Go on a tour of the universe with this handy and comprehensive reference to the 300 most interesting celestial objects.
This colorful and informative book is titled 300 Astronomical Objects: A Visual Reference to the Universe. Using the latest photographs of stars, galaxies, nebulae, planets, moons, and comets, this book provides a tour through the galaxy, from its solar core to its outer limits, with all the highlights and the very latest data about the universe. Profiles of space probes, telescopes, and observatories offer insight into the world of astronomical discovery. Comprehensive text conveys interesting facts and background information about each object, while a glossary and index help you find your way through the details. Convenient data sidebars with each entry provide facts and figures on every object - including mass, magnitude, density, radius, rotation period, and surface and core temperatures. An annotated cross-section of the object enhances this information, and a full-page photograph brings the object to life.
Additional spreads bring together and explain related objects or phenomena. For example, the corresponding pages for the sun include solar power, sunspots, and solar flares. Others examples include:
- Mercury: Mercury's surface
- The asteroid belt: Eros 433
- Jupiter's moons: Io, Europa, Callista
- Uranus: Uranus' rings, Ariel, and Titania
- Outer belts and comets: Halley's comet; Deep Impact
- Space telescopes: International Space Station
This amazing compilation is an invaluable reference to understanding our solar system and its place in the universe beyond. Spanning 528 pages, this book might seem daunting, but its small, nearly square size, concise factual sketches, and incredible photography make it easy to read for the amateur astronomer or fan of the night sky.
About the Authors: Jamie Wilkins has a degree in astrophysics from Cambridge University. Robert Dunn has a degree in natural sciences, specializing in physics, from Cambridge University, where he is a researcher at the Institute of Astronomy.
