Product Description
Engagingly written, gloriously illustrated, Our Universe travels across the night sky to reveal the intimate relationship between ourselves and the cosmos. It is an epic journey encompassing the full spectrum of our knowledge of the Universe. Each of the twenty-chapters of the book centers on a famous astronomical object. From these familiar starting points, the entire Panorama of the Universe unfolds, as noted astronomer and writer Michael Rowan Robinson introduces… More >>
#1 by Dr. Thomas Carl on June 27, 2010 - 12:15 am
I had the fortune, and sometimes misfortune, to read a fair number of textbooks. All of them did promise to teach, though some proofed rather very disappointing on closer inspection.
This book on the other hand most certainly holds everything one can expect.
The book is divided into four parts: first, there is a small introction into the basics of astronomy, followed by a more in depth discussion of the solar system. The third part then covers stars and stellar evolution, while the final part is devoted to galaxies and cosmology.
The math required is minimal (i don’t think the average high school graduate should have any problems), and a wealth of pictures and graphs, together with elaborate explanations in the text make sure, that this book will be a pleasure to learn from for the interested college student.
Every chapter (30 in all) ends with a short recapitulation of the most important concepts learned, a good number of review questions (to which the answers are supplied in the back of the book) and suggestions for further reading (books, magazines and weblinks).
The book comes also with a CD, on which there are further review tests to all chapters (of course with answers), as well as additional animations and much more.
As if that were not enough, there is a companion webside that offers additional tests and answers plus updated information, since after all, astronomy is progressing swiftly.
All in all, there cannot be much doubt that this is one of the best and most well rounded astronomy textbooks on the market. If you have to learn the basics of astronomy due to a course, or if you simply want to enrich your horizon, this book will make either task both easier and more enjoyable.
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Rating: 5 / 5
#2 by Patrick Van Esch on June 27, 2010 - 12:28 am
This book is beautiful. Well written, easy to read, with
nice and informative illustrations all over, full of
interesting details. The CD is also very interesting,
not only for Starry Night, but also because of very
illustrative simulations.
The level is between popular and introductory professional.
There is not much hard theory inside, but that was
probably not the aim of the authors.
Apart from a great thing to read for oneself, the niceness
of the edition makes it also a nice gift in my opinion.
Rating: 5 / 5
#3 by Anonymous on June 27, 2010 - 2:14 am
This is a premier text for the fields of astromony and comsmology. Thorough, deep, professional, concise, technically and scientifically accurate, but also, imaginative, filled with the wonder of discovery and learning. Beginning with the ancient origins of astronomical pursuits, the reader is taken through the unfolding world of space and time. The electromagnetic spectrum, light and optics, telescopes, planet and solar system formations, stars-their nature, galaxies, quasars, black holes, all of these wonders are explored. Do yourself a flavor-get it!
Rating: 5 / 5
#4 by Roger Freedman on June 27, 2010 - 3:35 am
I’m the author of Universe w/ Starry Night Enthusiast CD-ROM, and I thank Lonewolf Astronomer for pointing out Amazon’s error in describing the book as a hardcover — it is in fact a softcover. I’ve asked Amazon to change their description to reflect this, and they have done so.
Lonewolf Astronomer included a link to Universe: The Solar System w/Starry Night Enthusiast CD-ROM, which is indeed cheaper than Universe. It is also quite a bit shorter, since it omits all of the chapters from Universe which concern stars, galaxies, and cosmology (Chapters 17-27).
Another abbreviated version of the book is Universe: Stars & Galaxies w/Starry Night Enthusiast CD-ROM, which includes all of the chapters from Universe on stars, galaxies, and cosmology but omits Chapters 9-15 on the solar system.
All three versions — Universe, Universe: The Solar System, and Universe: Stars and Galaxies — are available with the Starry Night Enthusiast CD-ROM.
Finally, in order to post this response, Amazon forced me to rate my own book. I hope the vast Amazon public will excuse the fact that I gave it five stars.
Rating: 5 / 5
#5 by Spencer J. Musick on June 27, 2010 - 5:55 am
Excellent, informative, interesting book. Also, the CD-ROM contains some very interesting things. Especially informative is the Starry Night software that allows you to view and travel to the cosmos in person. It is both educational and also quite fun!
Rating: 5 / 5