The Essential Cosmic Perspective with MasteringAstronomy

by Bennett, Jeffrey O.; Donahue, Megan; Schneider, Nicholas; Voit, Mark

• ISBN13: 9780321505682
• ISBN10: 0321505689
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Package
• Copyright: 2009-01-01
• Publisher: Benjamin Cummings

Summary

Key Message: Built from the ground up on our new understanding of the universe,The Essential Cosmic Perspective,Fourth Edition, Media Updateretains all of the features that have made this book so popular, and includes updated supplements that enhance the bookrs"s pedagogy to make it the most effective book in the astronomy market. This edition features optional quantitative reasoning boxes, basic equations throughout the book, new end-of-chapter problems, and a consolidated math appendix for professors who want to emphasize quantitative understanding in their course. Key figures have been annotated to guide student interpretation of difficult concepts. New two-page Cosmic Context illustration spreads throughout the book, and at the end of every part, visually tie together key concepts from across chapters and put them in context, driving home main ideas in a meaningful way. Key Topics:Our Place in the Universe, Discovering the Universe for Yourself, The Science of Astronomy, Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity, Light: The Cosmic Messenger, Formation of Planetary Systems: Our Solar System and Beyond, Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds, Jovian Planet System, Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts, Our Star, Surveying the Stars, Star Stuff, The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard, Our Galaxy, Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology, Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe, The Beginning of Time, Life in the Universe. Market Description:For all readers interested in learning the basics of Astronomy.

Table of Contents

Developing Perspective

Our Place in the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

The Science of Astronomy

Key Concepts for Astronomy

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light : The Cosmic Messenger

Learning from Other Worlds

Formation of Planetary Systems: Our Solar System and Beyond

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet System

Asteroids , Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Stars

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Galaxies and Beyond

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

The Beginning of Time

Life on Earth and Beyond

Life in the Universe

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.