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Summary
"Here's what it is about: For tens of thousands of years, the stars were our constant companions. In the glow of today's artificial lighting, when even professional astronomers study the universe by staring at screens rather than through eyepieces, we have forgotten this intimacy with the cosmos. Roberto Trotta is here to remind us: one of our species' most enduring and (literally) universal relationships has been with the night sky itself. In Starborn,...
Summary
As of today, we are still sending messages to the stars: messages that, so far, have not been answered. For more than 50 years, we've been unsuccessfully searching for any evidence of intelligent extraterrestrial life. But, the discovery of thousands of exoplanets has meant the hope of finding them is higher than ever. First contact with alien intelligence will become a reality in the future, so we must understand how to communicate. What kind of...
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Series
Summary
This field guide highlights 100 objects that can be seen in the night sky. Readers will gain a greater understanding about how to spot these things, including constellations and objects in our solar system. Features include a helpful introduction to the topic, a glossary, additional resources, and an index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards.
Summary
In 1969, Neil Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface and into the history books as the first of only twelve men to walk on the Moon. But in 1961 when Kennedy pledged to put a man on the Moon, NASA had barely put a man into orbit. They had less than 10 years to train a team of astronauts to overcome the unknown challenges of a mission to the Moon.
7) Understanding the Universe: An Introduction to Astronomy, 2nd Edition: Episode 31Magnificent Saturn
Summary
Best known for its extensive ring system, Saturn has come into focus recently thanks to the Cassini spacecraft, which landed a probe on Saturn's largest moon, Titan; and also discovered evidence of liquid water on the moon Enceladus.
11) Understanding the Universe: An Introduction to Astronomy, 2nd Edition: Episode 28Mercury and Venus
Summary
Though broadly similar to Earth, Mercury and Venus differ in detail. Mercury has a negligible atmosphere and is heavily cratered. Venus has an incredibly thick atmosphere and suffers from an extreme greenhouse effect that makes it intensely hot.
19) Understanding the Universe: An Introduction to Astronomy, 2nd Edition: Episode 78Feeding the Monster
Summary
This lecture explores the disks of gas around supermassive black holes. Material escaping from the vicinity of these objects often follows a highly focused jet along the rotation axis of the disk, sometimes approaching or even appearing to surpass the speed of light.