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Copyright, ii
Preface, xii
About the Authors, xxii
How to Succeed in Your Astronomy Course, xxiv
Foreword by Neil deGrasse Tyson, xxvi
Part I. Developing Perspective, 1
1. Our Place in the Universe, 1
Learning Goals, 1
1.1. Our Modern View of the Universe, 2
Cosmic Context Figure 1.2: Our Cosmic Origins, 4
Common Misconceptions: The Meaning of a Light-Year, 7
Mathematical Insight 1.1: How Far Is a Light-Year?, 8
1.2. The Scale of the Universe, 9
Special Topic: How Many Planets Are There in Our Solar System?, 10
Mathematical Insight 1.2: The Scale of Space and Time, 12
Common Misconceptions: Confusing Very Different Things, 13
1.3. Spaceship Earth, 15
Mathematical Insight 1.3: Order of Magnitude Estimation, 17
Mathematical Insight 1.4: Speeds of Rotation and Orbit, 18
1.4. The Human Adventure of Astronomy, 21
The Big Picture, 22
Summary of Key Concepts, 22
Exercises and Problems, 23
2. Discovering the Universe for Yourself, 27
Learning Goals, 27
2.1. Patterns in the Night Sky, 28
Common Misconceptions: The Moon Illusion, 31
Mathematical Insight 2.1: Angular Size, Physical Size, and Distance, 32
Common Misconceptions: Stars in the Daytime, 33
Common Misconceptions: What Makes the North Star Special?, 36
2.2. The Reason for Seasons, 36
Common Misconceptions: The Cause of Seasons, 38
Common Misconceptions: High Noon, 39
Common Misconceptions: Sun Signs, 42
2.3. The Moon, Our Constant Companion, 42
Common Misconceptions: The “Dark Side” of the Moon, 44
Common Misconceptions: Moon in the Daytime and Stars on the Moon, 45
Special Topic: Does the Moon Influence Human Behavior?, 48
2.4. The Ancient Mystery of the Planets, 49
Special Topic: Who First Proposed a Sun-Centered Solar System?, 52
The Big Picture, 53
Summary of Key Concepts, 53
Exercises and Problems, 54
3. The Science of Astronomy, 58
Learning Goals, 58
3.1. The Ancient Roots of Science, 59
3.2. Ancient Greek Science, 65
Special Topic: Eratosthenes Measures Earth, 68
Common Misconceptions: Columbus and a Flat Earth, 69
3.3. The Copernican Revolution, 70
Special Topic: Aristotle, 71
Mathematical Insight 3.1: Eccentricity and Planetary Orbits, 75
Mathematical Insight 3.2: Kepler’s Third Law, 76
3.4. The Nature of Science, 78
Cosmic Context Figure 3.27: The Copernican Revolution, 80
Special Topic: And Yet It Moves, 82
Common Misconceptions: Eggs on the Equinox, 83
Special Topic: Logic and Science, 84
3.5. Astrology, 84
The Big Picture, 87
Summary and Key Concepts, 87
Exercises and Problems, 88
Media Explorations, 91
S1. Celestial Timekeeping and Navigation, 92
Learning Goals, 92
S1.1 Astronomical Time Periods, 93
Mathematical Insight S1.1: The Copernican Layout of the Solar System, 96
Special Topic: Solar Days and the Analemma, 100
S1.2 Celestial Coordinates and Motion in the Sky, 101
Mathematical Insight S1.2: Time by the Stars, 104
S1.3 Principles of Celestial Navigation, 111
Common Misconceptions: Compass Directions, 113
The Big Picture, 113
Summary of Key Concepts, 114
Exercises and Problems, 114
Media Explorations, 117
Cosmic Context Part I: Our Expanding Perspective, 118
Part II. Key Concepts for Astronomy, 120
4. Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity, 120
Learning Goals, 120
4.1. Describing Motion: Examples from Daily Life, 121
4.2. Newton’s Laws of Motion, 124
Common Misconceptions: No Gravity in Space?, 125
Common Misconceptions: What Makes a Rocket Launch?, 128
4.3. Conservation Laws in Astronomy, 128
Mathematical Insight 4.1: Units of Force, Mass, and Weight, 128
Mathematical Insight 4.2: Mass-Energy, 133
4.4. The Universal Law of Gravitation, 134
4.5. Orbits, Tides, and the Acceleration of Gravity, 136
Mathematical Insight 4.3: Newton’s Version of Kepler’s Third Law, 137
Mathematical Insight 4.4: Escape Velocity, 139
Common Misconceptions: The Origin of Tides, 141
Mathematical Insight 4.5: The Acceleration of Gravity, 143
The Big Picture, 143
Summary of Key Concepts, 144
Exercises and Problems, 145
Media Explorations, 148
5. Light and Matter: Reading Messages from the Cosmos, 149
Learning Goals, 149
5.1. Light in Everyday Life, 150
5.2. Properties of Light, 152
Special Topic: What Do Polarized Sunglasses Have to Do with Astronomy?, 154
Mathematical Insight 5.1: Wavelength, Frequency, and Energy, 156
Common Misconceptions: Can You Hear Radio Waves?, 157
Common Misconceptions: What Could You See with X-Ray Vision?, 157
5.3. Properties of Matter, 157
Common Misconceptions: Is Radiation Dangerous?, 158
Common Misconceptions: The Illusion of Solidity, 159
Common Misconceptions: One Phase at a Time?, 160
5.4. Learning from Light, 163
Mathematical Insight 5.2: Laws of Thermal Radiation, 169
Cosmic Context Figure 5.21: Interpreting a Spectrum, 170
5.5. The Doppler Shift, 172
Mathematical Insight 5.3: The Doppler Shift, 173
The Big Picture, 174
Summary of Key Concepts, 175
Exercises and Problems, 176
Media Explorations, 179
6. Telescopes: Portals of Discovery, 180
Learning Goals, 180
6.1. Eyes and Cameras: Everyday Light Sensors, 181
6.2. Telescopes: Giant Eyes, 183
Common Misconceptions: Magnification and Telescopes, 184
Mathematical Insight 6.1: Angular Resolution, 185
Mathematical Insight 6.2: The Diffraction Limit, 186
6.3. Telescopes and the Atmosphere, 191
Special Topic: Would You Like Your Own Telescope?, 192
Common Misconceptions: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, 193
6.4. Telescopes and Technology, 195
Common Misconceptions: Closer to the Stars?, 196
The Big Picture, 201
Summary of Key Concepts, 201
Exercises and Problems, 202
Media Explorations, 205
Cosmic Context Part II: The Universality of Physics, 206
Part III. Learning from Other Worlds, 208
7. Our Planetary System, 208
Learning Goals, 208
7.1. Studying the Solar System, 209
Cosmic Context Figure 7.1: The Solar System, 210
7.2. Patterns in the Solar System, 212
Special Topic: How Did We Learn the Scale of the Solar System?, 225
7.3. Spacecraft Exploration of the Solar System, 226
The Big Picture, 230
Summary of Key Concepts, 230
Exercises and Problems, 231
Media Explorations, 233
8. Formation of the Solar System, 234
Learning Goals, 234
8.1. The Search for Origins, 235
8.2. The Birth of the Solar System, 236
8.3. The Formation of Planets, 239
Common Misconceptions: Solar Gravity and the Density of Planets, 243
8.4. The Aftermath of Planet Formation, 243
8.5. The Age of the Solar System, 248
Mathematical Insight 8.1: Radiometric Dating, 249
Special Topic: What Started the Collapse of the Solar Nebula?, 250
The Big Picture, 250
Summary of Key Concepts, 250
Exercises and Problems, 251
Media Explorations, 254
9. Planetary Geology: Earth and the Other Terrestrial Worlds, 255
Learning Goals, 255
9.1. Connecting Planetary Interiors and Surfaces, 256
Special Topic: How Do We Know What’s Inside a Planet?, 258
Common Misconceptions: Earth Is Not Full of Molten Lava, 260
Common Misconceptions: Pressure and Temperature, 262
Mathematical Insight 9.1: The Surface Area-to-Volume Ratio, 263
9.2. Shaping Planetary Surfaces, 264
9.3. Geology of the Moon and Mercury, 271
9.4. Geology of Mars, 275
9.5. Geology of Venus, 280
9.6. The Unique Geology of Earth, 283
The Big Picture, 289
Summary of Key Concepts, 290
Exercises and Problems, 291
Media Explorations, 294
10. Planetary Atmospheres: Earth and the Other Terrestrial Worlds, 295
Learning Goals, 295
10.1. Atmospheric Basics, 296
Common Misconceptions: The Greenhouse Effect Is Bad, 302
Mathematical Insight 10.1: “No Greenhouse” Temperatures, 302
Common Misconceptions: Why Is the Sky Blue?, 305
Common Misconceptions: Higher Altitudes Are Always Colder, 305
Special Topic: Weather and Chaos, 307
10.2. Weather and Climate, 307
Common Misconceptions: Toilets in the Southern Hemisphere, 310
10.3. Atmospheres of the Moon and Mercury, 314
Mathematical Insight 10.2: Thermal Escape from an Atmosphere, 315
10.4. The Atmospheric History of Mars, 316
10.5. The Atmospheric History of Venus, 321
10.6. Earth’s Unique Atmosphere, 324
Common Misconceptions: Ozone—Good or Bad?, 325
The Big Picture, 331
Summary of Key Concepts, 331
Exercises and Problems, 333
Media Explorations, 336
11. Jovian Planet Systems, 337
Learning Goals, 337
11.1. A Different Kind of Planet, 338
Special Topic: How Were Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto Discovered?, 340
11.2. A Wealth of Worlds: Satellites of Ice and Rock, 349
11.3. Jovian Planet Rings, 359
The Big Picture, 363
Summary of Key Concepts, 364
Exercises and Problems, 365
Media Explorations, 367
12. Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts, 368
Learning Goals, 368
12.1. Asteroids and Meteorites, 369
Common Misconceptions: Dodge Those Asteroids!, 372
12.2. Comets, 375
12.3. Pluto: Lone Dog No More, 381
12.4. Cosmic Collisions: Small Bodies Versus the Planets, 385
The Big Picture, 389
Summary of Key Concepts, 390
Exercises and Problems, 391
Media Explorations, 393
13. Other Planetary Systems: The New Science of Distant Worlds, 394
Learning Goals, 394
13.1. Detecting Extrasolar Planets, 395
Special Topic: How Did We Learn That Other Stars Are Suns?, 396
Special Topic: The Names of Extrasolar Planets, 398
Mathematical Insight 13.1: Finding Orbital Distances for Extrasolar Planets, 401
Mathematical Insight 13.2: Finding Masses of Extrasolar Planets, 402
13.2. The Nature of Extrasolar Planets, 405
Cosmic Context Figure 13.10: Detecting Extrasolar Planets, 406
Mathematical Insight 13.3: Finding Sizes of Extrasolar Planets, 408
13.3. The Formation of Other Solar Systems, 412
13.4. Finding More New Worlds, 414
The Big Picture, 416
Summary of Key Concepts, 417
Exercises and Problems, 418
Media Explorations, 421
Cosmic Context Part III: Learning from Other Worlds, 422
Part IV. A Deeper Look at Nature, 424
S2. Space and Time, 424
Learning Goals, 424
S2.1 Einstein’s Revolution, 425
S2.2 Relative Motion, 427
Special Topic: What If Light Can’t Catch You?, 431
S2.3 The Reality of Space and Time, 432
Mathematical Insight S2.1: The Time Dilation Formula, 434
Mathematical Insight S2.2: Formulas of Special Relativity, 438
Special Topic: Measuring the Speed of Light, 440
S2.4 Toward a New Common Sense, 441
Mathematical Insight S2.3: DerivingE = mc², 441
The Big Picture, 443
Summary of Key Concepts, 443
Exercises and Problems, 444
Media Explorations, 447
S3. Spacetime and Gravity, 448
Learning Goals, 448
S3.1 Einstein’s Second Revolution, 449
S3.2 Understanding Spacetime, 451
Special Topic: Einstein’s Leap, 452
Mathematical Insight S3.1: Spacetime Geometry, 455
S3.3 A New View of Gravity, 458
S3.4 Testing General Relativity, 461
Special Topic: The Twin Paradox, 462
S3.5 Hyperspace, Wormholes, and Warp Drive, 465
S3.6 The Last Word, 466
The Big Picture, 467
Summary of Key Concepts, 467
Exercises and Problems, 468
Media Explorations, 471
S4. Building Blocks of the Universe, 472
Learning Goals, 472
S4.1 The Quantum Revolution, 473
S4.2 Fundamental Particles and Forces, 474
Special Topic: What Is String Theory?, 478
S4.3 Uncertainty and Exclusion in the Quantum Realm, 479
Mathematical Insight S4.1: Electron Waves in Atoms, 481
Special Topic: Does God Play Dice?, 482
S4.4 Key Quantum Effects in Astronomy, 483
The Big Picture, 487
Summary of Key Concepts, 488
Exercises and Problems, 488
Media Exploration, 491
Cosmic Context Part IV: A Deeper Look at Nature, 492
Part V. Stellar Alchemy, 494
14. Our Star, 494
Learning Goals, 494
14.1. A Closer Look at the Sun, 495
Common Misconceptions: The Sun Is Not on Fire, 498
14.2. The Cosmic Crucible, 499
Mathematical Insight 14.1: Mass-Energy Conversion in Hydrogen Fusion, 501
Mathematical Insight 14.2: Pressure in the Sun: The Ideal Gas Law, 503
14.3. The Sun-Earth Connection, 507
The Big Picture, 513
Summary of Key Concepts, 513
Exercises and Problems, 514
Media Explorations, 517
15. Surveying the Stars, 518
Learning Goals, 518
15.1. Properties of the Stars, 519
Mathematical Insight 15.1: The Inverse Square Law for Light, 521
Mathematical Insight 15.2: The Parallax Formula, 522
Mathematical Insight 15.3: The Modern Magnitude Scale, 523
Common Misconceptions: Photos of Stars, 525
15.2. Patterns Among Stars, 529
Mathematical Insight 15.4: Measuring Stellar Masses, 529
Mathematical Insight 15.5: Calculating Stellar Radii, 532
15.3. Star Clusters, 536
The Big Picture, 538
Summary of Key Concepts, 538
Exercises and Problems, 539
Media Explorations, 542
16. Star Birth, 543
Learning Goals, 543
16.1. Stellar Nurseries, 544
Mathematical Insight 16.1: Gravity Versus Pressure, 549
16.2. Stages of Star Birth, 552
16.3. Masses of Newborn Stars, 557
The Big Picture, 559
Summary of Key Concepts, 560
Exercises and Problems, 560
Media Explorations, 563
17. Star Stuff, 564
Learning Goals, 564
17.1. Lives in the Balance, 565
17.2. Life as a Low-Mass Star, 566
17.3. Life as a High-Mass Star, 572
Special Topic: How Long Is 5 Billion Years?, 573
17.4. The Roles of Mass and Mass Exchange, 579
Cosmic Context Figure 17.20: Stellar Lives, 580
The Big Picture, 582
Summary of Key Concepts, 583
Exercises and Problems, 584
Media Explorations, 586
18. The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard, 587
Learning Goals, 587
18.1. White Dwarfs, 588
18.2. Neutron Stars, 592
18.3. Black Holes: Gravity’s Ultimate Victory, 595
Mathematical Insight 18.1: The Schwarzschild Radius, 597
Common Misconceptions: Black Holes Don’t Suck, 599
Special Topic: Too Strange to Be True?, 600
18.4. The Origin of Gamma-Ray Bursts, 601
The Big Picture, 603
Summary of Key Concepts, 603
Exercises and Problems, 604
Media Explorations, 607
Cosmic Context Part V: Balancing Pressure and Gravity, 608
Part VI. Galaxies and Beyond, 610
19. Our Galaxy, 610
Learning Goals, 610
19.1. The Milky Way Revealed, 611
Special Topic: How Did We Learn the Structure of the Milky Way?, 612
Special Topic: How Do We Determine Stellar Orbits?, 613
Mathematical Insight 19.1: Using Stellar Orbits to Measure Galactic Mass, 614
19.2. Galactic Recycling, 615
Common Misconceptions: The Sound of Space, 618
Common Misconceptions: What Is a Nebula?, 621
19.3. The History of the Milky Way, 625
19.4. The Mysterious Galactic Center, 628
The Big Picture, 629
Summary of Key Concepts, 630
Exercises and Problems, 630
Media Explorations, 633
20. Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology, 634
Learning Goals, 634
20.1. Islands of Stars, 635
20.2. Measuring Galactic Distances, 640
Mathematical Insight 20.1: Standard Candles, 641
20.3. Hubble’s Law, 644
Mathematical Insight 20.2: Redshift, 647
Mathematical Insight 20.3: Understanding Hubble’s Law, 648
Mathematical Insight 20.4: Age from Hubble’s Constant, 650
Common Misconceptions: Beyond the Horizon, 652
Mathematical Insight 20.5: Cosmological Redshift and the Stretching of Light, 652
The Big Picture, 653
Summary of Key Concepts, 653
Exercises and Problems, 654
Media Explorations, 657
21. Galaxy Evolution, 658
Learning Goals, 658
21.1. Looking Back Through Time, 659
21.2. The Lives of Galaxies, 661
21.3. Quasars and Other Active Galactic Nuclei, 667
Mathematical Insight 21.1: Feeding a Black Hole, 672
Mathematical Insight 21.2: Weighing Supermassive Black Holes, 674
The Big Picture, 675
Summary of Key Concepts, 676
Exercises and Problems, 676
Media Explorations, 679
22. Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe, 680
Learning Goals, 680
22.1. Unseen Influences in the Cosmos, 681
22.2. Evidence for Dark Matter, 682
Mathematical Insight 22.1: Mass-to-Light Ratio, 685
Mathematical Insight 22.2: Cluster Masses from Galaxy Orbits, 686
Special Topic: Pioneers of Science, 687
Mathematical Insight 22.3: Cluster Masses from Gas Temperature, 688
22.3. Structure Formation, 692
22.4. The Fate of the Universe, 695
Special Topic: Einstein’s Greatest Blunder, 698
The Big Picture, 699
Cosmic Context Figure 22.19: Dark Matter and Dark Energy, 700
Summary of Key Concepts, 702
Exercises and Problems, 703
Media Explorations, 705
23. The Beginning of Time, 706
Learning Goals, 706
23.1. The Big Bang, 707
Cosmic Context Figure 23.19: The Early Universe, 712
23.2. Evidence for the Big Bang, 714
Special Topic: The Steady State Universe, 714
Mathematical Insight 23.1: Temperature and Wavelength of Background Radiation, 717
23.3. The Big Bang and Inflation, 719
23.4. Observing the Big Bang for Yourself, 723
Special Topic: How Will the Universe End?, 724
The Big Picture, 725
Summary of Key Concepts, 726
Exercises and Problems, 726
Media Explorations, 729
Cosmic Context Part VI: Galaxy Evolution, 730
Part VII. Life on Earth and Beyond, 732
24. Life in the Universe, 732
Learning Goals, 732
24.1. Life on Earth, 733
Special Topic: Evolution and the Schools, 738
Special Topic: What Is Life?, 742
24.2. Life in the Solar System, 742
24.3. Life Around Other Stars, 744
24.4. The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, 748
24.5. Interstellar Travel and Its Implications to Civilization, 751
Special Topic: Are Aliens Already Here?, 754
The Big Picture, 755
Summary of Key Concepts, 755
Exercises and Problems, 756
Media Explorations, 759
Cosmic Context Part VII: A Universe of Life?, 760
Appendixes, A-1
A. Useful Numbers, A-2
B. Useful Formulas, A-3
C. A Few Mathematical Skills, A-4
D. The Periodic Table of Elements, A-13
E. Planetary Data, A-14
F. Stellar Data, A-20
G. Galaxy Data, A-22
H. Selected Astronomical Websites, A-25
I. The 88 Constellations, A-28
J. Star Charts, A-30
Glossary, G-1
Credits, C-1
Index, I-1

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