Back to the Astronomy Cafe: More Questions and Answers about the Cosmos from ""Ask the Astronomer""

by Sten F. Odenwald and Sten Odenwald

Book Overview

How fast does gravity travel? When will the sun go nova? Who invented the light year? Will we ever travel to the stars? These are just some of the unusual and popular questions NASA astronomer Sten Odenwald answers in 'Back to the Astronomy Cafe', based on his award-winning website "for the astronomically disadvantaged." Since his acclaimed earlier book 'The Astronomy Cafe' published in 1998, the space community has been turned on its head with entirely...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0813341663
• ISBN13: 9780813341668
• Release Date: October 2003
• Publisher: Basic Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.9" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

This science teacher's new best friend

Teaching astronomy is not easy when you know nothing. This book asks all the questions I have and my students have. It has fairly technical language for my 7th graders, but I can get the main ideas and relay them. How old is the solar system? (I forget) Will the sun go super nova? (no) There is an awesome time line which goes way back, and then tracks events predicted by science fiction authors. (fun!) There is an excellent website too, but I had to buy the book because the web site wouldn't give all the answers - it said to buy the book! I did and I am not sorry.

All kinds of astronomy questions answered.

Due to the fact that this book is written in a question and answer format, its easy to read a little at a time as your schedule allows. It covers a broad range of topics related to astronomy with very understandable answers. The author isn't afraid to admit that scientist often don't know the answers. This type of honesty is refreshing in that you feel you are being leveled with as opposed to being given an answer that is intentionally over the layman's head to avoid admitting ignorance. On the other hand, sometimes the author presents theories as if they are established facts. I think that a lot of scientist do this (perhaps unintentionally) because they are putting forth the explanation that is dogma in the scientific community and forget to remind the reader that other possibilities may exist. Overall, this is a great book and is certainly worth your time.