Visions of the Cosmos
This spectacularly illustrated book is a comprehensive exploration of astronomy through the eyes of the world's observatories and spacecraft missions. Featuring the latest and most stunning images, it provides a magnificent picture of the beauty of the cosmos. The accompanying text is an accessible guide to the science behind the wonders and includes clear explanations of all the major themes in astronomy. An essential guide to understanding and appreciating the Universe, Visions of the Cosmos builds on the success of the authors' previous book, Hubble Vision, which became an international best-seller and won world-wide acclaim.
Carolyn Collins Petersen is a science journalist and creator of educational materials for astronomy. She is the former Editor of Books & Products at Sky Publishing Corporation, and served as Editor of SkyWatch and Associate Editor of Sky & Telescope magazines. Petersen is the lead author of the book Hubble Vision, first published in 1995 by Cambridge University Press, and co-written with Dr. John C. Brandt. She is also co-editor (with J. Kelly Beatty and Andrew Chaikin) of The New Solar System, fourth edition, co-published by Sky Publishing Corporation and Cambridge University Press.
John C. Brandt has held positions as a research scientist, teacher, and administrator, and is currently an adjunct professor of physics and astronomy at the University of New Mexico. He served for 20 years as Chief of a major NASA scientific laboratory and was the Principal Inverstigator for the Goddard High Resolution Spectograph on the Hubble Space Telescope. John received the NASA Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement in 1978 and 1992, and has had a minor planet formally named after him (3503 Brandt) for his fundamental contributions to understanding of solar system astrophysics.
- An essential guide to understanding and appreciating the Universe, from the authors of the bestselling Hubble Vision
- Filled with stunning colour photographs from ground and space-based telescopes
- Includes descriptions of planned future observatories and missions to other planets
Reviews & endorsements
"...an excellent basic introduction to astronomy. The authors grab the readers attention with the excellent photographs, and then explain them in easy to understand terms. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to get a quick overview of astronomy, or who just wants to look at some amazing pictures." Stardust
"This book may look like eye candy, but it does have something to say, and it says it in a voice often as alluring as its images." Sky and Telescope
"The photographs are exceptional, stupendous even, and the accompanying text manages the small miracle of doing them justice. This is an elegant and enthralling volume that lavishes marveling sentience with the optics of a mysterium tremendum: the "mature" science of the cosmos." San Francisco Chronicle
Product details
December 2003Hardback
9780521818988
226 pages
286 × 248 × 22 mm
1.253kg
187 colour illus.
Out of stock in print form with no current plan to reprint
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- 1. Eyes in the sky
- 2. Telescopes: multi-frequency time machines
- 3. Planets on a pixel
- 4. The lives of stars
- 5. Galaxies - tales of stellar cities
- 6. The once and future universe
- 7. Stargazing - the next generation
- Glossary.