Foundations of Astronomy (with CD-ROM, Virtual Astronomy Labs, AceAstronomy, and InfoTrac)

by Seeds, Michael A.

• ISBN13: 9780534421205
• ISBN10: 0534421202
• Edition: 8th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-03-23
• Publisher: Brooks Cole

Summary

With this newly revised 8th 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 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 Mars' buried water 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, contains book-specific activities, and is completely flexible, creating a personalized learning plan based on quiz results 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

The Scale of the Cosmos	p. 1
The Sky	p. 17
The Earth and Sky	p. 18
Lunar Phases, Tides, and Eclipses	p. 41
The Origin of Modern Astronomy	p. 65
Newton, Einstein, and Gravity	p. 91
Light and Telescopes	p. 113
The Stars	p. 139
Starlight and Atoms	p. 140
The Sun - Our Star	p. 163
Measuring Stars	p. 185
Binary Stars	p. 207
The Formation of Stars	p. 225
Stellar Evolution	p. 253
The Deaths of Stars	p. 277
Neutron Stars and Black Holes	p. 299
The Universe	p. 323
The Milky Way	p. 324
Galaxies	p. 349
Peculiar Galaxies	p. 373
Cosmology	p. 397
The Solar System	p. 421
The Origin of the Solar System	p. 422
Planet Earth	p. 443
The Moon and Mercury: Airless Worlds	p. 459
Venus and Mars	p. 485
Jupiter and Saturn	p. 513
Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto	p. 545
Meteorites, Asteroids, and Comets	p. 573
Life	p. 605
Life on Other Worlds	p. 606
Afterword	p. 627
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.