The Cosmic Perspective

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The world’s bestselling textbook series for introductory astronomy — used successfully by more than 3 million students!

We humans have gazed into the sky for countless generations, wondering how our lives are connected to the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars that adorn the heavens. Today, through the science of astronomy, we know that these connections go far deeper than our ancestors ever imagined. This book tells the story of modern astronomy and the new perspective — The Cosmic Perspective — with which it allows us to view ourselves and our planet.

Astronaut John Grunsfeld with a CD of The Cosmic Perspective floating in front of him while orbiting Earth during the Space Shuttle’s final servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope (May 2009).

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Praise for The Cosmic Perspective

“It is the most refreshing astronomy text I have seen in years.” — Richard Gray, Appalachian State University

“Your book is aimed at real people. I think you have hit the bull’s eye.” — James A. Scarborough, Delta State University

“Student questions have been anticipated by an exceptionally thorough writing style… The explanations of complex concepts are artfully accomplished… I really enjoyed reading it.” — John Stolar, West Chester University

“This textbook displays great promise in leading the revolution to bring our astronomy courses back from the brink of entertainment and turn them into core science courses on a subject that everyone finds fascinating.” — James Schombert, University of Oregon

“This text is superb — the best astronomy book I have used in 28 years of teaching the course — I truly enjoy it.” — Anthony Jusick, Stetson University

“You and your coauthors are to be commended for the first TRULY innovative intro astronomy text in many years! Well done!” — Joe Heafner, Catawba Valley Community College

Table of Contents

1. A Modern View of the Universe
2. Discovering the Universe for Yourself
3. The Science of Astronomy
   • S1. Celestial Timekeeping and Navigation
4. Making Sense of the Universe: Motion, Gravity, Energy
5. Light and Matter: Reading Messages from the Cosmos
6. Telescopes: Portals of Discovery
7. Our Planetary System
8. Formation of the Solar System
9. Planetary Geology: Earth and the Other Terrestrial Worlds
10. Planetary Atmospheres: Earth and the Other Terrestrial Worlds
11. Jovian Planet Systems
12. Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts
13. Other Planetary Systems: The New Science of Distant Worlds
    • S2. Space and Time
    • S3. Spacetime and Gravity
    • S4. Building Blocks of the Universe
14. Our Star
15. Surveying the Stars
16. Star Birth
17. Star Stuff
18. The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard
19. Our Galaxy
20. Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology
21. Galaxy Evolution
22. The Birth of the Universe
23. Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe
24. Life in the Universe