- Hardcover: 268 pages
- Publisher: Cambridge University Press (Oct 1 2001)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0521780934
- ISBN-13: 978-0521780933
- Product Dimensions: 27.5 x 22.4 x 2.3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 1.2 Kg
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#606,098 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #17 in Books > Nonfiction > Education > Reference > Encyclopedias > Astronomy
- #18 in Books > Reference > Encyclopedias > Astronomy
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon
Everything you ever wanted to know about the sun, the powerhouse of our galaxy, sustaining life on earth, driving the weather, providing warmth and light--and, directly or indirectly, almost all the energy that plants and animals use.
Less a classic encyclopedia than a topic-by-topic textbook introducing readers to all things solar, astronomer Lang's compendium offers the very latest scientific views on a range of matters, from fundamental constants to the composition of sunlight, from the role of sunspots in terrestrial weather and human history to the methods scientists use to forecast such phenomena today, from the origins of the universe to days to come--when, 7 billion years from now, the "aging Sun will swell up to become a giant star," one that will spread to occupy the space the earth now occupies, and far beyond. Abundant photographs, charts, and line drawings, all very well made, accompany the text, which also includes a recent bibliography and a glossary of current terms.
Highly useful for students of astronomy and space science, this attractive volume will require little updating for years to come, and it serves as the best single general reference work on the subject. --Gregory McNamee
From Publishers Weekly
Armed with abundant data amassed via the Very Large Array radio telescope and "modern spacecraft," Lang (Astrophysical Data) of Tufts University embarked solo on this dense resource volume. Geared toward "anyone with a scientific interest in the Sun," the book is thick with equations, conversion tables, charts of spectral flux, etc. Answers to questions like "Why does the human eye respond just to visible light?" quickly depart the lay realm. Photos.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
The Sun is our powerhouse, sustaining life on Earth. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
The Sun is our powerhouse, sustaining life on Earth. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
What you should know about the nearest star,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the Sun (Hardcover)
This is a very nice book that will be of interest both to amateur astronomers and people with good physics background. The author separated descriptive text from text with mathematical content and as a result one can choose to read in a depth appropriate to their background. The book is also very well illustrated with informative captions below each picture. It is clear that the author is enthusiastic about the subject. However, what I did not like was that almost 100 from the 250 pages are devoted to general astronomical concepts and a glossary. This material is good but I would prefer to read more details about the sun. If the introduction explained solar physics (such as magnetism, spectra) in much more detail then subsequent chapters would be understood even better. I recommend the book to all people with a serious interest in the physics of our star.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews) 20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
What you should know about the nearest star,
By A Customer - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the Sun (Hardcover)
This is a very nice book that will be of interest both to amateur astronomers and people with good physics background. The author separated descriptive text from text with mathematical content and as a result one can choose to read in a depth appropriate to their background. The book is also very well illustrated with informative captions below each picture. It is clear that the author is enthusiastic about the subject. However, what I did not like was that almost 100 from the 250 pages are devoted to general astronomical concepts and a glossary. This material is good but I would prefer to read more details about the sun. If the introduction explained solar physics (such as magnetism, spectra) in much more detail then subsequent chapters would be understood even better. I recommend the book to all people with a serious interest in the physics of our star.
5.0 out of 5 stars
The bottom line on the Sun.,
By Sky King "Tide Runner" - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the Sun (Hardcover)
I bought the book to have an up to date scientific reference on the Sun to complement my other books on how to view the Sun and my own solar observations. The book is well written and separates the detailed scientific equations and calculations form the general text. The scientific details are in separate boxes and easily identified, which facilitates the reading of the main text. The photos are excellent and up to date. They helped me understand my own astrophotography photos. I would definitely recommend the book to anyone with a serious desire to grasp out current understanding of the Sun or any amateur astronomer who is considering solar observations. The only small comment I have is the author's treatment of the impact of the Sun on the Earth. When you do not know, say you do not know. Do not say "apparently" and other weak references. Science in based on fact and 99% of the book sticks to known facts or states what we do not know. I do not appreciate pseudo science or politics creeping into a scientific reference. The motto of the Royal Society is "Nullius in verba", In the words of no man. The data must stand on its own as it has for hundreds of years of scientific discovery, and that is how it should be today.NOTE: Be sure to check other books on how to view the Sun and use proper filters for your telescope before viewing the Sun. Never view the Sun with the naked eye or binoculars. Even a quick glance can cause blindness. This is a great subject, but be careful! |
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