Table of Contents

Part I: Introduction To Astronomy

Chapter 1: Why Learn Astronomy?


A "Bending Your Brain into Shape" section introduces origins as
a theme and emphasizes how important it is for students to read the
text actively, share ideas, and focus on relationships and
connections.


Chapter 2: Patterns in of the Sky -- Motions of the Earth


Earth's motions and the consequences of its axial tilt, the
motion and phases of the moon, the Coriolis effect and eclipses are
all discussed in this chapter.


Chapter 3: Gravity and Orbits -- A Celestial Ballet


This chapter covers Kepler and Newton and how they formulated
the laws that govern the motions of the planets.


Chapter 4: Light


This chapter introduces students to all forms of radiation, and
to how the finite speed of light leads us to Einstein's special
theory of relativity.


NEW Chapter 5: The Tools of the Astronomer


Here the authors explain how astronomers use telescopes and
other instruments, with coverage of optical and radio telescopes,
detectors and instrumentation, neutrino and gravity wave detectors,
airborne and orbiting observatories, planetary spacecraft,
high-energy colliders, and high-speed computers.


Part II: The Solar System

Chapter 6: A Brief History of the Solar System


This chapter discusses the formation of the Solar System before
discussing the planets themselves, helping students understand the
planets in the context of how they formed.


Chapter 7: The Terrestrial Planets and Earth's Moon


A comparative analysis of the solid rocky worlds yields lessons
about what shapes a planet's fate -- and covers impacts,
tectonism, volcanism, and gradation.


Chapter 8: Atmospheres of the Terrestrial Planets


This chapter includes a new section on how convection can create
severe weather.


Chapter 9: Worlds of Gas -- The Giant Planets


This chapter discusses the gas giants and the ice giants of the
outer Solar System.


Chapter 10: Gravity Is More Than Kepler's Laws


This chapter on gravity -- including coverage of tidal
interactions, orbital resonances, chaos, and more -- appears later
in the book in order to give students a break from the extensive
physics coverage in Part I and to lay the groundwork for the more
difficult concepts in Part II.


Chapter 11: Planetary Moons And Rings, and Pluto


Most of Chapters 11 and 12 is devoted to the smaller bodies of
the Solar System, including coverage of 2003 UB313.


Chapter 12: Asteroids, Meteorites, Comets, and Other Debris


This chapter covers the wide variety of interplanetary
debris.


Part III: Stars And Stellar Evolution

Chapter 13: Taking the Measure of Stars


This chapter discusses distance, brightness, and the composition
of stars in general before leading students through the specifics
of our nearest star, the Sun.


Chapter 14: A Run-of-the-Mill G Dwarf: Our Sun


This chapter looks at the structure and activity of our local
star, the sun.


Chapter 15: Star Formation And The Interstellar Medium


The various components of the interstellar medium are discussed
here, along with the process through which it gives birth to
stars.


Chapter 16: Stars In The Slow Lane


This chapter covers the evolution of low-mass stars.


Chapter 17: Live Fast, Die Young


The evolution of massive stars, the chemical composition of the
universe, and general relativity are discussed here.


Part IV: Galaxies, The Universe, And Cosmology

Chapter 18: Galaxies


In this chapter, the authors provide a clear explanation of
galaxies in general before going into detail about our own galaxy,
the Milky Way.


Chapter 19: The Milky Way -- A Normal Spiral Galaxy


We learn how we can measure the size of the Milky Way, map its
structure, and study its development.


Chapter 20: Our Expanding Universe


This chapter focuses on the evolution, shape, and future of the
universe.


Chapter 21: The Origin of Structure


This chapter explores the science behind the origin and
structure of the universe, how life has evolved on this planet, and
the possibility of life elsewhere.


Epilogue: We Are Stardust in Human Form

About the Author

Jeff Hester is professor of physics and astronomy at Arizona State University. He studies the interstellar medium in the Milky Way and external galaxies, the structure of the diffuse ISM, and supernova remnants. David Burstein is professor of physics and astronomy at Arizona State University. His research focuses on the structure and evolution of galaxies, stellar evolution, and cosmology. George Blumenthal is chancellor at the University of California-Santa Cruz, where he has been a professor of astronomy and astrophysics since 1972. Chancellor Blumenthal received his BS degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and his PhD in physics from the University of California-San Diego. As a theoretical astrophysicist, Chancellor Blumenthal's research encompasses several broad areas, including the nature of the dark matter that constitutes most of the mass in the universe, the origin of galaxies and other large structures in the universe, the earliest moments in the universe, astrophysical radiation processes, and the structure of active galactic nuclei such as quasars. Ronald Greeley is professor of geological sciences at Arizona State University. His current research is focused on gaining an understanding of planetary surface processes and geological histories. Brad Smith is a retired professor of planetary science. He has served as an associate professor of astronomy at New Mexico State University, a professor of planetary sciences and astronomy at the University of Arizona, and as a research astronomer at the University of Hawaii. Through his interest in Solar System astronomy, he has participated as a team member or imaging team leader on several U.S. and international space missions, including Mars Mariners 6, 7, and 9; Viking; Voyagers 1 and 2; and the Soviet Vega and Phobos missions. He later turned his interest to extrasolar planetary systems, investigating circumstellar debris disks as a member of the Hubble Space Telescope NICMOS experiment team. Brad has four times been awarded the NASA Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement. He is a member of the IAU Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature and is Chair of the Task Group for Mars Nomenclature. Howard Voss is professor of physics emeritus at Arizona State University and has been active in the American Association of Physics Teachers and the American Institute of Physics.