Thoroughly updated and re-conceived, Astronomy, Ninth Edition, equips the introductory astronomy student with the essential tools for understanding the cosmos. Michael Zeilik has revised the pedagogy of his successful textbook based on recent research in astronomy education. Significantly shorter than the previous edition, the ninth edition is organized into four concept clusters: Cosmic Distances, Heavenly Motions, Celestial Light and Spectra, and Scientific Models. Material has been streamlined throughout to make the descriptions, concepts, and explanations clearer. Each chapter ends with a concise summary of the concepts in each cluster. Each chapter contains at least one Celestial Navigator, a concept map that provides a visual guide of major concepts in the chapter and explicity shows their connections. Throughout, illustrations have been updated to be clearer and more understandable to the novice student. Michael Zeilik, Professor of Physics and Astronomy and former Presidential Lecturer at the University of New Mexico, specializes in innovative, introductory courses for the novice, non-science major student. In 1998, he was appointed a Research Fellow at the National Institute of Science Education. Zeilik's work has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, NASA, the Exxon Educational Foundation, and the Slipher Fund of the National Academy of Sciences. In 1997, the 8th edition of Astronomy: The Evolving Universe won a Texty Award from the Text and Academic Authors Association. In 2002 he was awarded the Astronomy Education Prize by the American Astronomical Society.
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"A slick introductory textbook that vaguely resembles a really thick Discover magazine. Zeilik...presents each topic in a patient, engaging manner, and even includes some material from his research on astronomy in the historic and prehistoric Pueblo world." Book News
"This is an ideal reference book which can be used in conjunction with lecture material." Astronomy & Space
"The science is accurate and presented in a logical sequence, with concepts stressed more than vocabulary. The photos and figures have been thoughtfully selected and generously sized, and the prose is written in an engagingly colloquial style.... The text continually explains the significance of what the reader is studying.... anyone seeking a good descriptive overview of astronomy at the dawn of the 21st century should certainly consider using this excellent book." Science Books and Films
"...provides a clearly written introduction to astronomy for undergraduates or interested novices. It is recommended for undergraduate science collections, as well as public libraries providing continuing education resourcesin the sciences." E-Streams
"This is an ideal reference book which can be used in conjunction with lecture material." Astronomy & Space
"The science is accurate and presented in a logical sequence, with concepts stressed more than vocabulary. The photos and figures have been thoughtfully selected and generously sized, and the prose is written in an engagingly colloquial style.... The text continually explains the significance of what the reader is studying.... anyone seeking a good descriptive overview of astronomy at the dawn of the 21st century should certainly consider using this excellent book." Science Books and Films
"...provides a clearly written introduction to astronomy for undergraduates or interested novices. It is recommended for undergraduate science collections, as well as public libraries providing continuing education resourcesin the sciences." E-Streams
Book Description
This highly illustrated textbook for a one-semester introduction to astronomy describes the full range of the astronomical universe and how astronomers think about the cosmos. This ninth edition is more streamlined than earlier editions, presenting only that material needed by students. Each topic is presented in a patient, engaging manner, and includes the lastest astronomical research.
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26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book for all,
This review is from: Astronomy: The Evolving Universe, 8th Edition (Paperback)
If you were ever interested in what is going on above in heavens, but didn't want to trouble yourself with too much equations and other non-esential stuff, then this is the book for you. It is a textbook, and it reads as a textbook. You'll find that everything is included: from our Solar system, to the nuclear processes in the stars, to the black holes. Descriptions are as they should be for the non-pros: comprehensive and simple (yet not trivial), well presented (love those many color pictures) and to the point. Great for an occasional star-gazer as well as astronomy students to revise their knowledge. And the Night Spectra Quest is a neat beginner's tool to examining star spectra. If you get more interested after studying this book, I recommend "An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics", which goes more deeply into the study of astrophysics and cosmology.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Starry, starry night...,
By FrKurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (TOP 500 REVIEWER)
This review is from: Astronomy: The Evolving Universe, 9th Edition (Paperback)
Zeilik's book is one of the earliest systematic astronomy texts I ever read, beginning with the third edition back in 1982. That edition had four primary sections - Part I: Changing Concepts of the Cosmos; Part II: The Planets, Past and Present; Part III: The Universe of Stars and Galaxies; and Part IV: Cosmic Evolution. Part I looks at the general structure of the universe, how it was conceived in the past, and how it is viewed today. Much of what is covered here falls under the general heading of cosmology. Zeilik has an interest in the history of astronomy, and it shows clearly in the text. He explores, among other topics, the Anasazi prehistoric astronomy discoveries, the Ptolemaic geocentric model, Tycho Brahe/Kepler's achievements, the discoveries of Newton and Galileo, and finally the birth of modern astrophysics. Some basic physics is introduced along the way, to make sense of radiation and optics, as well as gravitation and space-time concepts. Part II looks at the nine planets of our solar system, including their satellites (moons), and the asteroids and other solar system objects (comets, etc.). Planetary sciences are among the fastest developing sciences around, so a lot of the information contained here is basic, and some updating is required. There is no mistake that the most current version of this text is now in its ninth edition. The final chapter in this subject looks at some of the theories of the origin and development of the solar system. Part III looks at the universe beyond the planets, looking first at the sun as a typical small star, and then going further afield to look at the Milky Way, our local galaxy in some detail. This includes a look at other major formations and stars within the galaxy - some named stars of interest as well as celestial objects such as nebulae, and a discussion of interstellar distances and distribution (Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, etc.). The structure, kinematics and dynamics of spiral galaxies are explored, and then other types of galaxies (elliptical, etc.) and galactic clusters. The final section, Part IV, looks at general evolution and development of the universe. Stellar evolution is the first subject, as one of the primary vehicles of universal development. The different ways in which a star dies are explored - white dwarves, neutron stars, supernovae, black holes, pulsars. The larger ideas of the origins and ultimate fate of the universe (cosmology again, at the end) are explored, including a brief discussion of the origins of life in the universe, and short discussions on topics such as SETI (called CETI here, Communication with ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence). One of the useful aspects of this text is the 'Beyond the Book' sections after each chapter. These include information about periodicals (often the best way to find the latest information on astronomy topics), additional books and other resources. There are learning objectives listed at the beginning of each chapter, and convenient summaries, and some short exercises at the end of each chapter also. There are several useful appendices, including lists of stars, planetary data, periodic table, and other such information. A very good glossary and index round out the book, making it an excellent text book for both classroom and independent use.
0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
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This review is from: Astronomy: The Evolving Universe, 9th Edition (Paperback)
The book is in excellent condition and I needed it for a summer class. I haven't seen any marks or creased pages and it's just very clean-cut, as stated.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
After studying this chapter, you should be able to: Describe how astronomical observations and physical ideal interact to generate a scientific model of the cosmos. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
heliocentric parallax, degenerate gas pressure, invisible astronomy, escape speed, inflationary universe model, few thousand kelvins, nebular model, midnorthern latitude, lighthouse model, evolutionary lifetime, elongation angle, condensation sequence, greatest eastern elongation, icy materials, orbital tilt, visual luminosity, binary galaxies, second energy level, transparent gas, comet model, nuclear bulge, dynamo model, heliocentric model, solar masses, million kelvins Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Learning Outcome, Enrichment Focus, Big Bang, Milky Way, Crab Nebula, Local Group, Orion Nebula, Halley's Comet, United States, Celestial Navigator, New Mexico, Tycho Brahe, Van Allen, Alpha Centauri, Caloris Basin, Isaac Newton, Local Supercluster, Upsilon Andromedae, Johannes Kepler, Large Magellanic Cloud, Oort Cloud, Albert Einstein, Big Crunch, Local Star, Olympus Mons New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
After studying this chapter, you should be able to: Describe how astronomical observations and physical ideal interact to generate a scientific model of the cosmos. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
heliocentric parallax, degenerate gas pressure, invisible astronomy, escape speed, inflationary universe model, few thousand kelvins, nebular model, midnorthern latitude, lighthouse model, evolutionary lifetime, elongation angle, condensation sequence, greatest eastern elongation, icy materials, orbital tilt, visual luminosity, binary galaxies, second energy level, transparent gas, comet model, nuclear bulge, dynamo model, heliocentric model, solar masses, million kelvins Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Learning Outcome, Enrichment Focus, Big Bang, Milky Way, Crab Nebula, Local Group, Orion Nebula, Halley's Comet, United States, Celestial Navigator, New Mexico, Tycho Brahe, Van Allen, Alpha Centauri, Caloris Basin, Isaac Newton, Local Supercluster, Upsilon Andromedae, Johannes Kepler, Large Magellanic Cloud, Oort Cloud, Albert Einstein, Big Crunch, Local Star, Olympus Mons New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 3
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21
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- Supercomputer Applications by in Supercomputer Applications Symposium (1982- ) 1984 West Lafayette in Front Matter
- The Theory of Relativity: & Other Essays by Albert Einstein on page 135
- Mathematical principles of natural philosophy and Treatise On Light (Great books of the Western World, v. 34) by Isaac Newton on page 73
- Astrochemistry: From Astronomy to Astrobiology by Andrew M. Shaw on page 32, and Back Matter
- Physically Speaking: A Dictionary of Quotations on Physics and Astronomy by C.C. Gaither on page 13, and Back Matter
- You've Been Had!: How the Media and Environmentalists Turned America into a Nation of Hypochondriacs by Melvin A Benarde in Back Matter
- The Amateur Astronomer's Introduction to the Celestial Sphere by William Millar in Back Matter
- Seeing Stars: The Night Sky Through Small Telescopes (Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series) by Chris Kitchin in Back Matter
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