Now You See It (Now You Don’t) 63
5 The Art of Collecting Light (with a Telescope) 65
Telescopes: what they see and how they work.
A guide to choosing and using binoculars and telescopes.
Electromagnetic radiation: what it is, how it travels, and what it does.
Alternatives to visible-light astronomy: radio, infrared, ultraviolet, and high energy.
9 Space Race: From Sputnikto the International
A brief history of space exploration.
Part 3: A Walk Around the Block 147
10 The Moon: Our Closest Neighbor 149
How our solar system was born and developed.
A tour through our solar system.
13 So Close and Yet So Far: The Inner Planets 189
14 Great Balls of Gas! The Outer Planets 205
All about Uranus, Neptune, Jupiter, and Saturn.
15 The Far End of the Block 221
The moons and rings of the jovian planets, and the story of Pluto.
17 Of Giants and Dwarfs: Stepping Out into the Stars 251
Observing, measuring, and classifying stars.
How stars evolve—and how they end their lives.
19 Black Holes: One-Way Tickets to Eternity 279
Stellar endgames: neutron stars, black holes, and the strange effects they produce.
Part 5: Way Out of This World 301
21 The Milky Way: Much More Than a Candy Bar 303
A tour of our home Galaxy.
Observing, measuring, and classifying galaxies.
Active versus normal galaxies: Seyfert and radio galaxies, plus quasars.
The odds on life beyond Earth and on other civilizations in the Milky Way.
25 What About the Big Bang? 359
How it all began (we think).
Is the universe infinite or finite? Eternal or mortal? Will it end—and if so, how?
A list of lunar and solar eclipses to watch for.
A complete list of the constellations with their approxi- mate positions.
The classic list of deep-sky objects—available to amateur astronomers.
Key sources of information, including books, guides, charts, astronomical event calendars, and Internet resources.
Part 1: Finding Our Place in Space 1
1 Naked Sky, Naked Eye: Finding Your Way in the Dark 3
The Size of Things, or “I Am Crushing Your Head!” 9
2 Ancient Evenings: The First Watchers 17
A Dragon Eats the Sun: Ancient Chinese Astronomy 18
Why the Emperor Executed Hsi and Ho 18
Stonehenge and the New World 23
Anaximander Puts Earth in Space 24
Aristarchus Sets the Sun in the Middle and Us in Motion 26
Eratosthenes Sizes Up the Earth 26
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Astronomy, Second Edition
3 The Unexplained Motions of the Heavens 31
What Really Happens in a Day? 32
The Sun Goes Dark, the Moon Becomes Blood 41
Aristotle Lays Down the Law 41
“More Pleasing to the Mind” 50
The Man with the Golden Nose 53
Kepler Makes Sense of It 54
Newton’s Three Laws of Motion 59
It’s Not Just a Good Idea … 60
Part 2: Now You See It (Now You Don’t) 63
5 The Art of Collecting Light (with a Telescope) 65
Variations on an Optical Theme 73
The Power to Gather Light 75
The Power to Resolve an Image 75
Science Aside, What Will It Cost? 87
Rich-Field Telescopes: Increasing in Popularity 90
Schmidt-Cassegrain: High-Performance Hybrid 90
Maksutov-Cassegrain: New Market Leader 91
Dobsonians: More for Your Money? 92
I’ve Bought My Telescope, Now What? 94
Light Pollution and What to Do About It 96
Finding What You’re Looking For 97
Big News from Little Places 104
The Long and the Short of It 106
Watch Your Head, Here Comes an Equation 111
Read Any Good Spectral Lines Lately? 112
Dark Doesn’t Mean You Can’t See 118
Bigger Is Better: The Green Bank Telescope 121
Interference Can Be a Good Thing 123
You Can Do This, Too! 125
Amateur Radio Astronomy: No-Cost and Low-Cost Approaches 126
Solar Flares and Meteor Events 127
The Rest of the Spectrum 128
New Infrared and Ultraviolet Observations 129
Chandrasekhar and the X-Ray Revolution 129
9 Space Race: From Sputnik to the International
From Scientific Tool to Weapon and Back Again 133
The Battle Cry of Sputnik 134
Space Shuttles and Space Stations 144
International Space Station: The Latest 145
Part 3: A Walk Around the Block 147
10 The Moon: Our Closest Neighbor 149
What If We Had No Moon? 150
What Galileo Saw 151 The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Astronomy, Second Edition
The Biggest Problem: We Weren’t There 162
What Do We Really Know About the Solar System? 163
Pearls the Size of Worlds 166
Out of the Frying Pan 169
Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust 171
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: Let’s Take a Stroll 174
More or Less at the Center of It All 176
The Inner and Outer Circles 177
Snapshot of the Terrestrial Planets 177
Snapshot of the Jovian Planets 177
Landing on Eros—The Love Boat 178
Impact? The Earth-Crossing Asteroids 180
“Mommy, Where Do Comets Come From?” 182
April Showers (or the Lyrids) 187
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Astronomy, Second Edition
13 So Close and Yet So Far: The Inner Planets 189
Forecast for Venus: “Hot, Overcast, and Dense” 194
The Sun Sets on Venus (in the East) 195
Mars: “That Looks Like New Mexico!” 198
Martian Weather Report: Cold and Thin Skies 198
Volcanoes, Craters, and a “Grand Canyon” 201
14 Great Balls of Gas! The Outer Planets 205
Earthbound Views: Uranus and Neptune 211
Earthbound Views: Jupiter and Saturn 212
The Atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune 218
15 The Far End of the Block 221
More Rings on the Far Planets 225
A Dozen More Moons in the Outer Solar System 230
Where Did Pluto Come From? 233
Four Trillion Trillion Light Bulbs 240
Not That Kind of Chrome 241
Galileo Sees Spots Before His Eyes 244
17 Of Giants and Dwarfs: Stepping Out into the Stars 251
Radius, Luminosity, Temperature: A Key Relationship 252
How Far Away Are the Stars? 255
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Astronomy, Second Edition
From Giants to Dwarfs: Sorting the Stars by Size 262
The Life Expectancy of a Star 265
The Life and Death of a High-Mass Star 273
Supernova: So Long, See You in the Next Star 275
What the Pulsars Tell Us 277
19 Black Holes: One-Way Tickets to Eternity 279
Is There No End to This Pressure? 280
Black Holes: The Ultimate End 280
What’s That on the Event Horizon? 281
The Interstellar Medium: One Big Fuel Tank 297
Part 5: Way Out of This World 301
21 The Milky Way: Much More Than a Candy Bar 303
Where Is the Center and Where Are We? 304
Keeping up with the Joneses 306
Take a Picture, It’ll Last Longer 307
Where Do We Fit In? 310
The Birth of the Milky Way 313
In the Arms of the Galaxy 315
Are These Reduced? They’re All Marked “Irregular” 321
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Astronomy, Second Edition
The Local Group and Other Galaxy Clusters 326
Where Does It All Go? 327
Hubble’s Law and Hubble’s Constant 327
A Long Time Ago in a Galaxy Far, Far Away … 332
Quasars: Looks Can Be Deceiving 332
Quasars and the Evolution of Galaxies 334
The Violent Galaxies of Seyfert 335
Cores, Jets, and Lobes: Radio Galaxy Anatomy 336
What Do You Mean by “Alone”? 344
… If You Call This Living 344
The Odds for Life on Mars 347
You Just Love the Drake Equation 350
A Closer Look at the Equation 351
Do They All Have Planets? 352
Welcome to the Habitable Zone 352
Who Are You Calling Intelligent? 352
The Life Span of a Civilization 353
Where Are the Little Green Men? 354
25 What About the Big Bang? 359
The Work of the Cosmologist 359
I’ll Give You Two Clues 360
Pigeon Droppings and the Big Bang 361
So What Was the Big Bang? 363
How Was the Universe Made? 365
What Does It All Mean? 373
The Universe: Closed, Open, or Flat? 374
Saddle Up the Horses: Into the Wide-Open Universe 374
Astronomy, one of the oldest scientific fields, has its roots in ancient civilizations that made significant observations of the sky Notable events such as solar and lunar eclipses, as well as the discovery of comets and supernovae—referred to as "guest stars"—marked important milestones in this discipline Over the last two millennia, astronomers from China, Japan, and Korea, along with potential sightings by Native American ancestors in the U.S Southwest, documented these celestial phenomena A prime example is the Crab supernova of 1054, which is illustrated in a drawing located at Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico.
For thousands of years, humans have been captivated by astronomy, and by the end of the twentieth century, public interest reached unprecedented levels This field boasts a vibrant community of active and successful amateur astronomers, who have made significant contributions, including the discovery of comets, minor planets, and supernovae.
Hollywood has significantly contributed to the popularization of astronomy, with a notable example being the 1997 film Contact, featuring Jodie Foster Filmed between 1995 and 1996, parts of the movie were shot at the National Science Foundation's Very Large Array in New Mexico Interestingly, the film's central theme revolves around SETI (the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence), an area of astronomical research in which the VLA does not participate.
Chris De Pree and Alan Axelrod present a comprehensive tour of the universe in The
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Astronomy, Second Edition, offers a captivating historical journey through the cosmos, beginning with ancient astronomers and progressing to influential figures like Copernicus and Galileo, culminating in modern achievements such as Neil Armstrong's lunar landing This comprehensive guide serves as an invaluable resource for both novice stargazers and seasoned amateur astronomers, enhancing their understanding of the universe.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of astronomical techniques, the solar system, stars, and the distant universe, presenting essential physical concepts clearly and concisely as needed.
Chris De Pree, the senior author, began his journey in astronomy as a summer student at the Very Large Array while pursuing his graduate studies at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill He spent two years at the VLA, where he completed his Ph.D focusing on radio observations of compact HII regions, earning his doctorate in 1996 Following his graduation, he joined the faculty at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, as a professor of astronomy.
Astronomy at Agnes Scott has begun a new and vital era, and readers of The Complete
Idiot’s Guide to Astronomy, Second Editionare in for a treat that is informative and exhil- arating as well as challenging.
Relax—this isn't about extraterrestrial life, though we will explore that in Chapter 24, “Table for One.” For now, it reflects our shared passion for astronomy Both we, the authors, and you, the reader, are united by our curiosity about the sky and the myriad questions it raises This fascination is far from uncommon; astronomy, the scientific study of celestial matter, is one of humanity's oldest disciplines, with our earliest scientific records from Babylon, Egypt, and China focusing on this captivating field.
Recorded history spans about 5,500 years The recorded history of astronomy starts at the beginning of that period People have been sky watchers for a very, very long time.
Astronomy, one of the most modern sciences, has accumulated celestial observations over 50 centuries, yet most of our understanding of the universe has emerged in the last century, particularly since the advent of radio astronomy in the 1950s Each generation has witnessed significant astronomical discoveries, marking important milestones in our knowledge For instance, while Copernicus's 16th-century proposal that the sun, rather than the earth, is at the center of the solar system is often celebrated, it's noteworthy that a Greek astronomer suggested a similar idea nearly 2,000 years earlier, albeit with less impact.
Astronomy is a centuries-old science that continues to push the boundaries of human knowledge, with groundbreaking discoveries being made regularly The field has historically been driven by advancements in technology, from the invention of the telescope to the development of fast and affordable computers As a result, our understanding of the universe is expanding rapidly, with new findings emerging daily This pace of discovery has necessitated a revised edition of this book, just two years after the initial publication, and even more recent breakthroughs will likely have been made by the time this new edition is read.
You don't need to be a government or university scientist with access to expensive equipment to make astronomical discoveries Astronomy, while both ancient and advanced, is universally accessible to everyone, inviting exploration and discovery by all.
The sky is accessible to anyone with curiosity and imagination, and investing in binoculars or a telescope can enhance your experience Alternatively, local astronomy clubs often allow members to use their equipment during stargazing events Additionally, with a computer and internet access, you can explore vast astronomical data, including stunning images from renowned telescopes like the Hubble Space Telescope and various satellite probes.
Mars Global Surveyor.This information is all free for the downloading (See Appendix E,
“Sources for Astronomers” for some starting points in your online searches.)
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Astronomy, Second Edition
We are not alone No science is more inclusive than astronomy.
Astronomy is an engaging activity that invites participation rather than mere observation Many comets are discovered by amateur astronomers and backyard enthusiasts, rather than solely by professional scientists in observatories Additionally, most meteor observations are conducted by hobbyists, and there are opportunities to explore specialized areas like radio astronomy and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.
Discovering the wonders of the universe through your own telescope is an unforgettable experience Imagine witnessing the moon's surface in detail, admiring Saturn's stunning rings, or observing the phases of Venus The moment you realize that the fuzzy patch of light in the sky is actually the Andromeda galaxy—vast and ancient—creates a profound connection to the cosmos Those photons, which traveled millions of years to reach you, illuminate your understanding of the universe.
We’d enjoy nothing more than to help you get started on your journey Here’s a map.
How This Book Is Organized
Part 1, “Finding Our Place in Space,” orients you in the evening sky and presents a brief history of astronomy.
Part 2, "Now You See It (Now You Don’t)," delves into the mechanics of telescopes, offers guidance on selecting the right telescope for your needs, and shares tips for maximizing your viewing experience It also clarifies the electromagnetic spectrum, highlighting that visible light is just one component, and discusses how astronomers utilize radio telescopes and other tools to explore the unseen parts of this spectrum Lastly, the section takes readers on a journey through the cosmos, showcasing various manned and unmanned probes, satellites, and space-based observatories.
In Part 3, titled “A Walk Around the Block,” we explore our closest celestial neighbor, the moon, before journeying through the solar system This section delves into the formation and evolution of the solar system, offering an in-depth examination of the planets, their moons, and other fascinating objects like asteroids and comets.