On the Cosmic Horizon: Ten Great Mysteries for Third Millennium Astronomy - Hardcover

Bennett, Jeffrey O.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0321029712 ISBN 13: 9780321029713

Publisher: Pearson, 2000

Synopsis

Ideal as a supplement or recommended reading for students with little or no science background, this inviting text generates enthusiasm for astronomy in the fashion of the books of the late Carl Sagan. Written by a highly renowned educator and science writer, On the Cosmic Horizon highlights ten of the most important astronomical mysteries that will dominate the newspaper headlines over the next decades―and could be solved in our lifetime. The mysteries are presented in a countdown approach, with Mystery #1 appearing in the final chapter. The author also introduces a few fundamental astronomical concepts in each chapter, allowing students to gradually build their understanding. Sure to capture students' attention and imagination, On the Cosmic Horizon is a perfect primer for readers who want to explore and understand what is happening on the frontiers of astronomy.

About this title

Synopsis

Outside of religion, no human pursuit deals with deeper questions of existence than astronomy, and few areas of science compare in capturing the public imagination. Today, however, the pace of discovery is so rapid that even professional astronomers have difficulty staying current. In this book, an astronomer and award-winning, highly acclaimed teacher shares the ten deepest mysteries that motivate astronomy today -- from the quest for life outside Earth, to the ultimate fate of the universe. It's an awesome collection of mysteries, and Jeffrey Bennett explains each one with remarkable clarity, enabling any educated citizen to share in the wonder, no matter how little scientific or mathematics background they may have. Is there life elsewhere in our solar system? Where are the Sun's missing neutrinos? What does the universe look like? How do galaxies evolve? Are Earth-like planets common? What makes gamma-ray bursts? Is the inflationary big bang theory true? What is the universe made out of -- and what is its fate?

Every mystery is framed with a story that draws upon history or an especially resonant metaphor, then explained in detail, but simply enough for those coming to astronomy for the first time.

About the Author

A teacher and an author, Jeffrey Bennett has taught college courses in astronomy, physics, mathematics, and education, as well as writing introductory astronomy and general mathematics with Addison Wesley including: The Cosmic Perspective, The Cosmic Perspective-Brief, Statistical Reasoning for Everyday Life, and Using and Understanding Mathematics.

Jeffrey Bennett earned a B.A. in biophysics from the University of California San Diego, and an M.S. and Ph.D in astrophysics from the University of Colorado. He served for two years as a Visiting Senior Scientist at NASA Headquarters, where he developed educational programs for the Hubble Space Telescope and other astronomical missions. He also led the creation of the Colorado Scale Model Solar System, a one to ten billion scale model of the solar system, and is now consulting with the Challenger Center for Space Science Education, the Smithsonian Institution, and NASA on a project to build similar scale models for the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and other locations around the world. He has recently begun writing science books for a popular audience and for children.

Edition details

• Publisher: Pearson
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0321029712
• ISBN 13: 9780321029713
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 216