|
Books > Science & Mathematics > Astronomy, space & time > General
Modern astronomical research is beset with a vast range of
statistical challenges, ranging from reducing data from
megadatasets to characterizing an amazing variety of variable
celestial objects or testing astrophysical theory. Linking
astronomy to the world of modern statistics, this volume is a
unique resource, introducing astronomers to advanced statistics
through ready-to-use code in the public domain R statistical
software environment. The book presents fundamental results of
probability theory and statistical inference, before exploring
several fields of applied statistics, such as data smoothing,
regression, multivariate analysis and classification, treatment of
nondetections, time series analysis, and spatial point processes.
It applies the methods discussed to contemporary astronomical
research datasets using the R statistical software, making it
invaluable for graduate students and researchers facing complex
data analysis tasks. A link to the author's website for this book
can be found at www.cambridge.org/msma. Material available on their
website includes datasets, R code and errata. Visit the author's
homepage at http: //astrostatistics.psu.edu for more materials.
Tales of the forty-eight classical constellations have captured the
human imagination from ancient times to the present. Compiled from
literature spanning from Homer to Claudius Ptolemy, with
illustrations and star charts reconstructed from ancient sources,
Ancient Skies immerses the reader in the world of ancient cosmology
and constellation mapping.
Ganita-yukti-bhasa (Rationales in Mathematical Astronomy) of
Jyesthadeva (c.1530) is a seminal text of the Kerala school of
astronomy. It is composed in the Malayalam language and presents
detailed yuktis or explanations and demonstrations for the results
and processes of mathematical astronomy. The text, comprising
fifteen chapters, is naturally divided into two parts, mathematics
and astronomy, and purports to give an exposition of the techniques
and theories employed in the computation of planetary motions as
set forth in the great treatise Tantrasangraha (c.1500) of
Nilakantha Somayaji. Even though the importance of
Ganita-yukti-bhasa was brought to the attention of modern
scholarship by C.M Whish in the 1830s, a critical edition of the
entire Malayalam text is published here for the first time along
with an English translation and detailed explanatory notes.
This book is the highly anticipated sequel to the previous volume
under the same title, dedicated to presenting a diverse range of
timely and valuable contributions on the legal and policy related
questions evoked by satellite constellations, including emerging
mega-constellations. Given the proliferation of activities in the
field of satellite constellations, and the critical roles they play
in supporting and enabling communication, navigation, disaster
monitoring, Earth observation, security and scientific activities,
the insights of legal and policy experts from around the world have
been gathered in this second volume to help expand the scientific
literature in this precious field. Topics range from legal
obstacles and opportunities facilitating small satellite enterprise
for emerging space actors, international cooperation in the
compatibility and interoperability of navigation systems, the
designation of satellite constellations as critical space
infrastructure, to an analysis of the paradigm shift which has
occurred over the last decade to make the proliferation of small
satellite constellations possible, and more.
Martin Harwit's influential book, Cosmic Discovery, is rereleased
after more than thirty-five years, with a new preface written by
the author. The work chronicles the astronomical discoveries up to
the late twentieth century and draws conclusions that major
discoveries have often been unexpected, unrelated to prevailing
astronomical theories and made by outsiders from other fields. One
trend alone seems to prevail: major discoveries follow major
technological innovations in observational instruments. The author
also examines discovery in terms of its political, financial, and
sociological contexts, including the role of industry and the
military in enabling new technologies, and methods of funding. The
challenges encountered by astronomy in the 1980s are remarkably
similar to those astronomers face today. Difficulties persist in
controlling recurrent cost overruns on planned missions, and in
confronting mounting costs in developing observatories for
detecting gravitational waves, high-energy cosmic rays, and
particles that might explain dark matter.
Long out of print and hard to find, this is the most celebrated
book on eclipses of the last seventy years. In this book, learn the
unique astronomical factors that create eclipses and why some
eclipses are total while others are not. Learn how the Chaldeans
discovered the Saros cycle in the sixth century BC, which is still
in use today. Learn how the Greeks discovered the Metonic cycle.
Find out how the Saros cycle is used in forecasting the effects of
eclipses. Jansky gives the astrological key for all 19 of the Saros
series. The author uses his understanding of eclipse mechanics in
analysis. He uses the twelve houses of the chart, planets conjunct
and opposed, the Saros series, fixed stars conjunct the eclipse as
well as stars rising or setting on the horizon
(ascendant/descendant), the planetary ruler, and the path of the
Moon's shadow (the umbra) as it races across the earth during the
eclipse itself. Jansky's interpretation of eclipses is rooted in
Transactional Analysis (what I do to you becomes what you do to me,
etc.), which, astrologically, is the study of polarities, which is
what lunar and solar eclipses literally represent, and how these
polarities, expressed as opposing signs and houses, can be resolved
in terms of human relationships. Jansky delves into the
astrological duration of an eclipse, prenatal eclipses, eclipses in
rectification and eclipses and health. For case studies he tells of
an eclipse-driven corporate crisis at his employer and how it
impacted him, his fellow employees, and the management. In the data
section, solar eclipses for the 20th century: Date, degree of the
zodiac, total, partial or annular, and the Saros number. Also,
longitudes of major fixed stars and general and medical
bibliographies. A comprehensive book on eclipses. A must-have.
The IAU Centenary Symposium was held at its General Assembly in
Vienna in 2018. It starts with plenary lectures, by Malcolm Longair
on 100 years of astronomy, astrophysics and cosmology, and by
Catherine Cesarsky, who reflects on a century of IAU history. There
follows reminiscences from past IAU presidents and general
secretaries and presentations on various aspects of IAU history,
including some of the famous astronomers who served the Union. The
volume then examines the relations between the IAU and different
geographical regions, including the issues relating to the Central
Powers after World War I, and the 'China crisis', when China
withdrew from the Union in 1960 and was absent for two decades. The
IAU's internal structures and organization are reviewed, along with
trends in astronomical publishing and astronomical education. IAU
S349 finishes with a vision of the IAU's future from its current
president, Ewine van Dishoeck.
Perseus is an outstanding case in which to study the physics of
relativistic plasma and thermal gas, and the interplay between
galactic nuclei and galaxy clusters. Ground and space observatories
have recently provided some ground-breaking insights into the
Perseus system, from a detailed image of a jet launched in the
vicinity of a supermassive black hole, through VLBI, to an
unexpected degree of turbulence in the cluster core, constrained by
high energy resolution in x-rays. While preparing for the next
generation observatories that will allow readers to address these
questions in other systems, this volume provides some first steps
in exploring topics relating to particle acceleration, energy
transport between large and small scales and the role of magnetic
fields in the launch of relativistic jets. Chapters deal with the
latest results covering theory, observations, and numerical
simulations, spanning a wide range in physical scales and energy
ranges.
Approaches from the sciences, philosophy and theology, including
the emerging field of astrobiology, can provide fresh perspectives
to the age-old question 'what is life?'. Has the secret of life
been unveiled and is it nothing more than physical chemistry?
Modern philosophers will ask if we can even define life at all, as
we still don't know much about its origins here on Earth. Others
regard life as something that cannot simply be reduced to just
physics and chemistry, while biologists emphasize the historical
component intrinsic to life on Earth. How can theology
constructively interpret scientific findings? Can it contribute
constructively to scientific discussions? Written for a broad
interdisciplinary audience, this probing volume discusses life,
intelligence and more against the background of contemporary
biology and the wider contexts of astrobiology and cosmology. It
also considers the challenging implications for science and
theology if extraterrestrial life is discovered in the future.
A quantitative introduction to the Solar System and planetary
systems science for advanced undergraduate students, this engaging
textbook explains the wide variety of physical, chemical and
geological processes that govern the motions and properties of
planets. The authors provide an overview of our current knowledge
and discuss some of the unanswered questions at the forefront of
research in planetary science and astrobiology today. This updated
edition contains the latest data, new references and planetary
images and an extensively rewritten chapter on current research on
exoplanets. The text concludes with an introduction to the
fundamental properties of living organisms and the relationship
that life has to its host planet. With more than 200 exercises to
help students learn how to apply the concepts covered, this
textbook is ideal for a one-semester or two-quarter course for
undergraduate students.
A sweeping tour of the galaxies, from our Milky Way to infinity.
Galaxies are glittering islands in the Universe, interwoven in the
web of Dark Matter. From Earth’s mountaintops enormous telescopes
peer deep beyond the Milky Way, while space telescopes locate
majestic images, and through seemingly miraculous technology,
capture them for us to look at and learn with amazement. Featuring
the most recent, best, and even startling images with detailed
captions highlighting accessible text, Galaxies shows the restless
universe beyond our atmosphere. Photographs are from more than 30
of the world’s largest ground-based telescopes, including the
largest to date, the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large
Telescope in Chile. It will not be until 2025 that an even larger
telescope, the Giant Magellan Telescope, will join its neighbour in
the mountains of Chile and open a wider window into the dark
Universe. Images are also featured from the Hubble Space Telescope,
which has continued to operate long past its expected life and has
continued to astound and astonish stargazers worldwide. Here is the
glory of the galaxies: The Milky Way, our Galaxy — Stellar
Nurseries, Stars and Planets, When Stars Die; In the Heart of the
Milky Way; Mapping the Milky Way; Our Galactic Neighbourhood —
The Magellanic Clouds; the Andromeda Galaxy; The Triangulum Galaxy;
Satellite Galaxies; How far away are the stars?; The Gallery of
Galaxies — Spiral Galaxies; Barred Spiral Galaxies; Elliptical,
Lenticular and Dwarf Galaxies; Dark Matter; The Expanding Universe;
Monsters and Black Holes — Twisting Galaxies; Colliding Galaxies;
Active Galactic Nuclei and Quasars; Supermassive Black Holes; Giant
Eyes for the Sky; Clusters of Galaxies — Cosmic Clusters;
Gravitational Lensing; Dark Forces; The Large-scale Structure of
the Universe; Looking Back in Time; Birth and Evolution — At the
Edge of Space and Time; The First Galaxies; The Beginning of the
Universe; Dark Energy; Cosmology.
2011 Reprint of 1895 Second Edition. Full facsimile of the original
edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. Building
upon ancient astronomical sources and upon more recent data,
Bullinger displays how the constellations witness to the accuracy
of the Biblical prophetic truth. Numerous celestial charts and
diagrams are provided to lend vivid support to his conclusions.
Profusely illustrated.
This book provides a comprehensive introduction to X-ray and
gamma-ray astronomy. The first part discusses the basic theoretical
and observational topics related to black hole astrophysics; the
optics and the detectors employed in X-ray and gamma-ray astronomy;
and past, present, and future X-ray and gamma-ray missions. The
second part then describes data reduction and analysis, the
statistics used in X-ray and gamma-ray astronomy, and demonstrates
how to write a successful proposal and a scientific paper. Data
reduction in connection with specific X-ray and gamma-ray missions
is covered in the appendices. Presenting the state of the art in
X-ray and gamma-ray astronomy, this is both a valuable textbook for
students and an important reference resource for researchers in the
field.
Astronomy in Focus presents the most relevant contributions from
the Focus Meetings included during the XXX IAU General Assembly
held in Vienna, Austria, from 20-31 August 2018. Focus meetings are
proposed by groups of scientists with aims to promote
cross-disciplinary interactions while maintaining a well-defined
focus on a particular topic. They usually address a new scientific
area or an emerging field that is not well, or in some cases not at
all, represented under the IAU's existing Commission structure. The
XXX IAU General Assembly included six scientific symposia, a
special symposium focused on the IAU's centenary and fifteen Focus
Meetings. The latter comprised twelve scientific Focus Meetings
plus two on the mission and activities of the IAU Offices of
Astronomy Outreach and Astronomy for Development and the final one
promoted by the Working Group on Global Coordination of Ground and
Space Astrophysics.
This instructional guide has one aim: to teach inexperienced
astrophotographers how to take high quality images. Often, basic
information about astrophotography is lacking, or is dealt with too
briefly in books on the subject. This book is a distillation of the
author’s own experiences, bringing together everything you will
need to make the fastest possible progress in deep-sky
imaging. The book will teach you how to set up and use your
astrophotography equipment in a systematic, easy-to-follow manner,
helping you get started while avoiding common mistakes. With a
step-by-step walk-through course and a unique observational guide
to each object, the book contains a plethora of valuable,
beginner-friendly information. Particularly useful is the chapter
on troubleshooting, which will help newcomers avoid further
frustration when things just don’t seem to go right! The book
also contains a number of easy to advanced DIY projects for imagers
working on a budget.
|
Earth
(Paperback)
Marysa Storm
|
R319
Discovery Miles 3 190
|
Ships in 10 - 15 working days
|
|
The solar system most of us grew up with included nine planets,
with Mercury closest to the sun and Pluto at the outer edge. Then,
in 2005, astronomer Mike Brown made the discovery of a lifetime: a
tenth planet, Eris, slightly bigger than Pluto. But instead of
adding one more planet to our solar system, Brown's find ignited a
firestorm of controversy that culminated in the demotion of Pluto
from real planet to the newly coined category of "dwarf" planet.
Suddenly Brown was receiving hate mail from schoolchildren and
being bombarded by TV reporters--all because of the discovery he
had spent years searching for and a lifetime dreaming about.
A heartfelt and personal journey filled with both humor and drama,
"How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming" is the book for
anyone, young or old, who has ever imagined exploring the
universe--and who among us hasn't?
Galileo’s Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, published in Florence in 1632, was the most proximate cause of his being brought to trial before the Inquisition. Using the dialogue form, a genre common in classical philosophical works, Galileo masterfully demonstrates the truth of the Copernican system over the Ptolemaic one, proving, for the first time, that the earth revolves around the sun. Its influence is incalculable. The Dialogue is not only one of the most important scientific treatises ever written, but a work of supreme clarity and accessibility, remaining as readable now as when it was first published. This edition uses the definitive text established by the University of California Press, in Stillman Drake’s translation, and includes a Foreword by Albert Einstein and a new Introduction by J. L. Heilbron.
Turbulence and magnetic fields are ubiquitous in the Universe.
Their importance to astronomy cannot be overestimated. The
theoretical advancements in magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence
achieved during the past two decades have significantly influenced
many fields of astronomy. This book provides predictive theories of
the magnetic field generation by turbulence and the dissipation of
MHD turbulence. These fundamental non-linear problems were believed
to be tractable only numerically. This book provides complete
analytical descriptions in quantitative agreement with existing
numerics, as well as theoretical predictions in physical regimes
still unreachable by simulations, and explanations of various
related observations. It also discusses and promotes the
astrophysical applications of MHD turbulence theories, including
(i) the particle acceleration and radiation in high-energy
phenomena, e.g., Gamma-Ray Bursts, supernova remnants, cosmic rays;
(ii) interstellar density fluctuations and the effect on
observations, e.g., Faraday rotation, scattering measurements of
Galactic and extragalactic radio sources; (iii) density and
magnetic field structure in molecular clouds toward star formation.
In closing, this book demonstrates the key role of MHD turbulence
in connecting diverse astrophysical processes and unraveling
long-standing astrophysical problems, as foreseen by Chandrasekhar,
a founder of modern astrophysics.
|
|