Astronomy Demystified

Table of contents

Preface
Acknowledgments
PART ONE: THE SKY
Chapter 1: Coordinating the Heavens
Chapter 2: Stars Constellations
Chapter 3: The Sky "Down Under"
Chapter 4: The Moon and the Sun
Test: Part One
PART TWO: THE PLANETS
Chapter 5: Mercury and Venus
Chapter 6: Mars
Chapter 7: The Outer Planets
Chapter 8: An Extraterrestrial Visitor's Analysis of Earth
Test: Part Two
PART THREE: SOLAR SYSTEM DYNAMICS
Chapter 9: Evolution of the Solar System
Chapter 10: Major Moons of the Outer Planets
Chapter 11: Comets, Asteroids, and Meteors
Chapter 12: The Search for Extraterrestrial Life
Test: Part Three
PART FOUR: BEYOND OUR SOLAR SYSTEM
Chapter 13: Stars and Nebulae
Chapter 14: Extreme Objects in Our Galaxy
Chapter 15: Galaxies and Quasars
Chapter 16: Special and General Relativity
Test: Part Four
PART FIVE: SPACE OBSERVATION AND TRAVEL
Chapter 17: Optics and Telescopes
Chapter 18: Observing the Invisible
Chapter 19: Traveling and Living in Space
Chapter 20: Your Home Observatory
Test: Part Five
Final Exam
Answers to Quiz, Test, and Exam Questions
Suggested Additional Reading and Reference
Index

Biographical note

Stan Gibilisco is one of McGraw-Hill’s most diverse and best-selling authors. Known for his clear, user-friendly, and entertaining writing style, Mr. Gibilisco’s depth of knowledge and ease of presentation make him an excellent choice for a book such as Astronomy Demystified. His previous titles for McGraw-Hill include: The TAB Encyclopedia of Electronics for Technicians and Hobbyists, Teach Yourself Electricity and Electronics, and the Illustrated Dictionary of Electronics. Booklist named his book, The McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Personal Computing, one of the Best References of 1996.

Back cover copy

THE FAST AND PAINLESS WAY TO GRASP THE FUNDAMENTALS OF BASIC ASTRONOMY . . . WITHOUT FORMAL TRAINING Want to master astronomy or aerospace engineering but are intimidated by the complex formulas and equations? Tried other self-teaching guides but were turned off by the dry, complicated presentation? Problem solved! Astronomy Demystified is a totally different, very entertaining, and amazingly effective way to learn the mathematics, fundamentals, and general concepts of astronomy. With Astronomy Demystified, you ease into the subject one simple step at a time – at your own speed. Unlike most other books on the topic, general concepts are presented first – and the details follow. In order to make the learning process as clear and simple as possible, heavy-duty math, formulas, and equations are kept at a minimum. THIS UNIQUE, SELF-TEACHING TEXT OFFERS:* Questions at the end of every chapter and section to reinforce learning and pinpoint your weaknesses* A 100-question final exam for self-assessment* Tips on how to get the most out of observational tools such as binoculars and telescopes* Discussion of the special problems associated with observing the sky at “invisible wavelengths” * An easy way to understand the math involved in astronomySimple enough for a beginner but comprehensive enough for an advanced student, Astronomy Demystified is your short cut to understanding the heavens.