Stars and Galaxies (with CD-ROM, Virtual Astronomy Labs, AceAstronomy, and InfoTrac)

by Seeds, Michael A.

• ISBN13: 9780534420932
• ISBN10: 0534420931
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-04-02
• Publisher: Brooks Cole

Summary

Mike Seeds' goal in STARS AND GALAXIES, Fourth Edition (adapted from the newly revised FOUNDATIONS OF ASTRONOMY, Eight Edition) 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 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, from hypernovae and gamma ray bursts to proto-galaxies at the limits of the observable universe. This edition is now fully integrated with a FREE, brand-new student tutorial system. AceAstronomy is Web-based, assessment-driven, and completely flexible, creating a personalized learning plan to help each student focus on key concepts to be mastered. This superior system gives students fun, interactive learning opportunities and a greater chance for success.

Table of Contents

Exploring The Sky

The Scale of the Cosmos

The Sky

The Cycles of the Moon

The Origin of Modern Astronomy

Newton, Einstein, and Gravity

Astronomical Tools

The Stars

Atoms and Starlight

The Sun--Our Star

The Family of Stars

The Interstellar Medium

The Formation of Stars

Stellar Evolution

The Deaths of Stars

Neutron Stars and Black Holes

The Universe

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Galaxies with Active Nuclei

Cosmology in the 21st Century

Life

Life on Other Worlds

Afterword

Units and Astronomical Data

Observing the Sky

Glossary

Answers to Even-Numbered Problems

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.