Foundations of Astronomy (with CD-ROM, Virtual Astronomy Labs, AceAstronomy, and InfoTrac) (Hardcover)

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Product Description

With this newly revised 8th edition of FOUNDATIONS OF ASTRONOMY, Mike Seeds' goal is to help students use astronomy to understand science and use science to understand what we are. Fascinating and engaging, this text illustrates the scientific method and guides students to these fundamental questions: "What are we?" and "How do we know?" In discussing the interplay between evidence and hypothesis, Seeds provides not just facts, but a conceptual framework for understanding the logic of science. The book vividly conveys his love of astronomy, and illustrates how students can comprehend their place in the universe by grasping a small set of physical laws. Crafting a story about astronomy, Mike shows students how to ask questions to gradually puzzle out the beautiful secrets of the physical world. Mathematics is incorporated into the text (and in separate sections for easy reference), but the book's arguments do not depend on mathematical reasoning, keeping even math-averse students engaged. The revision addresses new developments in astrophysics and cosmology, plus the latest discoveries, from Mars' buried water to proto-galaxies at the limits of the observable universe. This edition is now fully integrated with a FREE, brand-new student tutorial system. AceAstronomy is Web-based, assessment-driven, contains book-specific activities, and is completely flexible, creating a personalized learning plan based on quiz results to help each student focus on key concepts to be mastered. This superior system gives students fun, interactive learning opportunities and a greater chance for success.

About the Author

Mike Seeds has served as the John W. Wetzel Professor of Astronomy at Franklin and Marshall College as well as Director of the College's Joseph R. Grundy Observatory. His research interests include peculiar variable stars and the automation of astronomical telescopes. He is the Principal Astronomer in charge of the Phoenix 10, the first fully robotic telescope, located in southern Arizona. In 1989, he received the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching. In addition to teaching, writing, and research, Mike has created educational tools for use in computer-smart classrooms and continues to develop his upper-level courses in Archaeoastronomy and in the History of Astronomy. He has also published educational software for preliterate toddlers. Mike was Senior Consultant in the creation of the 26-episode telecourse UNIVERSE: THE INFINITE FRONTIER. He is the author of several introductory astronomy textbooks, including HORIZONS: EXPLORING THE UNIVERSE, 8th edition (2004) and FOUNDATIONS OF ASTRONOMY, 8th edition (2005), published by Thomson – Brooks/Cole.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 688 pages
• Publisher: Brooks Cole; 8 edition (March 23, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0534421202
• ISBN-13: 978-0534421205
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #678,886 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All about astronomy, March 26, 2008

By	Herbert Lukens (La Jolla, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Michael Seeds has provided us with a wonderfully written book on astronomy. I used his 1990 edition as an introduction to the subject, and found that after reading it, I often referred to it for authoritative details to answer particular questions. Best of all, in each successive edition, the book is brought up to date---it keeps pace with the progress of the science. Thus, I used is frequently as one of my sources in writing my book, "Extra-Terrestrial Civilizations in our Neighborhood," which is a serious effort to estimate the possibility that one or more planets within a thousand light years of us has a technical civilization. H. Richard Lukens, Jr.