A Survey of Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud 2007th Edition

by Brian May (Author)

18 ratings

ISBN-13: 978-0387777054

ISBN-10: 0387777059

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In the summer and autumn of 2006 I read several interviews with Brian May in which he mentioned his desire to complete the PhD that he had abandoned in 1974. I looked up the papers he had published while a PhD student, which were on spectroscopic studies of the motion of the dust responsible for the zodiacal light, and felt that there was a basis for a thesis. Since he had been a student at Imperial, I knew, as Head of the Astrophysics Group at Imperial, that it would be good for the Group if he came and worked with us. I got in touch with him by email and suggested he come and talk about it. He replied enthusiastically and said that he was working on typing up what he had completed by 1974. I gradually realized that I was the only staff member at Imperial who had previously worked on zodiacal dust, so that I would have to act as his supervisor. Eventually we met and I tried to assess whether he would be able to find time for the huge amount of work that finishing off a thesis involves, particularly if it has not been touched for over 30 years. Since some of Brian’s emails were coming from the recording studio I knew there was strong competition for his time.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

From the reviews:

"The Queen guitarist Brian May has achieved a new milestone: he has published his PhD thesis in astronomy. … Entitled A Survey of Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud, his thesis analyses what happens to the dust particles left over from the formation of the solar system about 4.6 billion years ago. … Mike Lockwood, a physics professor at Southampton University, said May’s work was timely … . Brian Cox, a physics professor at Manchester University, applauded May’s tenacity. … That’s hugely impressive." (Jonathan Leake and Robert Watts, Times Online, August, 2008)

From the Back Cover

The Zodiacal Light, that misty diffuse cone of light seen in the West after Sunset and the East before Sunrise, is a beautiful and intriguing phenomenon. Even though everyone can enjoy the sight from a suitably dark location, it is poorly understood, and has been the subject of relatively little research. Brian May began his research into the subject in 1970, and was finally awarded his PhD in 2007, after a hiatus of more than 30 years pursuing his other career as guitarist with his rock band Queen. This book is Brian’s thesis, and as such presents the results of his research for astronomers.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Springer; 2007th edition (August 5, 2008)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 237 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0387777059
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0387777054
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.87 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 0.8 x 11 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,111,810 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #189 in London England Travel Books
- #491 in Astronomy & Astrophysics
- #1,130 in Earth Sciences (Books)

Customer Reviews:
18 ratings

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4 star		11%
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Dense, but that was expected

Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2019

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I'm not a huge follower of astrophysics, and that meant that most of this book is not something I have a great deal of knowledge or interest in. My girlfriend who I bought this for is even less of a great audience. But she wanted it because Brian May wrote it.

Its not bad, but I'll admit that if you're not really into this level of detail and discovery, a book like this isn't going to be your cup of tea.

I am content with my purchase, and that's about all I can say.

One person found this helpful

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Geoff S.

I'm no astrophysicist,

Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2014

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But I am both a licensed engineer and a doctoral student. The technical details are beyond my ken, but I can appreciate the detailed research and enormous effort that went into the dissertation. The publication is impressively bound by Springer, and the pages are on glossy paper with plenty of full color illustrations. I bought it primarily for inspiration, and to serve as a reminder that it is possible for old guys to get their doctorate.

6 people found this helpful

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Cliente de Amazon

Apto hasta para neófitos

Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2019

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A pesar de la complejidad del tema, pude entender aspectos fundamentales de la astrofísica. Genial!!!

One person found this helpful

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AmazonCustomer

Is there anything that Dr. Brian May of Queen ...

Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2016

Verified Purchase

Is there anything that Dr. Brian May of Queen can't do? No. I don't think there is. Much in here is far beyond my intellect level, but give it a go if you're in the mood for a lot of technobabble that, unlike in Star Trek, actually means something here!

5 people found this helpful

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Jeff Plantz

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2014

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Very interesting study and well written thesis.

2 people found this helpful

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CiscoD

"Just as rock and roll as anything he accomplished with Queen," says Becky Smethurst

Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2019

I enjoyed the opening bits, the forewords and the first chapter, and after that, got bogged down, though the illustrations are interesting, especially the pics he took in the 70s as he was doing his research. It's very technical, as it should be, and not a fun read, at least for a layman. There is a lovely explanation of the thesis and its significance by the brilliant Rebecca Smethurst, astrophysicist at Oxford and YouTuber. It's one of the best reviews of a scientific book ever. Look up "How fast does the Sun orbit the Milky Way? Brian May's Astrophysics Thesis on Solar System Dust."

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Jason Burnfield

I definitely had to have this on my bookshelf!

Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2019

Awesome!

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A curious reader

Bohemian velocity!

Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2015

Enough said.

2 people found this helpful

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Nvskibum

Only could understand the first page, but it symbolizes ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 1, 2014

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Only could understand the first page, but it symbolizes the intellect of a truly interesting and talented man, Brian May.

2 people found this helpful

Amazon Kunde

Super Buch über das Thema!

Reviewed in Germany on October 26, 2019

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Super Einband Verarbeitung und inhaltlich natürlich genau das was ich gesucht habe.

"Queen like" eben

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Cliente Amazon

The best musician, one of the best guitarist and scienticist

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 18, 2017

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The best musician, one of the best guitarist and scienticist. I'm the Brian's hudge fan not only for his music, personality but also for this passions for the stars