The semi-classical description of black holes, as it was originally introduced by Hawking and Bekenstein in the early seventies, where classical solutions of the Einstein equations are coupled to quantum matter fields, opened a window with a glance on the quantum aspects of gravity. This book discusses this semi-classical approach to quantum black holes. It also discuses the philosophical issues about black holes; the Randall-Sundrum II model; the gravitational collapse in alternative theories of gravity; observational limits on modern extended gravity models; and generalized Brans-Dicke models from Kaluza-Klein reductions.

This book offers a new concept of the possible genesis of primary forms of living matter in the processes that accompany a hypervelocity meteorite impact onto the surface of a planet. The concept is based on results obtained in direct impact experiments and in laboratory simulations of hypervelocity impact processes involving the generation of a plasma torch, on bona fide data on the physical processes occurring in nature, and on the available material evidence of impact consequences on Solar system bodies. The concept can explain the possibility of the emergence of extraterrestrial life in the interiors of celestial bodies with extreme surface temperatures and moderate temperatures in the inner layers provided water is present.

Recent discoveries of planet-like objects circling other sun-like stars have stirred enormous interest in what other planets may exist in the universe, and whether they could support intelligent life. This book takes us into the midst of this search for extrasolar planets. Unlike other books, it focuses on the people behind the searches -- many known personally by the author -- and the extraordinary technology that is currently on the drawing boards. The author is an experienced, award-winning science journalist who was previously technology correspondent for the Financial Times of London. He has written on many topics in astronomy and astrobiology in over 35 different newspapers and magazines worldwide.

Moon Launch! recreates the exciting story of the astronauts and engineers, scientists and technicians, politicians and public citizens who expanded the world's understanding of humanity's potential, the people responsible for the Project Apollo flights to the moon. Through their teamwork at the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral became the spaceport for the nation and, in the minds of many, the gateway to the universe.

A companion to Gateway to the Moon and also part of the 1978 NASA History Series Moonport volume, this illustrated book describes the seven missions to the moon launched between 1969 and 1972. With the exception of the abortive Apollo 13 flight, all landed successfully. As the story progresses, astronauts explore the moon's surface in the lunar rover (complete with bucket seats and power steering), set up experiments, and bring back hundreds of pounds of lunar geological samples. The book concludes with a description of the last and most spectacular liftoff, Apollo 17, launched on a dark December night before a crowd of nearly 500,000 visitors.

ABOUT THIS BOOK.... The success of any plan depends not only on the availability of the necessary skills and resources, but also very decisively, on the timing. In former times people gathered knowledge of axioms such as this by direct observation. They discovered that numerous natural phenomena are directly related to the movements of the moon Johanna Paungger is one of ten children of a Tyrolean mountain farmer. She belongs to the select few in whose environment this wisdom was kept alive for centuries handed down from one generation to the next. For the first time this knowledge is now made generally available. This book has an abundance of tips and advice to do with all the important areas of our daily life, from health, the home and nutrition to farming, forestry and gardening. In Germany it has been a massive best-seller for several years. Patience is the only thing necessary to profit from this book. Working with the lunar cycles and natural harmonies can change your life.

The early development of life, a fundamental question for humankind, requires the presence of a suitable planetary climate. Our understanding of how habitable planets come to be begins with the worlds closest to home. Venus, Earth, and Mars differ only modestly in their mass and distance from the Sun, yet their current climates could scarcely be more divergent. Only Earth has abundant liquid water, Venus has a runaway greenhouse, and evidence for life-supporting conditions on Mars points to a bygone era. In addition, an Earth-like hydrologic cycle has been revealed in a surprising place: Saturn's cloud-covered satellite Titan has liquid hydrocarbon rain, lakes, and river networks.
Deducing the initial conditions for these diverse worlds and unraveling how and why they diverged to their current climates is a challenge at the forefront of planetary science. Through the contributions of more than sixty leading experts in the field, "Comparative Climatology of Terrestrial Planets" sets forth the foundations for this emerging new science and brings the reader to the forefront of our current understanding of atmospheric formation and climate evolution. Particular emphasis is given to surface-atmosphere interactions, evolving stellar flux, mantle processes, photochemistry, and interactions with the interplanetary environment, all of which influence the climatology of terrestrial planets. From this cornerstone, both current professionals and most especially new students are brought to the threshold, enabling the next generation of new advances in our own solar system and beyond.
Contents
Part I: Foundations
Jim Hansen
Mark Bullock
Scot Rafkin
Caitlin Griffith
Shawn Domagal-Goldman and Antigona Segura
Kevin Zahnle
Part II: The Greenhouse Effect and Atmospheric Dynamics
Curt Covey
G. Schubert and J. Mitchell
Tim Dowling
Francois Forget and Sebastien Lebonnois
Vladimir Krasnopolsky
Adam Showman
Part III: Clouds, Hazes, and Precipitation
Larry Esposito
A. Maattanen, K. Perot, F. Montmessin, and A. Hauchecorne
Nilton Renno
Zibi Turtle
Mark Marley
Part IV: Surface-Atmosphere Interactions
Colin Goldblatt
Teresa Segura et al.
John Grotzinger
Adrian Lenardic
D. A. Brain, F. Leblanc, J. G. Luhmann, T. E. Moore, and F. Tian
Part V: Solar Influences on Planetary Climate
Aaron Zent
Jerry Harder
F. Tian, E. Chassefiere, F. Leblanc, and D. Brain
David Des Marais

On March 13, 1989, the entire Quebec power grid collapsed, automatic garage doors in California suburbs began to open and close without apparent reason, and microchip production came to a halt in the Northeast; in space, communications satellites had to be manually repointed after flipping upside down, and pressure readings on hydrogen tank supplies on board the Space Shuttle Discovery peaked, causing NASA to consider aborting the mission. What was the cause of all these seemingly disparate events? Sten Odenwald gives convincing evidence of the mischievous -- and potentially catastrophic -- power of solar storms and the far-reaching effects of the coming "big one" brewing in the sun and estimated to culminate in the twenty-third cycle in the year 2001 and beyond. When the sun undergoes its cyclic "solar maximum," a time when fierce solar flares and storms erupt, fantastic auroras will be seen around the world. But the breathtaking spectacles will herald a potentially disastrous chain of events that merit greater preparation than Y2K. Is anyone listening?

The 23rd Cycle traces the previously untold history of solar storms and the ways in which they were perceived by astronomers -- and even occasionally covered up by satellite companies. Punctuated with an insert containing dramatic color images showing the erupting sun, the book also includes a history of the record of auroral sightings, accounts of communications blackouts from the twentieth century, a list of industries sensitive to solar storms, and information about radiation and health issues.

Concentrating on Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Power and its scientific, technological, industrial, political, environmental and social implications, this authoritative account provides a historical summary of the present applications, and future strategies for development and implementation. Describing how modern PV was invented in 1954 in association with the transistor, how the PV markets have experienced exponential growth since 2005, and how its development has involved hundreds of companies worldwide--in effect creating 100,000 jobs and tens of thousands of experts--this in-depth guide is published in full-color with more than 100 pictures and illustrations from 41 leading pioneers in the solar industry, and is an invaluable reference for students of the history and future of renewable energy resources.

Nearly all major planets and moons in our Solar System have been visited by spacecraft and the data they have returned has revealed the incredible diversity of planetary surfaces. Featuring a wealth of images, this textbook explores the geological evolution of the planets and moons. Introductory chapters discuss how information gathered from spacecraft is used to unravel the geological complexities of our Solar System. Subsequent chapters focus on current understandings of planetary systems. The textbook shows how planetary images and remote sensing data are analyzed through the application of fundamental geological principles. It draws on results from spacecraft sent throughout the Solar System by NASA and other space agencies. Aimed at undergraduate students in planetary geology, geoscience, astronomy and solar system science, it highlights the differences and similarities of the surfaces at a level that can be readily understood by non-specialists.

This book develops the statistical mechanics of the formation of gravitating cosmogonical bodies in the investigation of our solar system and other exoplanetary systems. The first part of the text acquaints the reader with the developing statistical theory of gravitating cosmogonical body formation. Within the framework of this theory, the models and evolution equations of the statistical mechanics are proposed, while well-known problems of gravitational condensation of infinite distributed cosmic substances are solved on the basis of the proposed statistical model of spheroidal bodies. The second section of the book details theoretical and practical approaches to investigating the solar system and other exoplanetary systems. In particular, it considers a new universal stellar law (USL) for extrasolar planetary systems connecting the temperature, the size and the mass of each star. Within the framework of the developed statistical theory, a new law (generalizing the famous law of O. Schmidt) for the distribution of planetary in the solar system is also provided.

The volume begins with contributions on solar modelling, starting with the Standard Model. The experimental results on solar neutrinos precedes recent theoretical ideas on neutrino masses. Helioseismology is presented from both a theoretical and an experimental point of view, describing recent resul

Fascinating, engaging and extremely visual,THE SOLAR SYSTEM, 10th Edition, is renowned for its current coverage, reader-friendly presentation and detailed--yet clear--explanations. The authors' goals are to help you use Astronomy to understand science, and use science to answer two fundamental questions: What are we? And how do we know? Available with WebAssign, the powerful digital solution that enriches the teaching and learning experience. It includes Virtual Astronomy Labs 3.0--a set of 20 interactive activities that combine analysis of real astronomical data with robust simulations--providing a true online laboratory experience for your Introductory Astronomy course.