Foundations of Astronomy (with AceAstronomy™, Virtual Astronomy Labs Printed Access Card)

by Seeds, Michael A.

• ISBN13: 9780495015789
• ISBN10: 0495015784
• Edition: 9th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-02-10
• Publisher: Cengage Learning

Summary

With this newly revised 9th edition of FOUNDATIONS OF ASTRONOMY, Mike Seeds' goal is to help students use astronomy to understand science and use science to understand what we are. Fascinating and engaging, this text illustrates the scientific method and guides students to answer these fundamental questions: "What are we?" and "How do we know?" In discussing the interplay between evidence and hypothesis, Seeds provides not just facts, but a conceptual framework for understanding the logic of science. The book vividly conveys his love of astronomy, and illustrates how students can comprehend their place in the universe by grasping a small set of physical laws. Crafting a story about astronomy, Mike shows students how to ask questions to gradually puzzle out the beautiful secrets of the physical world. Mathematics is incorporated into the text (and in separate sections for easy reference), but the book's arguments do not depend on mathematical reasoning, keeping even math-averse students engaged. The revision addresses new developments in astrophysics and cosmology, plus the latest discoveries, including evidence of a new world beyond Pluto and new evidence of dark energy and the acceleration of the universe. Students are also provided with an online assessment tool, called AceAstronomy. Designed specifically to help students prepare for tests and exams, AceAstronomy improves conceptual understanding by providing a personalized learning plan based on a pre-test diagnostic.

Table of Contents

Part 1: Exploring the Sky
The Scale of The Cosmos	2	(10)
The Sky	12	(24)
Cycles of The Moon	36	(20)
The Origin of Modern Astronomy	56	(28)
Newton, Einstein, and Gravity	84	(24)
Light and Telescopes	108	(28)
Part 2: The Stars
Starlight and Atoms	136	(24)
The Sun	160	(26)
The Family of Stars	186	(30)
The Interstellar Medium	216	(20)
The Formation of Stars	236	(22)
Stellar Evolution	258	(26)
The Deaths of Stars	284	(24)
Neutron Stars and Black Holes	308	(30)
Part 3: The Universe
The Milky Way Galaxy	338	(30)
Galaxies	368	(26)
Galaxies With Active Nuclei	394	(22)
Cosmology in The 21st Century	416	(32)
Part 4: The Solar System
The Origin of The Solar System	448	(28)
Earth: The Standard of Comparative Planetology	476	(20)
The Moon and Mercury: Comparing Airless Worlds	496	(24)
Comparative Planetology of Venus and Mars	520	(32)
Comparative Planetology of Jupiter and Saturn	552	(36)
Comparative Planetology of Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto	588	(28)
Meteorites, Asteroids, and Comets	616	(34)
Part 5: Life
Life on Other Worlds	650