars, are an extreme source class known to emit VHE gamma rays. However, to date only two pulsars have been detected with emissions above 100 GeV, and our understanding of their emission mechanism is still lacking.

Have you ever seen a comet? It is a marvelous experience, one that all humans can share, that spawns a deep yearning to understand the spectacle. Have you ever wondered what comets are and why astronomers spend so much time studying them? Now, a comet expert and an astronomical historian have come together to produce the unique book that you now hold in your hands. Using their several decades of teaching experience, the authors have concisely presented the information you need to comprehend these majestic apparitions that grace our night skies. No mathematical proficiency is needed, in fact, this book doesn't contain a single equation! Comets are cosmic Rosetta stones, bridging our current knowledge by digging back to the earliest days of our Solar Systems. How did life arise on Earth? Did comets play a significant role in bringing water and the necessary organic matter to our early Earth? How about the dinosaurs? Were they driven to extinction by a cometary impact 66 million years ago? Comets may be both the enablers and destroyers of life on Earth as we know it. These are some of the tantalizing questions discussed here. If you so desire, steps are given to join the ranks of amateur comet hunters. Astronomy is one of the last sciences where amateurs play a significant role. Your reward for discovery? A comet officially bearing your name in the history books! The next Great Comet is on its way, we just do not know when it will arrive. Armed with this book, you will be ready to enjoy this unforgettable event.