Challenges of Astronomy

by W. Schlosser, T. Schmidt-Kaler, E.F. Milone

Book Overview

Challenges of Astronomy in a unique collection of thirty astronomy experiments ranging from ancient astronomy to cosmology. Each of the experiments contains one or more challenges for the reader. The progression is from the Earth outward through the solar system to the stellar and galactic realm. Topics include the shape of the sky, Stonehenge as a stoneage abacus, determination of the size of the Earth, the distance of the Moon and planets,...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0387974083
• ISBN13: 9780387974088
• Release Date: May 1991
• Publisher: Springer
• Length: 236 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 7.0" x 10.0"

Customer Reviews

A wonderful introduction to astronomy

This is a very readable and informative textbook. While the initial exercises require far less scientific sophistication than the later ones, it is definitely written with potential scientists in mind (astronomy undergraduates in particular). It starts with some very preliminary material on our perception of the shape of the sky, followed by the use of sky charts and then an explanation of Stonehenge as a tool to calculate eclipses. The next twenty or so chapters deal with the fundamentals of doing planetary astronomy, while the final chapters move us outside the Solar System. It includes several useful appendices, including ones on coordinate systems, error analysis, and planetary positions. If you are interested in astronomy, this is a great place to start.