The Road to Infinity [paperback] Asimov, Isaac

It's a Wonderful Town! [Asimov's Essays: F&SF] (1976) Surprise! Surprise! [Asimov's Essays: F&SF] (1976) Making It! [Asimov's Essays: F&SF] (1976) Moving Ahead [Asimov's Essays: F&SF] (1976) To the Top [Asimov's Essays: F&SF] (1976) Quasar, Quasar, Burning Bright! [Asimov's Essays: F&SF] (1976) The Comet That Wasn't [Asimov's Essays: F&SF] (1976) The Sea-Green Planet [Asimov's Essays: F&SF] (1976) Discovery By Blink [Asimov's Essays: F&SF] (1977) Asimov's Corollary [Asimov's Essays: F&SF] (1977) The Magic Isle [Asimov's Essays: F&SF] (1977) The Dark Companion [Asimov's Essays: F&SF] (1977) Twinkle, Twinkle, Microwaves [Asimov's Essays: F&SF] (1977) The Final Collapse [Asimov's Essays: F&SF] (1977) Of Ice and Men [Asimov's Essays: F&SF] (1977) Oblique the Centric Globe [Asimov's Essays: F&SF] (1977) The Opposite Poles [Asimov's Essays: F&SF] (1977)

In More Things in Heaven and Earth, Levy argues the fundamental unity of the arts and the sciences, pointing out the poetry that is in astronomy and the scientific references to the night sky found in many of the great poets. He illustrates his arguments with spectacular colour photographs of comets and eclipses and also with extensive quotation of and commentary on Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, Donne, Keats, Tennyson, Hopkins and Frost. For him the collision of the comet bearing his name with the planet Jupiter, the greatest cataclysm in the history of astronomy, is an opportunity to get a whole new generation excited about our universe in a way that has not been possible since the 1969 Moon landing.

The life and work of Johannes Kepler shown in great detail

"A new collection of seventeen science essays that once again demonstrate the profound knowledge and imagination which have become the hallmarks of Isaac Asimov's works. Here, Dr. Asimov explores such topics as: the farthest distance in the universe; why astrology is sheer nonsense; how eclipses occur and how they were predicted by the ancients; why antievolutionists should consider the chimpanzee; why the North Star keeps shifting, and how it proves that Bacon didn't write Shakespeare's plays; and why fusion, and not fission, is the only solution to the energy crisis. Each fascinating chapter in this new volume brings Dr. Asimov further toward his goal of explaining to everyone the wonders of the universe and of man." --

Published by Avon Books, 1983, this First Paperback Edition has 253 pages. Isaac Asimov was considered to be one of the big three authors who brought science fiction into the American households.

Astronomy is a fortunate science; it needs no embellishments, said the French savant Arago. So fascinating are its achievements that no special effort is needed to attract attention. Nonetheless, the science of the heavens is not only a collection of astonishing revelations and daring theories. Ordinary facts, things that happen, day by day, are its substance. Most laymen have, generally speaking, a rather hazy notion of this prosaic aspect of astronomy. They find it of little interest, for it is indeed hard to concentrate on what is always before the eye.Everyday happenings in the sky are the contents of this book, free from professional terminology with easy reading. Its purpose is to initiate the reader into the basic facts of astronomy. Ordinary facts with which you may be acquainted are couched here in unexpected paradoxes, or slanted from an odd and unexpected angle solely to excite the imagination and quicken your interest. The daily aspect of the science of the skies, its beginnings, not later findings that mainly form the contents of Astronomy for Entertainment. The purpose of the book is to initiate the reader into the basic facts of astronomy. Ordinary facts with which you may be acquainted are couched here in unexpected paradoxes, or slanted from an odd and unexpected angle. The theme is, as far as possible, free from "terminology" and technical paraphernalia that so often make the reader shy of books on astronomy.Books on popular science are often rebuked for not being sufficiently serious. In a way the rebuke is just, and support for it can be found (if one has in mind the exact natural sciences) in the tendency to avoid calculations in any shape or form. And yet the reader can really master his subject only by learning how to reckon, even though in a rudimentary fashion. True, he has taken care to present them in an easy form, well within the reach of all who have studied mathematics at school. It is his conviction that these exercises help not only retain the knowledge acquired; they are also a useful introduction to more serious reading.This book contains chapters relating to the Earth, the Moon, planets, stars and gravitation. The author has concentrated in the main on materials not usually discussed in works of this nature. Subjects omitted in the present book, will, he hopes, be treated in a second volume. The book, it should be said, makes no attempt to analyze in detail the rich content of modern astronomy.Unfortunately Y. Perelman never wrote the continuation he had planned for this book, as untimely death in war bound Leningrad in 1942 interrupted his labours.

This is the third in a series of volumes of essays by Steven Weinberg, the previous two having also been published by HUP (Facing Up in 2001, and Lake Views in 2010). Weinberg, recipient of the Nobel Prize (1979) with Abdus Shalam and Sheldon Glashow for their contributions to the electroweak unification theory, is well known not only for his groundbreaking work in physics, but also for his efforts in popularizing science and the history of science, and for his stances on various matters in politics, public policy, and religion. This volume, like the previous two, runs a wide gamut, from the cosmological to the personal. Specific topics include particle physics, quantum mechanics, astronomy, big science, the history of science, space flight, science funding, the limits of current knowledge, and several other subjects ranging from the art of discovery to being wrong. Nearly all of the work included here, again as with the previous two volumes, has been previously published. The author has added introductions to the volume as a whole and to each essay, putting the material in context and adding further explanation where necessary. He has also added a number of explanatory notes.--

The exploration of the first billion years of the history of the Universe represents one of the great challenges of contemporary astrophysics. This book contains the worked out lectures given at the 36th Saas-Fee Advanced Course "First Light in the Universe" by three eminent scientists in the field: Abraham Loeb, Andrea Ferrara, and Richard Ellis. The formation of the first stars and black holes, the initial mass function, feedback effects, early dust formation, the cosmic star formation history, distant galaxies, cosmic reionisation and the cosmic infrared background are the main topics treated. This book contains an accessible and up-to-date review of the field and will be useful to graduate students of astronomy, cosmologists, physicists and researchers. The topic of this book is particularly timely, as many new important observational facilities are being built, for which "first light in the universe" is one of the main science drivers.

The Universe in which we live is unimaginably vast and ancient, with countless star systems, galaxies, and extraordinary phenomena such as black holes, dark matter, and gamma ray bursts. What phenomena remain mysteries, even to seasoned scientists? Our Universe is a fascinating collection of essays by some of the world's foremost astrophysicists. Some are theorists, some computational modelers, some observers, but all offer their insights into the most cutting-edge, difficult, and curious aspects of astrophysics. Compiled, the essays describe more than the latest techniques and findings. Each of the ten contributors offers a more personal perspective on their work, revealing what motivates them and how their careers and lives have been shaped by their desire to understand our universe. S. Alan Stern is Director of the Department of Space Studies at Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado. He is a planetary scientist and astrophysicist with both observational and theoretical interests. Stern is an avid pilot and a principal investigator in NASA's planetary research program, and he was selected to be a NASA space shuttle mission specialist finalist. He is the author of more than 100 papers and popular articles. His most recent book is Pluto & Charon (Wiley, 1997). Contributors: Dr. John Huchra, Harvard University Dr. Esther Hu, University of Hawaii, Honolulu Dr. John Mather, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Dr. Nick Gnedin, University of Colorado, Boulder Dr. Doug Richstone, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Dr. Bohdan Paczynski, Princeton University, NJ Dr. Megan Donahue, Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, MD Dr. Jerry Ostriker, Princeton University, New Jersey G.Bothun, University of Oregon, Eugene

In a unique effort, this book brings together, for the first time, scholarly analyses by eminent researchers of the historical, social, legal, and cultural influences on the young newcomers' lives as well as reports by practitioners in major aid organizations about the concrete work that their organizations have been carrying out.

"From Aristotle to Newton, Einstein and quantum mechanics, Introducing the Universe recounts the revolutions in physics and astronomy that underlie the present-day scientific picture of the Universe. It describes the scale of things, from atoms to galactic superclusters, and sketches the cosmological theories, based on Einstein's general relativity, used to describe the Universe's expansion. The book also discusses the significance of the cosmic background satellite observations, and explains why current theories have nothing reliable to say about whether the Universe had a 'beginning'."--BOOK JACKET.

Published in 1938: The new volume presents a full and profusely illustrated account of progress made during the eighteenth century in Mathematics, Mechanics, Astronomy, Physics, Meteorology, Geography, Chemistry, Biology, Medicine, Psychology, Demography, Economics, Philosophy, and Technology.

This book grew out of the need to provide students with a solid introduction to modern fluid dynamics. It offers a broad grounding in the underlying principles and techniques used, with some emphasis on applications in astrophysics and planetary science. The book comprehensively covers recent developments, methods and techniques, including, for example, new ideas on transitions to turbulence (via transiently growing stable linear modes), new approaches to turbulence (which remains the enigma of fluid dynamics), and the use of asymptotic approximation methods, which can give analytical or semi-analytical results and complement fully numerical treatments. The authors also briefly discuss some important considerations to be taken into account when developing a numerical code for computer simulation of fluid flows. Although the text is populated throughout with examples and problems from the field of astrophysics and planetary science, the text is eminently suitable as a general introduction to fluid dynamics. It is assumed that the readers are mathematically equipped with a reasonable knowledge in analysis, including basics of ordinary and partial differential equations and a good command of vector calculus and linear algebra. Each chapter concludes with bibliographical notes in which the authors briefly discuss the chapter's essential literature and give recommendations for further, deeper reading. Included in each chapter are a number of problems, some of them relevant to astrophysics and planetary science. The book is written for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, but will also prove a valuable source of reference for established researchers.

The Story of Variable Stars is a book written by Leon Campbell that explores the fascinating world of variable stars. The book provides a comprehensive overview of these stars, which are stars that change in brightness over time. The author delves into the history of variable star research, from the early observations made by ancient astronomers to the modern-day techniques used by astrophysicists.Campbell also explores the different types of variable stars, including pulsating stars, eclipsing binaries, and cataclysmic variables. He explains the physics behind these phenomena and how they can be used to study the properties of stars and the universe as a whole.The book is written in a clear and accessible style, making it suitable for both amateur and professional astronomers. It includes numerous illustrations and diagrams to help readers understand the concepts and phenomena discussed.Overall, The Story of Variable Stars is a fascinating and informative book that provides a comprehensive overview of this important area of astronomy. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the study of stars and the universe.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Heralds of Science: As Represented by Two Hundred Epochal Books and Pamphlets is a comprehensive guide to the most significant scientific publications in history. Written by Bern Dibner, a renowned collector of rare scientific books and manuscripts, this book features 200 seminal works that have shaped the course of scientific progress. The book is divided into six sections, each covering a different area of science: astronomy, mathematics, physics, chemistry, medicine, and technology. Each section includes a brief introduction to the field, followed by a selection of books and pamphlets that have had a significant impact on that area of study. The book is beautifully illustrated with full-color photographs of the featured publications, as well as portraits of the scientists who wrote them. The text is written in an accessible style, making it easy for readers of all levels of scientific knowledge to understand and appreciate the importance of these works. Heralds of Science is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of science and the key figures and publications that have shaped our understanding of the world around us. It is a valuable resource for students, researchers, and anyone with a passion for science and its impact on society.This is a new release of the original 1955 edition.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

The publication of this book is extremely timely, for the next major advances in manned space flight after Project Apollo will most likely be made in earth orbital operations. Manned exploration of the moon will certainly continue after the initial landing, but it will be performed essentially with the Saturn V launch vehicles and Apollo spacecraft developed in Apollo, especially in the early phases. Modifications to this basic hardware will increase operating capabilities to permit extensive lunar explo ration during prolonged stay times by the astronauts on the moon's surface. Manned orbital space stations have been studied for years, and NASA is already well along in development of its first attempt to provide more spacious accommo dations for astronaut-scientists in its Saturn Workshop program. While the Workshop is certainly not the ultimate space station of which our technology is capable, it is a workable, poor man's approach to the immediate need for using and expanding our present manned space flight capability without a de trimentalloss of momentum. The approach of converting a Saturn rocket stage into a manned laboratory and observatory in space is an improvisation that matches the use of the jerry-built Jupiter C back in 1958 to launch Explorer I. Let's hope that it can get the job done just as effectively.

The most complete guide to the ancient world-wide system of celestial metaphor, sometimes called Astro-theology, which forms the foundation for virtually all of the scriptures, myths, and sacred stories of humanity -- including the texts we call the Old Testament and New Testament of the Bible. Explore the scriptures and myths of humanity in a new light as you learn to hear the language in which they are all actually speaking: the language of the stars. Star Myths of the World and How to Interpret Them is a series of volumes exploring the amazing evidence of an ancient, world-wide system of metaphor which underlies all of the world's myths, and points to the conclusion that they are all closely related. Learn how to understand the clues and symbols in the stories which point to specific constellations, and how the constellations fit into the larger heavenly cycles, all of which are used by the ancient wisdom given to our ancestors as a precious inheritance, with information for our benefit and blessing. Volume One explored evidence that this system is worldwide, sampling a few representative myths and stories from ancient Egypt, ancient Mesopotamia, ancient India, ancient China and Japan, and myths from various cultures in Australia, Africa, the Americas, and the Pacific. Volume Two explored the massive evidence that the Greek myths are built on the same worldwide system, examining specific myths, gods, and goddesses -- as well as both the Iliad and Odyssey in depth, for their celestial patterns. Volume Three provides a broad survey of the celestial foundations of some of the most well-known stories and characters in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, complete with hundreds of full-color illustrations and star charts.