- Paperback: 464 pages
- Publisher: Alpha; 2 edition (Jan 23 2003)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0028641981
- ISBN-13: 978-0028641980
- Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 18.8 x 2.8 cm
- Shipping Weight: 748 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #2,247,003 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Description
Book Description
The most comprehensive astronomy book for beginners!
The first edition of this book has sold over 37,000 copies in a little over two years.
In addition to being one of the most popular sciences, astronomy is a hobby for a large and growing number of amateurs, many of whom have made significant discoveries.
A host of new discoveries and exciting advances have been made since the first edition. Astronomy is an ancient science on the cutting edge. Although its been around for over 5,500 years, astronomers say that we have learned more than 90 percent of what we know in only the last 50 years--a disproportionate amount in just the past decade. Each new year seems to yield more information than the last, not to mention advances in the technology for acquiring it.
Christopher De Pree, Ph.D., is an assistant professor at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, where he teaches physics and astronomy. He received his Ph.D. in physics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1996. Professor De Pree is the director of Bradley Observatory and author of numerous scientific articles on the topic of massive star formation. He is co-author of The Complete Idiots Guide® to Astronomy and the forthcoming Recent Advances and Issues in Astronomy (Greenwood Press, 2001).
Alan Axelrod, Ph.D. is the author of more than 20 books, including three Complete Idiots Guides- Patton on Leadership- Strategic Lessons for Corporate Warfare (Prentice Hall Press, 1999), Elizabeth I, CEO- Strategic Lessons from the Leader Who Built an Empire (Prentice Hall Press, 2000), and the forthcoming Thomas Jefferson (for Alpha Books Critical Lives series). He holds a Ph.D. in American literature and culture from the University of Iowa.
The first edition of this book has sold over 37,000 copies in a little over two years.
In addition to being one of the most popular sciences, astronomy is a hobby for a large and growing number of amateurs, many of whom have made significant discoveries.
A host of new discoveries and exciting advances have been made since the first edition. Astronomy is an ancient science on the cutting edge. Although its been around for over 5,500 years, astronomers say that we have learned more than 90 percent of what we know in only the last 50 years--a disproportionate amount in just the past decade. Each new year seems to yield more information than the last, not to mention advances in the technology for acquiring it.
Christopher De Pree, Ph.D., is an assistant professor at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, where he teaches physics and astronomy. He received his Ph.D. in physics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1996. Professor De Pree is the director of Bradley Observatory and author of numerous scientific articles on the topic of massive star formation. He is co-author of The Complete Idiots Guide® to Astronomy and the forthcoming Recent Advances and Issues in Astronomy (Greenwood Press, 2001).
Alan Axelrod, Ph.D. is the author of more than 20 books, including three Complete Idiots Guides- Patton on Leadership- Strategic Lessons for Corporate Warfare (Prentice Hall Press, 1999), Elizabeth I, CEO- Strategic Lessons from the Leader Who Built an Empire (Prentice Hall Press, 2000), and the forthcoming Thomas Jefferson (for Alpha Books Critical Lives series). He holds a Ph.D. in American literature and culture from the University of Iowa.
From the Back Cover
CIG to Astronomy, 2e 0028641981
The Complete Idiot's Guide(r) to Astronomy, 2E is the most comprehensive astronomy book for beginners, covering: the history of space exploration, our solar system, galaxy, and beyond, tools of the trade-including equipment available for amateurs, and exciting, controversial topics such as the search for extraterrestrial intelligence and the Big Bang theory.
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the Easiest Guides to Amateur Astronomy,
By Nichole Long "Nichole" (Alabama, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Complete Idiot's Guide to Astronomy (Paperback)
I own dozens of amateur astronomy books. Almost all of them are "hard." Why are they so difficult? They are difficult to the beginning amateur because most writers of these books are professional astronomers or physicists: pros who seem to get carried away with irrelevant points during the writing of these guides. I could see this every time I looked in many of the books: too much talk about the celestial sphere, page after page of mythology, endless telescope diagrams, famous science battles, mind-numbing physics, & so on. The meat of the matter was lost.Not so with this book. De Pree & Axelrod - two pros - finally got it right. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Astronomy is different from all the rest. Snappily-written, fun, & easy to understand, this guide sticks to all the important points of amateur astronomy. This book really respects the amateur astronomer. It has been in my library for about 5 years, & I return to it frequently. Buy this book if you want to painlessly learn amateur astronomy. You won't be disappointed.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply Marvelous,
By
This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Astronomy, 2E (Paperback)
There is truly a great wealth of information in this book, ranging from a "history" of astronomy profiling the great astronomers of the past and their accomplishments, to what kinds of things (stars, planets, etc) you should search for in the sky, the kind of telescope you should buy (if you are so inclined), along with information about our moon, our solar system and beyond. Also included is information about the different kinds of stars out there (everything from "white dwarves" to "red giants"), how the universe was created and how many other potential universe there are "out there." Particularly interesting to me were the descriptions of the various planets and also how "black holes" get formed.The book's appendices also contain a wealth of information, a list of upcoming solar and lunar eclipses, a list of constellations, and other sources of information. Anyone with an interest in astronomy, be it an "amateur astronomer" setting up his telescope to search the skies or a lay person like me who wonders what other worlds are like will enjoy this book.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Broad in Scope.,
By Tracy Wilson (Dahlonega Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Astronomy, 2E (Paperback)
This book could be called the "Swiss Army Knife" of Astronomybooks. Rich, complete. Has much to offer the novice and pro alike. From the History of Astronomy and its many essentric players, to the use of todays powerful Radio telescopes. This is not a dry Technical manual but a book packed with all the words and tools of modern Astronomy, liberally sprinkled with humor and trivia. Want to know who what when and where? Or how far, how big and how hot? When I have a question this is the book I reach for. From backyard to Hubble, its all in here. Chris DePree's love of Astronomy (and teaching it!) shows in this wonderful book. Cudos!
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