Book Description
Nemesis is the name given by scientists to a (theoretical) small companion star to our sun. Every 26 million years, Nemesis's orbit brings it close enough to the sun to bombard our solar system with billions of comets. While most of the comets will float harmlessly beyond the outer planets, some passing through the sun's Oort Cloud will be deflected by its gravitational force toward Earth. Such a "large-body impact," the Nemesis theory holds, was responsible for the mass extinction that led to the demise of the dinosaurs. The next impact, millions of years from now, might very well extinguish humanity. In this lively, fascinating, and often disturbing book, updated and revised with the latest scientific evidence on terrestrial impacts, David M. Raup re-explores the controversies of the Nemesis theory from the trenches of the scientific community, and investigates the issues--both scientific and philosophical--of mass extinction.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent book.......2006-08-22
David Raup is a brilliant writer. Although slanted he does present alternative view points and hypotheses. A very interesting book on extinction theory as well as insight into the scientific process and its flaws.
A companion star causing comets here on earth?.......2004-06-29
According to the hypothesis a small companion star to the earth, like a binary, but smaller and more distant (perhaps two light years distant) passes through the Oort belt approximately every 26 thousand years (don't hold your breath), causing some comets to veer from their paths and impact the earth and its neighbors, causing a large scale extinction of species, among whom in the past were the dinosaurs, and giving others, like us and our cousins, a better chance for survival.
The author points out that the star, long known as "Nemesis," or the "Dark star", has never been seen--nor, for that matter has the so-called Oort belt. They are both hypothetical, with no evidence of their true existence.
The whole idea of why species go extinct, with a life span of from one to ten million years on average, depending on the species involved is a mystery to scientists--much like the mystery of why individuals within a species must necessarily die, perhaps.
Although the author defends, as well as finding fault with, scientific method, it sounds much like turf wars between gangs or political parties. And some of their favorite ideas sound, well, less than reasonable shall we say. They seem more impressed with each other's credentials and reputations than the reasonableness of their pet projects. Is a star--even a small one--so hard to see with the optics, radio telescopes, etc., that are available today?
Yet, this hypothesis is no more far-fetched than many others, and may well turn out to be true, yet. Mr. David M. Raup is most persuasive in his presentation.
There are some good points made herein. For instance the author's point that almost all species that ever existed on the earth have gone extinct--both plant and animal life forms. He also mentions that often they simply change form, from environmental necessity, or gradually spawn new life forms. It would seem inevitable, either gradually or catastrophically for any given species to cease to exist and another to arise. If they died out and were not replaced, soon all life would become extinct, or if they did not necessarily die, then life forms would certainly overwhelm the earth at some point. So, a balance is achieved, which, for whatever reason seems to be the order of things.
And the ecologists who continually fret about how the human race is responsible for all of the earth's problems, and want to "save" all its species except their own--(an impossible task, even if they successfully destroyed all of the "evil" human beings, cockroaches would probably survive) would find that all species would continue to die, and others be reborn. An exercise in futility, gone awry.
I suspect that, while the sciences are playing their guessing games and one-upsmanship, the earth will continue to revolve around its poles with a jolly little wobble, continue its orbit around the sun, at least until it implodes, or explodes, and the inhabitants, individually and collectively, will continue to be born, and die, and think that they are so important that they are causing it all. And when Mount Pinatubo or St. Helens erupt they will put out hundreds of time more particulate matter in 24 hours than all of the "pollution" their own insignificant species, Homo Sapiens, will produce in 100 years.(...)
The Birthing Pangs of an Idea.......2001-02-10
David M. Raup has written an interesting account of the scientic process in The Nemesis Affair (A Story of the Death of Dinosaurs and the Ways of Science). This is a perfect book for the non-specialist as it gives a glimpse into the larger world science inhabits beyond the minutiae of scientific details. This book shows the ways in which the scientific community, the popular press, and the general public all compete and struggle in creating and accepting (or dismissing) new ideas. The belief that dinosaurs died out partially due to a meteor or comet colliding with earth is one such idea and its genesis from a small spark of inspiration into common belief is told in a clear and entertaing fashion. This is a book that is interesting for the scientific idea it is trying to postulate as well as for the way it illuminates the larger world science is trying to inform and shape.
An exciting example of how science works.......2000-07-25
In the June, 1980 edition of Science an article written by four UC Berkeley scientists, led by Walter Alvarez, was published. This article claimed an extraterrestrial cause for the extinction of the dinosaurs and other species 65 million years ago. Reaction from paleontologists and others was immediate and largely negative. They saw it as a splashy, media-darling type of catastrophic explanation anathema to most working scientists. Author David Raup and his colleague Jack Sepkoski were however among those paleontologists (Stephen Jay Gould was another) who liked the idea. Since there are a number of other mass extinctions in the fossil record, they wondered if these events might be connected and how. They began a statistical analysis of the record, and in February, 1984 published a paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences demonstrating a 26-million-year periodicity. This led to the question, why would these extinctions be regular and what caused them? The answer came from astrophysicists who postulated (among other theories) a "Death Star" companion to the sun, dubbed Nemesis. This star would periodically come close to the sun, disturbing the Oort Cloud of comets, sending some of them to rain down on Earth, thus killing substantial amounts of life on earth.
It's a great theory and I love it. Unfortunately no one has ever seen this Nemesis star, which is not due to return for another 13 million years or so. In fact no one has seen the Oort Cloud either, although I understand most astrophysicists believe it is there. And of course paleontologists do not like catastrophic explanations for mass extinctions. In fact they hate them for both theoretical and personal reasons.
Thus we have the ingredients for an engaging and very human story about how science works and how it doesn't work. In this extremely readable book Raup reveals how scientific ideas develop, how they are rejected and accepted, and how some theories can neither be confirmed nor rejected, and how the scientific community treats such ideas, and how the media is involved. The blurb on the book cover has a quote from James Trefil comparing it as a memoir to The Double Helix, James Watson's personal story of how he and Francis Crick got credit for discovering the structure of the DNA molecule. I agree that this book is as readable as that very involving story, but Raup's book is more on the order of readable journalism, while Watson's book was more like a novel.
What is intriguing in both books is the sheer humanity displayed in both a positive and a negative sense. Here we see a kind of knee jerk, turf-protecting rejection of new ideas by the established cadre of scientists, especially in paleontology. In one sense this is understandable. If you work all your life to help build a certain view of the way things are in your chosen field, and along comes an idea that completely overturns your life's work, you are not going to be happy. You will rail against it and try to show that it is false. We see this in all fields of science since all fields are staffed by humans. I notice in psychology, for example, that the old cognitive and psychoanalytical people find it very difficult to accept the findings of evolutionary psychology, some of which make Freud, for example, look very much mistaken. In this sense scientists are like the Victorians who fought against the ideas of Darwin that threatened to overturn their view of the world (and did!).
Part of what makes this book effective is the openness with which Raup tells the story. He is candid to the point of showing and admitting his own faults and prejudices. He shows how success in science is gauged, not by dollars or fame, or even necessarily by what's discovered, but by prestige among colleagues. He writes on page 211 that "one's success as a scientist can be measured more by the number of people he or she puts to work on new problems than by the correctness of specific research results."
This book is a revision of the 1986 edition with a new introduction and a new final chapter entitled "Update 1999." The Nemesis Affair is not over with. Raup lets us know that the crater has been found for the K-T extinction of the dinosaurs, and that most scientists now accept the Alvarez scenario for Cretaceous extinctions. However neither a dark star nor a tenth planet has been found, and so the acceptance of the periodicity of mass extinctions is on hold.
To show how ideas in science can lead to totally unexpected advances elsewhere, note that the work done in understanding how the dinosaurs died after the impact of the K-T meteor led to a realization of the possibility of "nuclear winter," which in turn was a factor in ending the cold war. It is somewhat amazing to realize that the work of Alvarez and his colleagues may have helped to prevent a nuclear holocaust. Some people think that money spent on SETI or on space exploration is wasted. I think that knowledge gained is always valuable, and sometimes, spectacularly so.
Good Account of Science Interaction.......2000-03-24
The book, though now outdated, presents a wonderful insight into science and how it works. Especially well written, the author clearly explains the interlocking processes and activities that makes science what it is. He also reveals some of the deep biases that often exist among scientists committed to a paradigm. A recommended read for anyone interested in dinosaurs and their demise.
Average customer rating:
- Great artwork, nice writing but at an introductory level
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The Story of the Solar System
Mark A. Garlick
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
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ASIN: 0521803365 |
Book Description
The bodies of our Solar System have orbited continously around the Sun since their formation, but they have not always been there, and conditions have not always been as they are today. The Story of the Solar System explains how our Solar System came into existence, how it has evolved and how it might end billions of years from now. After a brief historical introduction, Mark Garlick describes the birth of the Sun and the steps that built up the bodies of the Solar System. Vivid illustrations of planets, moons, asteroids and comets complement the detailed descriptions. A comparison of these objects, and an analysis of how they have changed and evolved since birth is followed by a look towards the end of the Solar System's existence. Mark A. Garlick obtained his PhD in astrophysics from the Mullard Space Science Laboratory in Surrey, England. He is a member of the International Association of Astronomical Artists, and currently works as a freelance science writer and astronomical illustrator.
Download Description
The bodies of our solar system have orbited continuously around the Sun since their formation, but they have not always been there, and conditions have not always been as they are today. The Story of the Solar System explains how our solar system came into existence, how it has evolved and how it might end billions of years from now. After a brief historical introduction, the book illustrates the birth of the Sun, and then explains the steps that built up the bodies of the Solar System. Using vivid illustrations, the planets, moons, asteroids and comets are described in detail. Comparison of these objects, and analysis of how they have changed and evolved since birth, is followed by a look towards the end of the solar system's existence. Fully illustrated with beautiful, astronomically accurate paintings, this book will fascinate anyone with an interest in our solar system.
Customer Reviews:
Great artwork, nice writing but at an introductory level .......2004-07-27
Don't buy this book if you are looking for an in-depth, extensive coverage of the history of our solar system. There are much better, more informative books on this subject, e.g. the Cambrige Guide to the Solar System or The New Solar System (both also from Cambridge University Press). Nevertheless, the author does a good job in telling this history in a splendid, non-technical and 'epic' language, like a great adventure starring the sun, the planets, the comets and the asteroids, from their first beginnings in a giant molecular cloud composed of interstellar dust to the tragic death of our sun after some 10 billion years (!), leaving our earth as a cold dead world (there's a very beautiful, eery, surreal painting of this blackened dead earth in this book, with the sun as a tiny white spot flickering in the dark sky). Very impressive writing, sublime at times, as if you were actually there, floating between the stars, watching the conception and development of our solar system unfolding before your own eyes. A good book for the novice, I would say, maybe best suited to the teenage cosmologists of the world. The best thing this book has to offer is the paintings, by the author himself (he is from 1968, working for Sky and Telescope, and also an astronomer), which are truly spectacular. I suspect they are the true reason why this book was written. You can get an impression of his 'glorious realist' style by visiting his website. So, buy this book if you like a good cosmological narrative and nice space artwork. Leave it, if you're more scientifically interested.
Book Description
This is an endearing and magical story for children that teaches basic concepts of space and astronomy. High quality telescope, NASA, and nature photographs are artistically blended to create an exciting visual, as well as reading adventure.
Customer Reviews:
Very Well-Written Children's Book.......2007-09-12
I purchased this particular children's book based on a recommendation from the Ventura County Astronomical Website Forum. This book is such a delight to read to my baby boy. Though he doesn't fully understand the story yet (he is 11-months old), he loves looking at the pictures and listening to me read it to him. My husband and I read the book and it is a beautifully written book. Thank you to the authors for writing such a nice book.
Book Description
Focusing on the Galileo Mission, the story will relate this remarkable spacecraft's protracted gestation and the ordeal of its long haul out to Jupiter and its ultimate triumph: 5 years exploration within the Jovian system. The story spans a full quarter of a century, drawing on the press conferences, technical papers and essays of engineers and scientists involved in the mission which provide a real sense of participation as the discoveries poured in - it will bring the mission of the Galileo spacecraft to life and provide a more engaging account than would simply be achieved by recounting scientific results. The book will conclude with a snapshot "look ahead" into the Cassini flyby of Jupiter in December 2000 shortly after publication - the book released to coincide with this media event.
Customer Reviews:
A marvelous story.......2001-08-01
This book takes you on a ride with the famous robot spacecraft Galileo. Although the first couple chapters describe the spacecraft and deal briefly with the administrative headaches and unfortunate events that led to the greatly delayed launch, the bulk of the book literally follows the robot around as it makes its 6-year interplanetary journey and subsequent groundbreaking observations of remote Jupiter and the Galilean moons.
Despite communications being severely hindered by the early loss of the high-gain antenna, Galileo was still able to send back lots of high-resolution pictures of the Jovian system as well as tons of readings from other instruments. Many of these pictures are printed in this book. The previous reviewer was correct in stating that the pictures on the Internet look better due to more dramatic image scale, but this is a paperback book and the pictures had to be shrunk to fit in. Nevertheless, many of the photographs are stunning, especially of Europa and Io, the two moons closest to Jupiter.
The story really sheds light on how much was lost due to the failure of the main antenna, because instead of a few high-resolution shots of selected areas of the surface like we got, all four moons would have been covered in glorious detail. Anyway, it's still remarkable what the programming team was able to achieve with data compression.
Also, the accounting of the numerous radiation-induced glitches and resets suffered by Galileo helps us understand how incredibly hostile Jovian space is. If a well-shielded electronic device encounters so many problems with radiation out there, how much worse would it be for living creatures??
Overall, a fantastic telling of an incredible story, somewhat accessible to the layman but especially so to the amateur astronomer or space science enthusiast.
The cover is not everything..........2001-04-17
I bought this book because I have made generally good experiences with books in this series, however, I was deeply disappointed by it. David Harland tries to cover the whole of the Galileo mission, but overall, I consider the book a failure. If you want to read a 500p+ NASA press release, this book might be for you. If you want a summary of the Galileo mission, without many repetitions, with factual scientific information on a popular level, however, this book is not for you. Many things, for example the cause for the Galileo launch delay and many important scientific results, are never really spelt out, the illustrations (all in black and white, by the way, despite what the cover might imply) are all the same JPEGs that you can get cheaper from NASAs web-site, and without the strong JPEG aliases that suggest that somebody tried to compress them even more, and I just could continue with that. This is unfortunate, however, since seldomly an author has attempted to cover the results of a space mission as important as Galileo, in such a detail. Because such an attempt is laudable, I give the book 2 stars instead of one.
Brilliant account of one of Nasa's finest hours.......2000-12-31
At last ... someone's written the full story of this amazing mission. The story of Galileo - a true space odyssey for 2001 - is long and complex, involving much trial and tribulation. Harland has decided to concentrate on the discoveries rather than the drama - the failed antenna, launch delays and uncooperative tape recorder - although he does cover these topics well and with authority. This book comes into its own with the description of the often mind-boggling discoveries made at Jupiter, and the lesser-trumpeted but equally-impressive observations made at Venus, the Asteroid Belt and of the Earth-Moon system. I particularly liked the account of the kamikaze Jupiter Atmospheric Probe - the little package of instruments despatched into the atmosphere of the giant planet itself and which, despite all the telecoms foul-ups, still managed to send back reams of priceless information to earth from the interior of a gas giant! And all this, with 1980s technology. Thee is full coverage of the discoveries made at Europa and Io, the ''sexiest'' part of the mission. The account of the geology of Io is particularly good, and the chapter dealing with Europa is as up-to-date as could be hoped for. Harland does not ignore Callisto and Ganymede either - these moons have not had the coverage of their more glamorous siblings - yet under their icy crusts there may lurk, as Harland says, dark oceans. Jupiter itself gets a good show here, with an in-depth account of the bizarre meteorological processes operating on this photogenic planet. Some of the more ''obscure'' stuff is covered in detail too. Tis is Harland's forte - covering the nitty-gritty of a space mission, the often arcane details that other accounts leave out. Thus we learn all about Jupiter's complex magnetic field, the tiny moonlets some of which are smaller than cities, and some fascinating stuff about interplanetary dust. This is a good read, quite technical at times but there is a substantial glossary at the back for those of us who have difficulty distinguishing out faculae from our calderas. Buy this book if you are interested in space. Brilliant.
Jovian Sojourn.......2000-12-27
In the author's preface to his latest book, JUPITER ODYSSEY: THE STORY OF NASA'S GALILEO MISSION, renowned science writer David M. Harland notes that while the NASA History Office will publish the "official" history of the Galileo Project in 2003, he is only providing an account of the spacecraft's journey and its scientific discoveries. After reading the book, though, one might well conclude that Harland is being too modest and that he has accomplished much more. Like his previous book, EXPLORING THE MOON: THE APOLLO EXPEDITIONS, Harland does not merely chronicle a highly successful scientific endeavor, he also adds his considerable knowledge of planetary science to the task of interweaving an interesting narrative with a highly readable interpretation of the science results; in this case, from Galileo's exploration of the jovian system, as well as from the many targets of opportunity en route to Jupiter. From the inception of the Galileo Project in the mid-1970's, through its repeated launch delays (culminating in a launch in 1989), through the end of its primary and extended missions at the turn of the century, Harland literally traces the circuitous, politically volatile, and often star-crossed journey of this highly successful robotic explorer. Unlike his colleagues in this genre (e.g. Henry S.F. Cooper, Eric Burgess, Jeffrey Kluger, etc.) Harland provides more than just a serial history. In addition to first-person accounts from many of the key scientists and engineers on the mission, he draws on a plethora of primary sources that include formally published, peer-reviewed science papers and conference proceedings to give the reader a very thorough lesson on the Galileo Mission. The book is abundantly footnoted and richly illustrated with hundreds of images, many of which have been composited and mosaicked by the author from original datasets. A minor drawback is that the illustrations are all black and white, but Harland does provide full references so that one may access the original data in the Galileo archives, which are fully accessible via the Internet. I highly recommend JUPITER ODYSSEY to all readers, beginner to advanced, all of who will surely gain new insight into one of the most successful interplanetary missions ever flown.
Average customer rating:
- Great for those interested in astronomy
- Review published in The New Mexican magazine 7/15/07
- From the History to the Future of Astronomy
- A recommended pick for any library strong in modern astronomy.
- Amazing Science and Writing!
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Pluto and Beyond: A Story of Discovery, Adversity, and Ongoing Exploration
Anne Minard
Manufacturer: Northland Publishing
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Binding: Paperback
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Is Pluto a Planet?: A Historical Journey through the Solar System
ASIN: 0873589157
Release Date: 2007-04-17 |
Customer Reviews:
Great for those interested in astronomy.......2007-08-23
Plato, the brilliant Greek philosopher, rightly concluded, "Astronomy compels the soul to look upwards and leads us from this world to another." Perhaps it is this desire of escape that has inspired stargazers down through the ages to stare into the dark nighttime sky. Whether looking for extraterrestrials or simply a shooting star--many seek escape only provided in the nighttime horizon.
In her book, Pluto and Beyond, Anne Minard traces the history of the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. The accomplishments astronomers have had at this observatory are impressive indeed: discovering Pluto in 1930; co-discovering rings around Uranus in 1977; and observations that ultimately led to the discovery that our universe is expanding.
This work mentions Pluto, even lamenting its recent demotion to a dwarf planet, but is not purely about astronomy, however. The casual reader who might be seeking the escape promised by astronomy will find themselves entangled in a veritable "Who's who" of former Lowell astronomers. Minard's precise review of the evolution of star mapping or the overly detailed descriptions of correspondence between the observatory's founder, Percival Lowell, and his underlings will only arrest the deeply committed.
Pluto and Beyond adequately presents the Discovery Channel Telescope, a joint venture between Lowell Observatory and the Discovery Channel. This state of the art telescope is expected to be completed in 2010 and will allow astronomers to peer into the sky above Flagstaff from an elevation of 7800 feet. Scientific discovery will be propelled to new levels as this technology will allow expert examination of Near Earth Objects (NEO's) and extrasolar planets. Perhaps astronomers will discover something is too near Earth--and maybe suitable intervention will be employed.
If your particular interest in astronomy is the Lowell Observatory, you will enjoy the minutiae presented in this work. If you are looking for a book that details what draws most to Astronomy, or the implications of the scientific inquiry regarding it, you might find your escape elsewhere.
Armchair Interviews says: Heed the reviewer's qualifying remarks.
Review published in The New Mexican magazine 7/15/07.......2007-07-23
"Anne Minard doesn't hold much back. Jealousy, back-stabbing, ineptitude and bureaucratic snarls are bared. The good stuff is here, too: The discoveries, the brilliant thinking, the dedication, the cool technologies... Minard does discuss the controversy surrounding Pluto's downgrading, but she also points to an optimistic future for the observatory built on the obsession of one man, an obsession that left a great legacy for astronomy."
From the History to the Future of Astronomy.......2007-07-07
You gotta feel sorry for poor Pluto. If, of course, you thought that a frozen planet so far away from things could have any feelings.
On the other hand, as the book says, the continuing change that is the hallmark of science is good. As we progress, as we learn more, we change the basic definitions. And as we learn more about the objects in the Kuiper Belt we found bigger objects that couldn't really be called planets. So poor Pluto.
This book is basically a history of Lowell observatory in (well 12 miles outside of) Flagstaff, Arizona. The title is suitable for a book on Lowell, because it was at Lowell that Pluto was discovered in 1930. It was also at Lowell that the second and third moons of Pluto (Nix and Hydra) were discovered in 2005. Also 2005 saw the groundbreaking for the new Discovery Channel Telescope, the fifth largest telescope in the United States.
By no means a technical book, this is a good general description of the work being done in astronomy today.
A recommended pick for any library strong in modern astronomy........2007-06-10
PLUTO AND BEYOND: A STORY OF DISCOVERY, ADVERSITY, AND ONGOING EXPLORATION tells not only of Pluto but of the Lowell Observatory, one of the few remaining privately-owned observatories and home to the discoverer of Pluto over seventy years ago. In pairing the story of the discovery of Pluto with the evolution of Lowell, PLUTO AND BEYOND examines both history and key, evolving astronomical ideas in a survey exploring the cutting edge of space research. A recommended pick for any library strong in modern astronomy.
Amazing Science and Writing!.......2007-04-22
This book is interesting and accessible. Brings Lowell Observatory to Life! Great Read!
Book Description
Doctor Who Short Trips is a series of themed short story anthologies of new Doctor Who fiction, featuring the Doctor in all of his first eight incarnations. They feature stories written by some of the leading names in Doctor Who, past and present, including Paul Cornell, Gareth Roberts, Christopher H. Bidmead, and Paul Magrs. There is a star like many others in the western spire of the Milky Way galaxy. Its planets orbit around it, with each one having its own environment and circumstances. The third planet is the most-densely populated, and over time, its inhabitants have reached out to the other worlds, where they find surprises, wonders, and danger. Welcome to the solar system.
Book Description
Dr. Quasar takes a group from Mercury to Pluto.
Customer Reviews:
Postcards Rules!.......2007-02-06
I am a student seeking my bachelors degree in elementary education and love this book. It can be used during the thematic unit on space and the solar system. It is awesome!
Postcards from Pluto.......2001-06-10
Dear Lareen, I like your books. I read Postcards from Pluto. You are very creative and smart. I have read a couple of your books,and my favorite is Postcards from Pluto. It is a very good book to me. I'm glad you wrote some books because I really enjoy them. ....
Postcards From Pluto: Fun way to learn solar system facts.......2000-10-22
From the beginning of this comic strip like tale of an outer space journey children are mesmerized by the non-fiction facts in such unique format. The illustrations are wonderful and accurately depict the details in the text. The actual postcards entertain while teaching and contain humorous addressees and addresses. Postcards From Pluto is a great way to introduce the solar system to kids. This book is a great investment, because it will be looked at and read time and time again!
Customer Reviews:
A very entertaining book!.......2006-04-02
Being written by two science fiction writers (Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens) and a scientist (Brian Muirhead, who worked and still works with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory), this book is both unconventional and highly entertaining. Not only the technical dimension of space exploration is highlighted, but also the human aspect. What makes people want to explore space? How is an idea translated into an actual mission? How are the new BFC-missions (Better, Faster, Cheaper) managed? Etc. etc.
This book gives a lot of information on past, present and future missions to Mars, information that is often not covered in other books.
As Brian Muirhead was flight system manager of the team that developed the Mars Pathfinder, the first rover that landed on Mars in 1997, a substantial portion of the book is dedicated to this mission.
The book contains many black-and-white photographs of (only) reasonable quality. In the middle of the book are 32 pages with really very high quality photographs and artwork.
All in all to me this book deserves a full five stars. I really enjoyed reading it.
Average customer rating:
- The Current Thinking in a New Science
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The Music of the Sun: The Story of Helioseismology
William J. Chaplin
Manufacturer: Oneworld Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Astronomy
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ASIN: 1851684514 |
Book Description
In The Music of the Sun, renowned academic William J. Chaplin unveils numerous solar secrets through the enlightening new science of helioseismology. The Sun, earth's nearest star, is of vital importance not only to our existence, but to our general understanding of astronomy. It acts as an exotic nearby laboratory in which physics can be studied under extreme conditions. Furthermore, helioseismology gives us an unprecedented window into the Sun's deep interior. Like a musical instrument, trapped sound waves in the Sun's interior cause vibrations in its exterior, which pulsations give us invaluable new insight into climate change, particle physics and the relationship between the Sun and the Earth.
Customer Reviews:
The Current Thinking in a New Science.......2006-11-23
It has been only about forty years since observers first discovered and then began studying the natural, resonant oscillations of our local star, The SUN. More recent observations have also discovered oscillations in the solar atmosphere. This book restricts itself to those internal to the surface of the sun. The book is aimed at the non-specialist general science reader. There is essentially no mathematical analysis.
The book begins with a recounting of the hisory of the finding and acceptance of solar oscillations, otherwise known as helioseismology. This is followed by a discussion of the physics at work in a star such as the sun. Finally the book goes into the discovery of the oscillations and subsequently the discoveries made possible by analyzing the oscillations.
Published in 2006, this book reflects the current thinking in the field as of the end of 2005.
Books:
- The Planetary System, Third Edition
- The Study of Variable Stars Using Small Telescopes
- The Tattoo Encyclopedia : A Guide to Choosing Your Tattoo
- The Teenage Guy's Survival Guide: The Real Deal on Girls, Growing Up and Other Guy Stuff
- The Urban Astronomer's Guide: A Walking Tour of the Cosmos for City Sky Watchers (Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series)
- The Voyage of Mae Jemison (Social Studies Emergent Readers)
- Too Close to the Sun: The Audacious Life and Times of Denys Finch Hatton
- Too Far From Home: A Story of Life and Death in Space
- Turn Left at Orion: A Hundred Night Sky Objects to See in a Small Telescope--and How to Find Them
- Universe (DK Eyewitness Books)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Saint Joan
- NIV/The Message Parallel Bible
- Flashman at the Charge
- I Heart Huckabees: The Shooting Script
- Master Lighting Guide for Portrait Photographers
- History: Fiction or Science
- Means of Ascent
- Venice: A City, A Republic, An Empire
- Morel Tales: THE CULTURE OF MUSHROOMING
- Illustrated Guide to Pollen Analysis
Extinction: Bad Genes or Bad Luck?
T. Rex and the Crater of Doom
Charles Darwin: The Naturalist Who Started a Scientific Revolution
On Methuselah's Trail: Living Fossils and the Great Extinctions
The Meaning of Fossils: Episodes in the History of Palaeontology
