Bob Berman is motivated by a straightforward philosophy: everyone can understand science-and it's fun, too. In Strange Universe, he pokes into the bizarre and astonishingly true scientific facts that determine the world around us. Geared to the nonscientist, Berman's original essays are filled with the trademark wit and cleverness that has earned him acclaim over many years for his columns in Astronomy and Discover magazines. He emphasizes curiosities...

"During the night, as a child sleeps in her bedroom, the reader is taken on an exploration of our solar system, galaxies beyond, and finally the universe as a whole"--

Black holes seem like the stuff of science fiction. It's incredible to think there's a mass in the universe with such a strong pull of gravity that not even light can escape it. But it's not science fiction, and there isn't just one black hole out there. Diagrams and photographs help readers explore concepts that even scientists can't fully explain yet. This book will encourage future astrophysicists that more is going on in the night sky than meets...

"Did you know that our entire solar system sits within the sun's atmosphere? Or that more than 1,300 Earths could fit inside Jupiter? Readers will be wowed by these facts and more with this exciting look at the solar system. Packed with fun, informative data about the planets, scientific discoveries through history, and memorable statistics, this book is a must-read for burgeoning scientists. Facts are conveyed through accessible language and enhanced...

What happens to space and matter near a black hole? Where did the moon come from? How do we know what stars are made of? Are we alone in the universe? In Exploding Stars and Invisible Planets, Fred Watson, an award-winning astronomer, presents the most up-to-date knowledge on hot topics in astronomy and space science, providing a fascinating and entertaining account of the latest research. Watson explains how to find invisible planets around other...

Shows the interconnectedness of life on Earth to space and why space matters to all of us.

"We have the impression that the solar system is perfectly regular like a clock, or a planetarium instrument. On a short timescale it is. But, seen in a longer perspective, the planets, and their satellites, have exciting lives, full of events - for example, did you know that Saturn's moon, Titan, boasts lakes which contain liquid methane surrounded by soaring hills and valleys, exactly as the earth did before life evolved on our fragile planet? Or...

Visible light, which can be seen with our eyes, comprises a small sliver of the electromagnetic spectrum. The rest of the spectrum, from short wavelength gamma rays to long-wavelength radio waves, requires special instruments to detect. ALMA uses and array of radio telescopes to detect and study radio waves from space. Radio telescopes are typically large parabolic dish antennas used singly or in an array. Radio observatories are preferentially located...

In this book, you'll meet the twenty-one brightest stars visible from Earth. You'll learn how to find these stars and discover the best ways to see them. Each star is profiled in a separate chapter, with detailed guidance on what to look for while observing it. Suitable for beginners as well as experienced amateur astronomers, the book shares fascinating information about the lore and legends connected with each star through history, as well as what...

Taught by Professor Bradley Schaefer of Louisiana State University, this course shows how ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Indians, Chinese, and other cultures saw the sky. You learn how the Sun, Moon, and stars were their clock, calendar, and compass; constellations encoded their mythologies; and the heavens inspired religious and philosophical ideas, laying the foundation for modern science.