Astro4U: An Introduction to the Science of the Cosmos

Astro maths -- The sky -- Astronomy of the ancients -- Renaissance astronomy -- The astronomer's toolbox: physical principles -- Overview of the solar system -- The sun, our nearest star -- Earth, the home world -- The moon -- The terrestrial planets -- The gas giant planets -- The dwarf planet...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Ignace, Richard
Published: Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu_books/17
http://amzn.com/1634870697
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Summary:Astro maths -- The sky -- Astronomy of the ancients -- Renaissance astronomy -- The astronomer's toolbox: physical principles -- Overview of the solar system -- The sun, our nearest star -- Earth, the home world -- The moon -- The terrestrial planets -- The gas giant planets -- The dwarf planets -- Major moons of the solar system -- Solar system debris -- Properties of the stars -- The formation of stars -- The lives of stars -- Stellar corpses -- The interstellar medium -- Living in a galaxy called the milky way -- Galaxies -- Active galaxies and quasars -- Cosmology -- Exoplanets -- The search for life. The book Astro4U: An Introduction to the Science of the Cosmos excites students about the grandeur of astronomy and how the universe functions. Filled with vibrant figures and informative tables that support the written text, the book has a fresh, casual, student-friendly tone that dramatically increases interest in the material while also making it more accessible. The book provides a college-level description of science with astronomy serving as the vehicle of delivery for displaying the scientific model. The content follows a traditional progression of scale, beginning with a study of the sky, followed by discussions of ancient and medieval astronomy, modern scientific practices, and key physical principles. Chapters move through the Solar System, stars, then galaxies, and finally the cosmos as a whole. Additionally, the book presents astronomy as the story of light and gravity, crucial threads that permeate the text. Because students often express concern about the math content in astronomy classes, the book begins with a chapter entitled "Astro Maths" that reviews all the mathematical skills and concepts needed to complete the course. This up-front investment increases student confidence, eliminates one of the primary blocks students face, and improves chances for student achievement and success. Astro4U is written for general education survey courses in astronomy that are geared to non-science majors. === https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu_books/1016/thumbnail.jpg