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Overview
From planetary movements and the exploration of our solar system to black holes and dark matter, this comprehensive reference simplifies all aspects of astronomy with an approachable question-and-answer format. With chapters broken into various astronomical studies—including the universe, galaxies, planets, and space exploration—this fully updated resource is an ideal companion for students, teachers, and amateur astronomers, answering more than 1,00 questions, such as Is the universe infinite? What would happen to you if you fell onto a black hole? What are the basic concepts of Einstein's special theory of relativity? and Who was the first person in space?
Synopsis
Unraveling the Mysteries of the Night Sky. Fact-filled and image-rich guide to the principles of astronomy, its history, a host of fun facts, and helpful tips for the backyard or budding astronomers!We look to the heavens and wonder in awe. Shooting stars, constellations, planets, galaxies, and the unknown. What is out there? Who is out there? How did the stars and planets come to be? What does it all mean? The last few years have brought an explosion of information leading to serious consideration of questions once deemed crazy. Do other universes exist? Are there planets that could harbor life?
From a neutron star to a black hole; from the Higgs Boson particle to cosmic strings; from the speed of light to gamma radiation; plus a universe of ideas and concepts in between, The Handy Astronomy Answer Book takes you on a journey through the history, science and the latest findings in astronomy. This book tells the story of astronomy--of the cosmos and its contents, and of humanity's efforts throughout history to unlock its secrets and solve its mysteries. You'll learn the answers to more than 1,000 questions on astronomy and space, including ...
What is astrobiology? What is the Dresden Codex, and what does it say about Mayan astronomy? What happened between Galileo and the Catholic Church? What is the longest time that a human has been in space? What is a gamma-ray burst? How do I use a star chart to find stars and constellations? How do space and time relate to one another? What were considered to be NASA's four great observatories in space? How do astronomers map the night sky? How many constellations are there? How has the discovery of exoplanets affected the search for extraterrestrial life? Could a moon found in a star's habitable zone support life as we know it? How will the universe end?From the basic physics and history of astronomy to using star charts, telescopes, and other helpful hints for the home astronomer, and from space mission programs to the greatest adventure of all--the search for life beyond Earth--The Handy Astronomy Answer Book includes information on virtually every topic related to outer space. Containing over 120 illustrations and photos, this book brings the wonders of our universe to life!
Editorials
Book Review Digest
The range of topics [this book] presents is vast and comprehensive, with many fascinating informational tidbits . . . Stimulating and useful, whether one dips through its pages haphazardly or reads it cover to coverAmerican Reference Books Annual
Written in understandable language, but the answers are not oversimplified and provide sufficient detail for understanding the concept or feature described, making this book appropriate for readers for high school to college.Seattle Times
True to its title . . . all that and more. Amazingly brief entries cover enormous topics.National Science Teachers Association
A valuable resource that can be used by both teachers and students as a reference or read from cover to cover.San Antonio Express-News
If you have questions about space or astronomy, this book will provide what you want to know.Dallas Morning News
Concise reference explaining all manner of space topics.curledupkids.com
Will no doubt end up a dog-eared and well-used treasure trove of cosmological curiosities sure to please anyone who ever looked up and wondered in awe about our place in the bigger scheme of things.C&RL News
Provides concise answers to commonly posed questions about planets, stars, space exploration, and the universe, and thus serves both as a ready-reference source and beginner's guide to the cosmos.Children's Literature
What a super reference book! There are answers to more than 1,000 questions relating to astronomy, which includes the stars, planets, the universe, and just about anything you can imagine. The answers are written so that a non-scientist can glean some understanding, but some concepts do require a basic understanding of scientific principles. This would not be an entry level book, but something that would appeal to an older reader who hears these terms in class or in the news. In this book, the shaded questions and answers seem to be the ones that are easier to understand. The book has tabs to identify the sections—starting with astronomy fundamentals and moving on to the universe, then the galaxies and stars. It returns to something more familiar—the solar system, a large section about the Earth and Moon and another about the space programs as well as astronomy today. These chapters may be much easier for younger readers to understand, as there are questions, such as "Who was the first man in space?" "Who were the first Asian Americans in space?" "What happened when Apollo 11 reached the Moon?" and the like. Astronomy today is also filled with fascinating information about the pioneers and the types of telescopes that are looking at deep space. Exploring the solar system focuses on probes such as Helios, which explored the sun and probes that have been sent to other planets in our solar system and beyond. Take this book in small bites and savor each one, then move on to the next topic of interest. By the time you finish this feast you will have a incredible layman's knowledge of astronomy. There is an extensive index, and more than 100 color photographs are interspersedwithin the questions and answers. Reviewer: Marilyn CourtotLibrary Journal
Like Visible Ink's The Handy Science Answer Book(1994), which LJ called "a compulsively browsable collection of over 1200 questions and answers on science, technology, and pseudo-science written in nontechnical language" full of "gems of useful and interesting information," this resource provides answers to over 1000 questions on virtually every topic related to outer space. The text contains more than 100 color illustrations and photos, as well as numerous sidebars that liven up the content. Divided into ten sections-"Astronomy Fundamentals," "The Universe," "Galaxies," "Stars," "The Solar System," "Earth and the Moon," "Space Programs," "Astronomy Today," "Exploring the Solar System," and "Life in the Universe"-the result is an accessible guide that takes readers on a journey through history and science. In addition to answering traditional questions (e.g., "Is the universe infinite?" and "How will the universe end?"), the book includes interesting questions about who were the first humans in space-including who was the first woman, the first American, the first African American, and the first Asian American in outer space.
—Kathleen A. Welton
From the Publisher
"Written by Liu (astrophysics, CUNY, Staten Island), an award-winning writer on astronomy, the book delivers on the promises of "Your Smart Reference" on the topic. A logical addition to the publisher’s "Answer Book" series, this engaging and entertaining publication will appeal to students and adults alike." —School Library Journal
"Poses hundreds of heady questions about such matters as the Big Bang, sunspots, black holes, quarks, neutrinos and Carl Sagan. [A] handy reference . . . accessible writing and careful structure [convey] the pleasures of science and discovery." —Kirkus Reviews
"A valuable resource that can be used by both teachers and students as a reference or read from cover to cover." —National Science Teachers Association
"If you have questions about space or astronomy, this book will provide what you want to know." —San Antonio Express-News
"True to its title . . . all that and more. Amazingly brief entries cover enormous topics." —Seattle Times
"Concise reference explaining all manner of space topics." —Dallas Morning News
"Written in understandable language, but the answers are not over-simplified and provide sufficient detail for understanding the concept or feature described, making this book appropriate for readers for high school to college." —American Reference Books Annual
"The range of topics [this book] presents is vast and comprehensive, with many fascinating informational tidbits . . . Stimulating and useful, whether one dips through its pages haphazardly or reads it cover to cover." —Book Review Digest