The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the Sun [Hardcover]

Kenneth R. Lang (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521780934 | ISBN-13: 978-0521780933 | Publication Date: October 1, 2001 | Edition: 1st

The Sun is our powerhouse, sustaining life on Earth, energizing our planet, and fueling the engine of life. Its warmth drives our weather, lifting water from the seas, and producing winds that drive clouds over the continents. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the Sun is the fundamental, up-to-date reference source of information about this life-enhancing star, covering everything from basic facts to detailed concepts. Organized thematically, chapters feature: -the properties of the Sun as a star -the Sun's place in the Galaxy and the Universe -the science of the Sun's interior -the sun's visible disk -what makes the sun shine. Kenneth Lang also explains solar flares and the solar wind, and their impact on the Earth. Many full-color figures and photographs throughout the book make all the information highly accessible. Kenneth R. Lang is a professor of astronomy in the Physics and Astronomy Department at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. He is the author of several astrophysics books including Wanderers in Space (Cambridge, 1991), Sun, Earth and Sky (Copernicus, 1997), and The Sun from Space (Springer Verlag, 2000).

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

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.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 268 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 1st edition (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521780934
• ISBN-13: 978-0521780933
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #226,176 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful 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, April 25, 2003

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.

5.0 out of 5 stars The bottom line on the Sun., March 27, 2010

By 

Sky King "Tide Runner" (Shalimar, FL USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

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!