Astronomy: A Beginner's Guide to the Universe (5th Edition) (Paperback)

by Eric Chaisson (Author), Steve McMillan (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
For one-semester Introduction to Astronomy courses. The authors incorporate three themes in the briefer of their two textbooks; process of science (how we know what we know), the size and scale of the universe as well as the evolution of the universe. A Beginner's Guide emphasizes critical thinking and visualization, and a leading-edge technology program.

From the Back Cover

Astronomy Today 4/e (ISBN 0-13-091542-4) is the more comprehensive text by this: proven team of authors. This twenty-eight chapter text begins with the foundations of the history of science and physics as they relate to astronomy (Part One), then proceeds with an "Earth-out" organization for coverage of the solar system (Part Two), stars and stellar evolution (Part Three), and galaxies and cosmology (Part Four). New with the fourth edition, the book is now available in two paperback splits:

Astronomy Today 4/e: The Solar System (ISBN 0-13-093560-3) covers Part One on foundations (Chapters 1-$); Part Two on the solar system (Chapters 6-15); the Sun chapter (Chapter 16); and the final chapter on life in the universe (Chapter 28).

Astronomy Today 4/e: Stars and Galaxies (ISBN 0-13-093571-9) includes Part One on foundations (Chapters 1-S); Part Three on stars and stellar evolution (Chapters 16-22); and Part Four on galaxies and cosmology (Chapters 23-28).

Astronomy: A Beginner's Guide to the Universe 4/e (ISBN 0-13-100727-0) is the authors' briefer text. It covers the same scope of material in the same order as Astronomy Today 4/e, but with less detail and in fewer chapters (eighteen instead of twenty-eight) and fewer pages.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 576 pages
• Publisher: Benjamin Cummings; 5 edition (March 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 013187165X
• ISBN-13: 978-0131871656
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 9.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #21,491 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Publisher Fails!, April 18, 2006

By	AbAAv (Hampton, Virginia) - See all my reviews

This textbook is an adequate basic astronomy text that covers all of the bases and as might be expected has many updates reflecting recent research in the field. However, much of the really cool photography, demonstrations, animations, and illustrations are not in the book but are supposed to be on the web-site to which purchasers are given free access for more than an academic year. Although the book was released months ago, the web-site will not be available before the end of May 2006. The Prentice Hall Product Support people took over three weeks to find this out and were unable to offer any other solution to the problem which was shared by half of my class section. Do not purchase this book; it is a ripoff. If you must buy it, buy an older edition that comes with the CD (which the rest of my section purchased.) You won't have to deal with Prentice-Hall. Even better, try "Discovering the Universe" which is better written and comes with a CD.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Textbook, April 28, 2009

By	FCBruin5 (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This textbook has helped me understand the concepts at an easier level since my professor can get kind of boring. The pictures are really helpful as well. I really like the weight and flexibility for this book, it is very convenient to carry on campus

5.0 out of 5 stars Textbook for School, February 2, 2009

By	K. Stoetzel "kristine4727" (Maxwell, NE) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am using this book for my Astronomy class and it does have a lot of very good information in it. It is also easy to read and understand. They include pictures and diagrams which also help out. I am 4 weeks into my class and I am glad we are using this book.