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Books > Science & Mathematics > Astronomy, space & time > Popular astronomy
'Witty, approachable and captivating' - Robin Ince 'A fascinating
exploration of how we learned what matter really is' - Sean Carroll
'A delightfully fresh and accessible approach to one of the great
quests of science' - Graham Farmelo 'Lays out not just what we
know, but how we found out (and what is left to be discovered' -
Katie Mack 'If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must
first invent the universe' - Carl Sagan Inspired by Sagan's famous
line, How To Make An Apple Pie From Scratch sets out on a journey
to unearth everything we know about our universe: how it started,
how we found out, and what we still have left to discover. Will we
ever be able to understand the very first moments of the world we
inhabit? What is matter really made of? How did anything survive
the fearsome heat of the Big Bang? In pursuit of answers, we meet
the scientists, astronomers and philosophers who brought us to our
present understanding of the world - offering readers a front-row
seat to the most dramatic journey human beings have ever embarked
on. Harry Cliff's How To Make An Apple Pie From Scratch is an
essential, fresh and funny guide to how we got to where we are now
- and what we have to come.
Behold the moon in all its glory with this 54-card set of deluxe
playing cards featuring phases of the moon as well as iconic Lunar
modules.
Beat the boredom and take time out from screens with this
pocket-sized book packed with facts, photos and fantastic spots for
hours of fun! Kids will have fun collecting points in the night sky
with more than 140 things to find. From stars and constellations to
the moon and eclipses, they'll learn all about our galaxy and the
sky at night. And once they've scored 1000 points, super-spotters
can claim their official i-SPY certificate and badge. With more
than 30 i-SPY books to collect, there's something for everyone! For
even more fun outdoors check out i-SPY Nature (ISBN 9780008386467).
Few launch vehicles are as iconic and distinctive as NASA's
behemoth rocket, the Saturn V, and none left such a lasting
impression on those who watched it ascend. Developed with the
specific brief to send humans to the Moon, it pushed rocketry to
new scales. Its greatest triumph is that it achieved its goal
repeatedly with an enviable record of mission success. Haynes'
Saturn V Manual tells the story of this magnificent and hugely
powerful machine. It explains how each of the vehicle's three
stages worked; Boeing's S-IC first stage with a power output as
great as the UK's peak electricity consumption, North American
Aviation's S-II troubled second stage, Douglas's workhorse S-IVB
third stage with its instrument unit brain - as much a spacecraft
as a rocket. From the decision to build it to the operation of its
engines' valves and pumps, this lavishly illustrated and deeply
informative book offers a deeper appreciation of the amazing Saturn
V.
Astronomy on the Personal Computer provides the reader with a thorough introduction to the computation of celestial mechanics, which is of particular significance to astronomical observation. Covering everything from astronomical and computational theory to the construction of rapid and accurate applications programs, this book supplies the necessary knowledge and software solutions for determining and predicting the positions of the Sun, Moon, planets, minor planets and comets, solar eclipses, stellar occultations by the Moon, phases of the Moon and much more. This completely revised edition makes use of the widely implemented programming language C++, and individual applications may be efficiently realized through the use of a powerful module library. The accompanying CD-ROM contains, in addition to the complete, fully documented and commented source codes, the executable programs for use with the Windows 95/98/NT and Linux operating systems.
The Photographic Atlas of the Stars contains 50, high-quality full
color photographs of the entire night sky of the northern and
southern hemispheres. Each plate is accompanied by a star map of
the identical area, which identifies the main stars of the
constituent constellations as well as other interesting
astronomical objects. In addition to this detail, Sir Patrick Moore
has written a commentary for each plate that highlights the stars
and objects of interest to observers equipped with binoculars and
that includes detailed tabular information on astronomical objects
of the region. The resulting double-page spread provides an
invaluable reference for the amateur astronomer, detailing the
constellations and other heavenly bodies of interest that are
observable with the naked eye, binoculars, or a small telescope.
Seeing Stars is written for astronomers, regardless of the depth of their theoretical knowledge, who are taking their first steps in observational astronomy. Chris Kitchin and Bob Forrest - both professional astronomers - take a conducted tour of the night sky and suggest suitable observing programmes for everyone from beginners to experts. How is this book different? We are all familiar with the beautiful images of planets and galaxies obtained by spacecraft and giant telescopes - but what can you really see with a small telescope? What should you expect from a small refractor or reflector? And what is the effect of observing from a site near a city? The answers are all here, with many photographs that will illustrate exactly what can be seen with different instruments (everything from the naked eye to a 300mm telescope) - and from different locations.
Nothing captivates the human imagination like the vast unknowns of
space. Ancient petroglyphs present renderings of the heavens, proof
that we have been gazing up at the stars with wonder for thousands
of years. Since then, mankind has systematically expanded our
cosmic possibilities. What were once flights of fancy and dreams of
science fiction writers have become nearly routine - a continuous
human presence orbiting the Earth, probes flying beyond our solar
system, and men walking on the moon. NASA and the Russian space
program make traveling to the stars look easy, but it has been far
from that. Space travel is a sometimes heroic, sometimes humorous,
and always dangerous journey fraught with perils around every
corner that most of us have never heard of or have long since
forgotten. Space Oddities brings these unknown, offbeat, and
obscure stories of space to life. From the showmanship and bravado
of the earliest known space fatality, German Max Valier, to the
first ever indictment under the Espionage Act on an Army officer
who leaked secrets concerning the development of early U.S.
rockets; and the story of a single loose bolt that defeated the
Soviet Union's attempt to beat America to the moon. Author Joe
Cuhaj also sheds light on the human aspects of space travel that
have remained industry secrets - until now: how the tradition of
using a musical playlist to wake astronauts up began, fascinating
tales about inventions like the Fischer Space Pen, Omega watches,
and even Tang breakfast drink. In addition to fun and entertaining
space trivia, Space Oddities also features stories of the profound
impact that space travel has had on challenges right here at home,
like the effort by civil rights leaders and activists in the 1960s
to bring the money from the space program back home to those in
need on Earth; NASA's FLATs (First Lady Astronaut Training) program
and the 25 women who were selected to become astronauts in 1960,
but were denied a chance at flying even after successfully
completing the rigorous astronaut training program; and, the
animals who many times sacrificed their lives to prove that man
could fly in space. Filled with rare and little-known stories,
Space Oddities will bring the final frontier to the homes of
diehard space readers and armchair astronauts alike.
Lonely Planet Kids' Amazing Night Sky Atlas, the follow up to our
bestselling Amazing World Atlas, looks upwards to the skies for a
fun- and fact-packed guide to astronomy. Featuring a mixture of
photography and illustration, this hardcover book explores both the
science of stargazing - explaining what can be seen in the night
sky in different parts of the world - and the practicalities, with
handy tips such as how to use a telescope. It also covers the
background and history of astronomy, travelling around the world to
discover the different stories cultures have told about the night
sky and the influence the Moon, the stars and the movement of the
planets have had on their people. Expert insights come from David
Hawksett, a science writer, lecturer and researcher who has
previously worked as the Science & Technology Consultant at
Guinness World Records and written for Sky at Night Magazine.
Perfect for learning at home, in the classroom or being given as a
gift, Lonely Planet Kids' Amazing Night Sky Atlas will inspire
budding astronomers and excite them for a lifetime of looking to
the skies. Contents includes: Introduction to the Night Sky History
of stargazing How to use a telescope Constellations Seasons in the
Sky The Zodiac Patterns in the Sky - a global guide Planets Stars
Supernovas Black Holes Nebulas Meteor Showers Eclipses Night sky
legends from around the world About Lonely Planet Kids: Lonely
Planet Kids - an imprint of the world's leading travel authority
Lonely Planet - published its first book in 2011. Over the past 45
years, Lonely Planet has grown a dedicated global community of
travellers, many of whom are now sharing a passion for exploration
with their children. Lonely Planet Kids educates and encourages
young readers at home and in school to learn about the world with
engaging books on culture, sociology, geography, nature, history,
space and more. We want to inspire the next generation of global
citizens and help kids and their parents to approach life in a way
that makes every day an adventure. Come explore!
This book with its clear explanation of the nature of the universe assumes no prior knowledge of astronomy or cosmology and so will attract interested public and new amateur astronomers.It provides much more on large-scale structures than other popular-level cosmology books. The mix of cosmology /large scale structures/anthropic principle and perspective on the universe should, as far as the author knows, be unique. A special colour feature incorporated in the book will offer three-dimensional views of the surrounding universe to ever greater depths.
Throughout history people have sought ways in which to map the
heavens. From the sources of mathematics and mythology sprang the
classic star chart, the finest examples of which are both
scientific documents and works of art. In this beautifully
illustrated book, Peter Whitfield reveals some of the ways in which
the structure of the universe has been conceived, explained and
depicted. With examples ranging from the Stone Age to the Space Age
- ancient observatories, the angelic visions of Dante, images from
the Copernican revolution, the rationalized heavens of Isaac
Newton, and modern deep space technology - Whitfield offers a
challenging exploration of the tension between rigorous scientific
knowledge and the continuing search for cause, certainty and
harmony in the universe. This new edition is updated to include a
wider range of stunning maps of the skies in full colour, including
imagery from the latest voyages of space exploration.
Has anyone ever seen with their own eyes that the Earth goes around
the sun? Even to this day, no one has. However, 500 and even 2000
years ago, some astronomers managed to point out that this is the
case. At that time, people's range of activities was strictly
confined, the technology and tools used were extremely primitive,
and many of the mathematical methods used today had not been
developed. How did those astronomers make and verify this
discovery? This book explains this exciting demonstration process.
It enables anyone with a basic junior-high-school knowledge of
geometry and a certain degree of spatial imagination to understand
this and other interesting discoveries in the solar system. By
demonstrating this interesting process, the book not only satisfies
readers' curiosity using the simplest mathematics, but also
inspires them to explore the new and unknown world.
When the Apollo astronauts went to the moon, the whole world
watched. When the Fly Me to the Moon art quilt challenge went out,
it went global. This book showcases the curated results of that
call for entries: 179 art quilts by over 130 artists from 8
countries, expressing their interpretation of the space program and
all things lunar. Walk down memory lane or discover the story of
the missions for the first time, but most importantly, enjoy a trip
to the moon and beyond without the time and rigors of space
training. As you travel into space, meet the astronauts, hum the
tunes, and listen to the artists tell you about their pieces. Find
endless inspiration and discover what the moon is really made of:
cotton, thread, crystals, paint, ink, tulle, and crocheted lace.
The cycle of day and night and the cycle of seasons are two
familiar natural cycles around which many human activities are
organized. But is there a third natural cycle of importance for us
humans? On 13 March 1989, six million people in Canada went without
electricity for many hours: a large explosion on the sun was
discovered as the cause of this blackout. Such explosions occur
above sunspots, dark features on the surface of the Sun that have
been observed through telescopes since the time of Galileo. The
number of sunspots has been found to wax and wane over a period of
11 years. Although this cycle was discovered less than two
centuries ago, it is becoming increasingly important for us as
human society becomes more dependent on technology. For nearly a
century after its discovery, the cause of the sunspot cycle
remained completely shrouded in mystery. The 1908 discovery of
strong magnetic fields in sunspots made it clear that the 11-year
cycle is the magnetic cycle of the sun. It is only during the last
few decades that major developments in plasma physics have at last
given us the clue to the origins of the cycle and how the large
explosions affecting the earth arise. Nature's Third Cycle
discusses the fascinating science behind the sunspot cycle, and
gives an insider's perspective of this cutting-edge scientific
research from one of the leaders of the field.
The nature and essence of Dark Matter and Dark Energy have
become the central issue in modern cosmology over the past years.
This extensive volume, an outgrowth of a topical and tutorial
summer school, has been set up with the aim of constituting an
advanced-level, multi-authored textbook which meets the needs of
both postgraduate students and young researchers in the fields of
modern cosmology and astrophysics.
On a clear night, you should be able to see the stars. But we
cannot always see them. Light pollution prevents us from seeing the
stars and causes other problems as well. Learn about light
pollution with this STEAM book that will ignite a curiosity about
STEAM topics through real-world examples. Created in collaboration
with the Smithsonian Institution, it features a hands-on STEAM
challenge that is perfect for makerspaces and that guides students
step-by-step through the engineering design process. Make STEAM
career connections with career advice from actual Smithsonian
employees working in STEAM fields. This book builds young readers'
early childhood literacy skills and is ideal for first grade
students or children ages 5-7.
A brief guide to the real science of interstellar travel With known
exoplanets now numbering in the thousands and initiatives like 100
Year Starship and Breakthrough Starshot advancing the idea of
interstellar travel, the age-old dream of venturing forth into the
cosmos and perhaps even colonizing distant worlds may one day
become a reality. A Traveler's Guide to the Stars reveals how. Les
Johnson takes you on a thrilling tour of the physics and
technologies that may enable us to reach the stars. He discusses
the latest exoplanet discoveries, promising interstellar missions
on the not-so-distant horizon, and exciting new developments in
space propulsion, power, robotics, communications, and more. But
interstellar travel will not be easy, and it is not for the faint
of heart. Johnson describes the harsh and forbidding expanse of
space that awaits us, and he addresses the daunting challenges-both
human and technological-that we will need to overcome in order to
realize tomorrow's possibilities. A Traveler's Guide to the Stars
is your passport to the next great frontier of human discovery,
providing a rare inside look at the remarkable breakthroughs in
science and technology that will help tomorrow's space travelers
chart a course for the stars.
How did our universe come to exist? Why do stars shine? Is there
life beyond the Earth? For millennia, humans have looked to the
celestial sphere to explain the cosmos,first recording the
movements of the Moon 25,000 years ago. Since the Enlightenmentand
the dawn of the space age, scientists have been unravelling cosmic
mysteries, andraising astonishing new questions for future
generations to answer. Today we live inan age of unprecedented
astronomical revelation, from the discovery of water on Marsto the
detection of gravitational waves and the first photograph of a
black hole. World-renowned astronomer Paul Murdin explains the
science behind these discoveries, along with the passions,
strugglesand quirks of fate that made them some of the most
intriguing dramas of their times,demonstrating how human ingenuity
and technological innovation have expandedour knowledge of the
Universe beyond anything our ancestors - even as recently asa
generation ago - could ever have imagined.
Here, for the first time, in a brilliant, panoramic portrait by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Making of the Atomic Bomb, is the definitive, often shocking story of the politics and the science behind the development of the hydrogen bomb and the birth of the Cold War. Based on secret files in the United States and the former Soviet Union, this monumental work of history discloses how and why the United States decided to create the bomb that would dominate world politics for more than forty years.
From the discovery of entirely new kinds of galaxies to a window
into cosmic 'prehistory', Bothwell shows us the Universe as we've
never seen it before - literally. Since the dawn of our species,
people all over the world have gazed in awe at the night sky. But
for all the beauty and wonder of the stars, when we look with just
our eyes we are seeing and appreciating only a tiny fraction of the
Universe. What does the cosmos have in store for us beyond the
phenomena we can see, from black holes to supernovas? How different
does the invisible Universe look from the home we thought we knew?
Dr Matt Bothwell takes us on a journey through the full spectrum of
light and beyond, revealing what we have learned about the
mysteries of the Universe. This book is a guide to the ninety-nine
per cent of cosmic reality we can't see - the Universe that is
hidden, right in front of our eyes. It is also the endpoint of a
scientific detective story thousands of years in the telling. It is
a tour through our Invisible Universe.
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Cosmic!
(Hardcover)
Brian May, Patrick Moore, Chris Lintott
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R756
R715
Discovery Miles 7 150
Save R41 (5%)
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Take your seats for the greatest tour ever - one that encompasses
the whole of the Universe. En route, we stop off to gaze at 100
amazing sights - from asteroids to zodiacal dust and from orbit
around the Earth to beyond the most distant galaxies. We start
right here on Earth, and your tour guides are cosmic voyagers
Patrick Moore, Brian May and Chris Lintott: Patrick is a lifelong
lunar specialist; Brian is the leading authority on dust in our
solar system, and Chris researches the formation of stars and
galaxies.
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