The very first work of its kind, Celebrating the Universe: The Science & Spirituality of Stargazing is a guide to the wonders of the heavens visible to the unaided eye and in binoculars, with a focus on the 'soul' of the night sky! This travel guide to the stars is written from a metaphysical and spiritual perspective in additional to a scientific one. The unique unifying theme throughout is the personal benefits of communing with celestial wonders firsthand - the joy and heady excitement of participating in the great cosmic drama unfolding nightly overhead. This involves such little-known aspects of stargazing as therapeutic relaxation, celestial meditation, expansion of consciousness, spiritual contact and astral travel. Everything the budding stargazer and celestial pilgrim needs for this cosmic journey is contained within this volume, from how to observe the sky... to what to see - and why! Covered are the Sun, Moon and all of the planets; comets, asteroids, meteors and artificial satellites; variable and exploding stars, colourful double and multiple stars, and glittering star clusters; and eerie glowing nebulae, our majestic Milky Way, and even the remote galaxies. Astronomer and author James Mullaney explores profound concepts such as our heritage as children of the stars (we are made of stardust!) and our cosmic destiny (as citizens of the universe!) - all from an aesthetic viewpoint.

Philip's Deep Sky Observer's Guide is a practical introduction to deep sky observing, explaining in straightforward, non-technical language what is meant by the 'deep sky', and how to observe the Universe beyond our Solar System. Many people have been inspired by the incredible images returned from the Hubble Space Telescope and wish to see such objects for themselves. While the views through Earth-based telescopes may not be as spectacular as those obtained from space, it is a huge thrill to look at such famous objects as the Triangulum Galaxy or the Horsehead Nebula. Deep sky observing has become a very popular activity for skywatchers. Philip's Deep Sky Observer's Guide is suitable for observers with small- to medium-sized telescopes, or even binoculars. It begins by introducing the basics of observing and explaining what equipment is required. Each type of deep sky object is then dealt with chapter by chapter - galaxies, globular clusters, diffuse nebulae, open clusters, double stars, planetary nebulae and supernova remnants. Each chapter recommends a number of objects or 'targets' to view, and the author describes how to find them and what to expect to see, as well as providing important data and tips for drawing or photographing the target. A complete set of star maps marks all the objects included in the book, and additional charts are provided for targets that are tricky to locate.

In a critical Cold War moment, Dwight D. Eisenhower's presidency suddenly changed when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the world's first satellite. What Ike called "a small ball" became a source of Russian pride and propaganda, and it wounded him politically, as critics charged that he responded sluggishly to the challenge of space exploration. Yet Eisenhower refused to panic after Sputnik and he did more than just stay calm. He helped to guide the United States into the Space Age, even though Americans have given greater credit to John F. Kennedy for that achievement.

In Eisenhower's Sputnik Moment, Yanek Mieczkowski examines the early history of America's space program, reassessing Eisenhower s leadership. He details how Eisenhower approved breakthrough satellites, supported a new civilian space agency, signed a landmark science education law, and fostered improved relations with scientists. These feats made Eisenhower s post-Sputnik years not the flop that critics alleged but a time of remarkable progress, even as he endured the setbacks of recession, medical illness, and a humiliating first U.S. attempt to launch a satellite. Eisenhower s principled stands enabled him to resist intense pressure to boost federal spending, and he instead pursued his priorities a balanced budget, prosperous economy, and sturdy national defense. Yet Sputnik also altered the world s power dynamics, sweeping Eisenhower in directions that were new, even alien, to him, and he misjudged the importance of space in the Cold War s "prestige race." By contrast, Kennedy capitalized on the issue in the 1960 election, and after taking office he urged a manned mission to the moon, leaving Eisenhower to grumble over the young president s aggressive approach.

Offering a fast-paced account of this Cold War episode, Mieczkowski demonstrates that Eisenhower built an impressive record in space and on earth, all the while offering warnings about America s stature and strengths that still hold true today."

Take up the fascinating hobby of astronomy with this informative and straightforward book as your guide. In Philip's Practical Astronomy, author Storm Dunlop introduces the basic concepts of astronomy, explaining how, what and when to observe, and providing lists of recommended objects with which to start.Star charts help the reader to navigate the night sky, identify the constellations, and find planets, comets, galaxies and deep-sky objects. The book is illustrated with over 160 colourful photographs and diagrams, plus more than 30 tables.The book is organized in two parts:'Introducing Astronomy' provides the essential information on how to observe, whether with the naked eye, binoculars or a small telescope; where and when to look; how to find your way around the sky by 'constellation-hopping'; how to use star maps and planispheres; and how to record your observations with drawings and photographs.'Exploring the Sky' looks in more detail at the objects the amateur can view, from aurorae and meteors (shooting stars) to the Moon, Sun, planets and comets, and beyond to stars, nebulae, the Milky Way and other galaxies.Philip's Practical Astronomy is illustrated with some spectacular colour photographs as well as clear and informative diagrams, with detailed star charts by Wil Tirion, the world-renowned celestial cartographer.

Philip's Night Sky Atlas can be used anywhere in the world and at any time of the year. With a sturdy, damp-proof binding, it is the ideal choice for the backyard astronomer using binoculars or a small telescope. It contains all the maps you need to learn your way around the night sky, whether you want to find remote galaxies, sketch lunar craters or make estimates of variable stars. Author Robin Scagell explains what you can see, what equipment (if any) you will need and how to make the most of your time under the stars. The star maps are by Wil Tirion, the world-renowned celestial cartographer.The eight sky maps together show the whole of the night sky. Stars down to magnitude 5.5 are marked, together with the brighter deep sky objects. They are drawn on a white background so that you can add your own pencil notes or observations to the maps. Opposite each of the sky maps is a photo-realistic version of the same map. In addition, constellation maps show numerous deep sky targets, with interesting objects described in detail.A Moon map, split into quadrants, is accompanied by suggestions of what to look for, with images of the most interesting features. The author also describes how to observe and record the planets, the Sun, meteors, eclipses, comets and deep sky objects.

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.

The Ballet of the Planets unravels the beautiful mystery of planetary motion, revealing how our understanding of astronomy evolved from Archimedes and Ptolemy to Copernicus, Kepler, and Newton. Mathematician Donald Benson shows that ancient theories of planetary motion were based on the assumptions that the Earth was the center of the universe and the planets moved in a uniform circular motion. Since ancient astronomers noted that occasionally a planet would exhibit retrograde motion-would seem to reverse its direction and move briefly westward-they concluded that the planets moved in epicyclic curves, circles with smaller interior loops, similar to the patterns of a child's Spirograph. With the coming of the Copernican revolution, the retrograde motion was seen to be apparent rather than real, leading to the idea that the planets moved in ellipses. This laid the ground for Newton's great achievement-integrating the concepts of astronomy and mechanics-which revealed not only how the planets moved, but also why. Throughout, Benson focuses on naked-eye astronomy, which makes it easy for the novice to grasp the work of these pioneers of astronomy.

Considering the development of life on Earth, the existence of life in extreme environments and the potential for life elsewhere in the Universe, this book gives a fascinating insight into our place in the Universe. Chris Impey leads the reader through the history, from the Copernican revolution to the emergence of the field of astrobiology - the study of life in the cosmos. He examines how life on Earth began, exploring its incredible variety and the extreme environments in which it can survive. Finally, Impey turns his attention to our Solar System and the planets beyond, discussing whether there may be life elsewhere in the Universe. Written in non-technical language, this book is ideal for anyone wanting to know more about astrobiology and how it is changing our views of life and the Universe. An accompanying website available at www.cambridge.org/9780521173841 features podcasts, articles and news stories on astrobiology.

"The universe as seen in panorama and up close. "

Using high-resolution images collected by a fleet of telescopes, satellites and inter-planetary probes, "Cosmos Close-up" embarks on a voyage across the universe, pausing to zoom in on the most spectacular planets and galaxies before entering the known celestial reaches.

Panoramic photographs rendered in color lie adjacent to close-up photographs of remarkable clarity.Authoritative and easily understood text describes the cosmology and explains what each image reveals about the universe.

The book first flies through our local neighborhood, dominated by the sun. Spectacular close-up images of the surface features and atmospheres of an array of planets, moons and smaller objects shed new light on familiar cosmic cousins.

Next this comprehensive reference explores the huge spiral system called the Milky Way, abounding with 200 billion stars and vast amounts of interstellar gas and dust. While the stars are too small to see in detail, larger structures, such as star clusters, star-forming nebulae and clouds of discarded gas, are visible and shown here in stunning color.

Giles Sparrow escorts readers beyond the bounds of our galaxy into a frontier filled with an infinite variety of star systems, some rivaling or even surpassing our own. Despite their immense distance from us, these objects can now be studied in unprecedented detail thanks to the latest space-based telescope technology.

The book also describes the role played by astronomy and, in particular, cosmology in our attempts to answer crucial questions about the size, shape, origins and fate of the universe.

How to Use a Computerized Telescope describes how to get a computerized telescope up-and-running, and how to embark on a program of observation. Michael Covington explains in detail how the sky moves, how a telescope tracks it, and how to get the most out of any computerized telescope. Packed full of practical advice and tips for troubleshooting, his book gives detailed instructions for three popular telescopes: the Meade® LX200, Celestron^DCC NexStar 5 and 8, and Meade® Autostar^DTM (ETX and LX90). Michael A. Covington is an associate research scientist at the University of Georgia. He is a computational linguist trained in the computer processing of human language and the computer modeling of human logical reasoning, and a widely recognized expert on the Prolog programming language. He is the author of nine books including Dictionary of Computer and Internet Terms, Seventh Edition (Barron's, 2000), Astrophotography for the Amateur (Cambridge, 1999), PROLOG Programming in Depth (Simon & Schuster, 1996), Cambridge Eclipse Photography Guide (1993), and Syntactic Theory in the High Middle Ages (Cambridge, 1985). A senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Covington is a Contributing Editor to, and former "Q&A" columnist of, Poptronics magazine.

Das Universum expandiert beschleunigt Diese Beobachtung wirft die Energiebilanz im kosmologischen Standardmodell durcheinander und zwingt die Astrophysiker zu neuen theoretischen Ideen. Es ist also doch nicht, wie jahrzehntelang angenommen, so, dass nur Materie durch ihre Gravitation die Entwicklung des Universums steuert, sondern massgeblich scheint eine Form von unbekannter Dunkler Energie zu sein, die sich, wie der "Grosse Bruder," dezent im Hintergrund versteckt halt.
A.W.A. Pauldrach, Spezialist fur Supernovae, erlautert in diesem Astrophysik-aktuell-Band, was explosive Leuchtturme am Himmel uber die kosmische Expansionsbewegung verraten und welche wesentlichen Puzzlesteine in unserem Bild vom Universum zu legen sind, um die Signaturen einer Dunklen kosmischen Energie zu erkennen. Dabei offnet sich fur den Leser ein spannender Werkzeugkasten der Astrophysik, in dem numerische Simulationen, Lichtkurven und Spektraldiagnostik unverzichtbar sind, um dem Ratsel der Dunklen Energie auf die Spur zu kommen.
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Stepping Stones to the Stars is the story of manned spaceflight from its inception to the era of the Space Shuttle. It begins with a short history of the evolution of the rocket, before describing the first manned rocket flights by both the Americans and the Russians. There is also the little-known story of what is thought to be the earliest manned rocket flight, said to have taken place in 1933 on the island of Rugen in the Baltic under the control of the German War Ministry. The story continues through Yuri Gagarin becoming the first person in space and Neil Armstrong's 'giant leap for mankind' to the first space stations, Skylab, Salyut and Mir. With the development of the Shuttle, the USA moved ahead in the 'space race,' but the Americans and Russians soon realised that it was easier to co-operate than compete, and the two nations began to work together for the first time. Terry C. Treadwell's book is a non-technical history of human spaceflight, that tells the exciting and dramatic story of how we took our early steps towards the stars.

"A Ball, a Dog, and a Monkey" tells the remarkable story of America's first efforts to succeed in space, a time of exploding rockets, national space mania, Florida boomtowns, and interservice rivalries so fierce that President Dwight Eisenhower had to referee them.
When the Soviet Union launched the first orbital satellite, "Sputnik I, " Americans panicked. The Soviets had nuclear weapons, the Cold War was underway, and now the USSR had taken the lead in the space race. Members of Congress and the press called for an all-out effort to launch a satellite into orbit. With dire warnings about national security in the news almost every day, the armed services saw space as the new military frontier. But President Eisenhower insisted that the space effort, which relied on military technology, be supervised by civilians so that the space race would be peaceful. The Navy's Vanguard program flopped, and the Army, led by ex-Nazi rocket scientist Wernher von Braun and a martinet general named J. Bruce Medaris (whom Eisenhower disliked), took over. Meanwhile, the Soviets put a dog inside the next Sputnik, and Americans grew more worried as the first animal in space whirled around the Earth.
Throughout 1958 America went space crazy. UFO sightings spiked. Boys from Brooklyn to Burbank shot model rockets into the air. Space-themed beauty pageants became a national phenomenon. The news media flocked to the launchpads on the swampy Florida coast, and reporters reinvented themselves as space correspondents. And finally the Army's rocket program succeeded. Determined not to be outdone by the Russians, America's space scientists launched the first primate into space, a small monkey they nicknamed Old Reliable for his calm demeanor. And then at Christmastime, Eisenhower authorized the launch of a secret satellite with a surprise aboard.
"A Ball, a Dog, and a Monkey" memorably recalls the infancy of the space race, a time when new technologies brought ominous danger but also gave us the ability to realize our dreams and reach for the stars.

Book & CD-ROM. Forewords by Ron Howard (Director of 'Apollo 13') and Clint Howard (who played Sy in the movie). Includes CD-ROM: 4 Hours of tape loops from Apollos 13 and 15. Most of what we learn about NASA's space missions comes from statements carefully planned and massaged by managers and public relations people. With Apollo EECOM: Journey of a Lifetime we finally get an insider's view of how the Flight Controllers operated and just what they faced when events were crucial. This book is the life story of Sy Liebergot, former NASA Flight Controller, with emphasis on his years working in Mission Control. Following the disastrous tank explosion during the Apollo 13 mission, it was the Flight Controllers that made possible the safe return of the three endangered astronauts. Aboard Apollo 13, Lovell, Haise and Swigert performed wonders battling for their lives, but without the expertise, quick thinking and technical support of Mission Control, they never could have come home. Sy Liebergot was there and relates the details as they really happened. And Apollo 13 is just one of the many exciting stories he tells us. Truly an insider's view, this book discusses not just the events, but also the people that decided and enacted those events. These are the details that were never shown on anyone's TV screen; finally we get to learn what type of people the NASA Mission Controllers really were, and how they handled the demanding tasks that were theirs alone.

John Gribbin's The Universe: A Biography explores the story of our cosmos, from the mystery of its origins to how scientists think it might end. How did the universe grow from a tiny fireball to its present size? Where did life on earth come from? How do planets form? How will the universe end? And how do we even know all this anyway? John Gribbin, one of Britain's most popular writers about science and the people who made it happen, has decided to create a biography of the greatest subject of all: the universe itself, from beginning to end (and beyond). From the Big Bang 14 billion years ago, the formation of stars and galaxies and the first stirrings of life, to the latest thinking on dark matter and a theory of everything - and beyond to the future possibility of a Big Crunch or a Big Rip - this is the life history of the entire world around us. 'If you really want to know about the greatest story there is, then this is the book to read' - Independent on Sunday 'As clear an account of current thinking on the subject as we are likely to get' - Daily Telegraph 'One of Britain's best and most prolific science writers' - Sunday Telegraph 'The master of popular science writing' - Sunday Times

It's the age-old question: Is there life on Mars? Steve Squyres, lead scientist of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover mission, sets out to answer that question and relates his findings in this riveting first-person narrative account, now in paperback. Steve Squyres is the face and voice of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover mission. Squyres dreamed up the mission in 1987, saw it through from conception in 1995 to a successful landing in 2004, and serves as the principal scientist of its $400 million payload. He has gained a rare inside look at what it took for Rovers Spirit and Opportunity to land on the red planet in January 2004--and knows firsthand their findings.

An amazing journey throughout the universe in a search for other planets and the possibility of extraterrestrial life.

The Moon is accessible to everyone. Because it is easy to observe everywhere, even in big cities, it is a prime target for aspiring astronomers and for those who are merely curious about the night sky. This easy-to-use guide to discovering lunar sites takes the reader through fourteen observing sessions from New Moon to Full Moon. For each evening, the book shows which craters, mountains and other features can be seen, and how to find them. Each photograph shows what the observer actually sees through a telescope, solving the usual difficulties of orientation confronting beginners. Images are shown as they appear through both refracting and reflecting telescopes. Maps printed on the book's front and back flaps show the whole Moon with sites as seen through a refractor, through a Newtonian reflector, or, when turned upside-down, through binoculars. Jean Lacroux has been a columnist for the French astronomy magazine Ciel et Espace for 25 years. He has published four successful amateur astronomy books in French. Christian Legrand is an engineer and amateur astronomer, who has been a passionate lunar observer since the Apollo missions.

In this text, science writer Barry Parker takes on one of the most fascinating and fantastical aspects of modern quantum theory - time travel. From the stuff of fiction to Einstein's theory of relativity and Hawking's view of the universe, time travel has captured modern man's excitement and been as much talked about as space travel.

Two top astronomers (and bestselling authors) take a cutting-edge look at how life itself develops, survives, evolves, becomes intelligent, and where it might exist in outer space. Illustrated with breathtaking photos and state-of-the-art graphics, this thrilling story reveals a newfound understanding of the conditions that fostered life on Earth; how stars and planets are formed; the specific qualities of the Sun and planets in our solar system; and the techniques required to observe phenomena outside our system. The fascinating advances in technology and information revealed here could enable us to locate extraterrestrials within the next 20 years!

The Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) was the first dission to orbit and eventually land on an asteroid. A phenomenal success, the mission returned with hundreds of thousands of images, spectra, and other measurements about the large near-Earth asteroid 433 Eros. Some of the scientists and engineers who made NEAR such a success describe the mission here in their own words, from the initial concept studies, through the development phase, launch, cruise operations, the flyby of asteroid Mathilde, the near-catastrophic main engine failure in 1998, the heroic rescue and recovery of the spacecraft, the amazing year-long up-close look at one of Earth's most primitive celestial neighbors, and, finally, the daring attempt to land the spacecraft on Eros at the end of the mission. The book is illustrated throughout with images from the mission and explanatory diagrams. Jim Bell is an Assistant Professor in the Cornell University Astronomy Department whose research focuses on the geology, chemistry, and mineralogy of planets, asteroids, and comets using data obtained from telescopes and spacecraft missions. He is a member of a number of space science teams, including the NASA Mars Pathfinder and NEAR. Author of some 70 first and co-authored journal publications, he is a frequent contributor to popular astronomy magazines and radio shows. The International Astronomical Union recently awarded him the honor of having asteroid 8146 Jimbell named after him. Jacqueline Mitton is the Press Officer and a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, a member of the International Astronomical Union, and a Member of the Division of Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society. She is the author or co-author of 16 astronomy books; her most recent being The Cambridge Dictionary of Astronomy (2001).

Are we alone in the Universe? What is our place in it? How did we get here? We have long searched for the answers to questions such as these, and scientists are beginning to find some of the answers. In this beautifully illustrated book, Daniel Altschuler provides the reader with the elements to understand the questions and their answers as far as we know them. He explores subjects from physics and astronomy, to geology and paleontology. Along the way he touches on topics such as the search for life on other worlds and the hazards of asteroid impacts. Written in an engaging and readable style, readers will be intrigued by the surprising connections among the stars, our planet, and life itself. Daniel Altschuler is Director of the Arecibo Observatory in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, the site of the world's largest single-dish radio telescope.

The discovery of life on other planets would be perhaps the most momentous revelation in human history, more disorienting and more profound than either the Copernican or Darwinian revolutions, which knocked the earth from the center of the universe and humankind from its position of lofty self-regard. In Here Be Dragons, astronomer David Koerner and neurobiologist Simon LeVay offer a scientifically compelling and colorful account of the search for life beyond Earth.
The authors survey the work of biologists, cosmologists, computer theorists, NASA engineers, SETI researchers, roboticists, and UFO enthusiasts and debunkers as they attempt to answer the greatest remaining question facing humankind: Are we alone? From their "safe haven of skepticism" the authors venture into the "rough seas of speculation," where theory and evidence run the gamut from hard science to hocus pocus. Arguing that the universe is spectacularly suited for the evolution of living creatures, Koerner and LeVay give us ringside seats at the great debates of Big Science. The contenitous arguments about what really happens in evolution, the acrimonious UFO controversy, and the debate over intelligence versus artificial intelligence shed new light on the wildly divergent claims about the universe and life's place in it. The authors argue that while no direct evidence of extraterrestrial life yet exists, habitats and chemical building blocks for life abound in the universe. A wealth of new astronomical techniques and space missions may provide this evidence early in the next century.
Lucidly written and scientifically rigorous, Here Be Dragons presents everything we know thus far about the emergence of intelligent life here on earth and, perhaps, beyond.

CD-ROM and Book. When the crew of Apollo 11 returned to earth in July 1969 they brought with them a wealth of new information about the moon. Now astronauts Charles (Pete) Conrad, Alan Bean and Richard Gordon would return to the moon and build on that knowledge. The real test for the crew of Apollo 12 was not to see if they could get to the moon, but to see if they could get to an exact place on the moon. Their target was in an area known as the Ocean of Storms. On 14 November 1969 the crew of Apollo 12 blasted off to their place in history. Not only would Conrad and Bean become the third and fourth men to walk on the moon but they would land the lunar module Intrepid within 600 feet of their designated target. Waiting for them was the unmanned space probe Surveyor 3 which had soft-landed in April 1967. The flight of Apollo 12, which began almost catastrophically when the huge Saturn V was struck by lightning just moments after lift off, went on to yield an enormous amount of valuable data collected during over seven and a half hours on the lunar surface. On their return home the crew of Apollo 12 became the first humans to witness an eclipse of the Sun by the Earth.