Product Description
Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free.This is an OCR edition with typos.Excerpt from book:III. THE MYSTERY OF THE PYRAMIDS. Few subjects of inquiry have proved more perplexing than the question of the purpose for which the pyramids of Egypt were built . Even in the remotest ages of which we have historical record, nothing seems to have been known certainly on this point. For some reason or other, the builders of the pyramids concealed the object of these structures, and this so successfully that not even a tradition has reached us which purports to have been handed down from the epoch of the pyramids' construction. We find, indeed, some explanations given by the earliest historians; but they were professedly only hypothetical, like those advanced in more recent times. Including ancient and modern theories, we find a wide range of choice. Some have thought that these buildings were associated with the religion of the early Egyptians; others have suggested that they were tombs ; others, that they combined the purposes of tombs and temples, that they were astronomical observatories, defences against the sands of the Great Desert, granaries like those made under Joseph's direction, places of resort during excessive overflows of the Nile ; and many other uses have been suggested for them. But none of these ideas are found on close examination to be tenable as representing the sole purpose of the pyramids, and few of them have strong claims to be regarded as presentingeven a chief object of these remarkable structures. The significant and perplexing history of the three oldest pyramids—the Great Pyramid of Cheops, Shofo, or Suphis, the pyramid of Chephren, and the pyramid of Mycerinus ; and the most remarkable of all the facts known respecting the pyramids generally, viz., the circumstance that one pyramid after another was built as though each had become useless soon af... ... Read more

Product Description
Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free.This is an OCR edition with typos.Excerpt from book:fifth century B.c. [the present reformed Jewish calendar dating from the fourth century A.d.], a date a " little more than a century after the grandfathers and great-grandfathers of those whose business is recorded had fled into Egypt with Jeremiah " (Sayce); and (2) that the order of intercalation at that time was not dissimilar to that in use at the present day.Then again, Knobel reminds us of " the most interesting discovery a few years ago by Father Strassmeier of a Babylonian tablet recording a partial lunar eclipse at Babylon in the seventh year of Cambyses, on the fourteenth day of the Jewish month Tammuz." Ptolemy, in the Almagest (Suntaxis), says it occurred in the seventh year of Cambyses, on the night of the seventeenth and eighteenth of the Egyptian month Phamenoth. Pingre and Oppolzer fix the date July 16th, 533 B.c. Thus are the relations of the chronologies of Jews and Egyptians established by these explorations.3. Ancient Greek Astronomy.We have our information about the earliest Greek astronomy from Herodotus (born48oB.C.). He put the traditions into writing. Thales (639-546 B.c.) is said to have predicted an eclipse which caused much alarm, and ended the battle between the Medes and Lydians. Airy fixed thedate May 28th, 585 B.c. But other modern astronomers, give different dates. Thales went to Egypt to study science, and learnt from its priests the length of the year (which was kept a profound secret!), and the signs of the zodiac, and the positions of the solstices. He held that the sun, moon, and stars are not mere spots on the heavenly vault, but solids; that the moon derives her light from the sun, and that this fact explains her phases; that an eclipse of the moon happens when the earth cuts off the sun's light from her. He supposed the earth to... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent book of early astronomy
This starts with the ancient Chinese, then goes through the Chaldeans, Greeks, and Arabs, then Copernicus and others of the Renaissance, and lastly the 18th and 19th centuries. There are chapters about the telescope and other instruments, the sun, moon, planets and the stars.

The author does a good job of showing how astronomers used the findings of earlier astronomers to increase their own knowledge of the subject. It's amazing to read how much was known about astronomy in the past, and how accurate their findings were. It's also funny to read things which were thought to be true at the time when the book was written. Several people reported having seen a planet inside Mercury's orbit. One man thought Mars had artificially made canals with vegetation growing on their banks. There are lots more. Maybe in 100 years astronomers will be laughing at us for thinking that dark matter and dark energy exist.

The table of contents is active, which is unusual for these free books. There are footnotes and an index at the end.

This is a great book loaded with historical information. I recommend that you have at least a basic knowledge of astronomy before reading this book, because it's not written for beginners.
... Read more

Product Description
The Future of Astronomy is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by Edward Charles Pickering is in the English language. If you enjoy the works of Edward Charles Pickering then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection. ... Read more

Product Description

Discover the wonders of the night sky with this bestselling astronomy guide

For a generation, Astronomy: A Self-Teaching Guide has introduced hundreds of thousands of readers worldwide to the night sky. Now this classic beginner's guide has been completely revised to bring it up to date with the latest discoveries and graphics.

• Features over 80 new photos and illustrations, including a full-color insert
• Reviews the newest telescopes and spacecraft
• Includes an overview of the best astronomy Web sites
• Written by award-winning author Dinah Moch?

Packed with valuable tables, charts, and star and moon maps, this user-friendly guide makes it easy for you to quickly grasp the basic principles of astronomy and start observing the night sky. The book includes objectives, reviews, and self-tests, and can be used on its own as a self-teaching guide or as a supplement to astronomy course materials. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Astronomy:A Self-Teaching Guide, 7th EditionbyDinah L. Moche
A very good book for little more than a beginner.Would have been nice to have colored pictures, but then the cost would have been higher.However, the diagrams and black and white photos were good enough to relate to the information.The book met the requirements for the purpose of what it was meant for.I would rate it as a 4 1/2.

Not Bad
This allows the reader to know a bit more about Astronomy by having questions after each chapter, which is nice.

Astronomy:A selfteaching guide
THis is a great book, easy to read and follow.Ilistrations are helpful and easy to follow.
I am glad I purchased this book and would recommend it to others.

Excellent resource for parents
I'm a mother who doesn't know much about astronomy but now I've found a resource to use when my kids ask me questions about the stars and planets.This is an easy-to-read guide for parents who are not experts.

Excellent and Easy to Use
Even with the high level of material in this book, as a high school student, I was fully able to understand everything!The information is excellent and is extremely easy to use.There is no better astronomy self teaching guide than Dr. Moche's.Her simplicity in the complex concepts is brilliant.

Thanks for a great guide!

-Lucy Schwartz ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (6)

Astronomy
This book is very intriguing. I love how it explains the different types of stars and why their color is different. Also, like the other books by Basher, they all hook together in a way.Plus, it taught me things I didn't know about the planets. All in all it taught me things I had never known.

Our 4th Basher Science book
Pros:
interesting information
good book for light reading
illustrations are fun

Cons:
we wished it was longer
more indepth information on the subject

I had the help of my 10 yo son in writing this review.He really enjoys the series.

This completed grandson's Basher Science books
Since my grandson loved the other Basher Science books, sent him this one and he enjoyed it just as much as the others.

awesome way to learn science
I love this whole series of books -- my kids love to look at them too.Its a really fun way to learn about science.

nifty book...nice for a car ride.
My son LOVES these books.The 8x8 size is also inviting.Cute characters introduce difficult ideas.My son wants the whole series.I have to admit the layout makes me curious, to see who is included in what.And it explains those new planets, and the sad demotion of our dear Pluto, and the various things that we didn't know about (kupiter belt, anyone?)

This is a nice companion to any series, and it's also a quick reference.One of those "coffee table books" for kids, that they only pick up because of the nifty cover, but then spend more time in it because it's got some humor and interesting facts.One of those good examples of science well presented doesn't need a lot of whistles and bells, it's just cool in and of itself. ... Read more

Product Description
An accessible guide to the wonders of the night sky, now updated
From asteroids to black holes, from quasars to white dwarfs, this new edition of Astronomy For Dummies takes backyard stargazers on a grand tour of the universe. Featuring star maps, charts, gorgeous full-color photographs, and easy-to-follow explanations, this fact-filled guide gives readers a leg up on the basic principles of astronomy and shows how to get the most out of binoculars, telescopes, planetarium visits, and other fun astronomical activities. This updated edition includes an updated color signature and covers the many discoveries made in recent years, as well as new astronomy Web sites. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

Liked the book, pleasantly surprised
Used this book to pass a college course on astronomy, was pleasantly surprised with the information. Would recommend it for the not very very serious student. Good for parents: Overcoming ADHD Without Medication: A Parent and Educator's Guidebook World Poetry: Dawn of a New Discovery: Poems of Life, Wonder, Conflict, and Far Away Places

Stargazing through Amazon
This is a great book for beginners in the field of Astronomy. Unlike some of the other books I considered purchasing, it is clear cut and easy to understand. Enough content to keep you interested, but not so much it will bog down a beginner.I do wish it had information on astrophotography. If it is there, I have not come across it yet. There are only eight pages of color photos,and more color photos of what you might see would be very helpful. I am planning on using this book in conjunction with a new telescope and the information it provides will certainly get me around the Universe in an informative and fun manner. I am looking forward to getting into this book more as our Missouri sky warms this spring.
I was also fortunate to come across this book in a hard back version which I feel is much more practical due to the use this book will get! Amazon was the only source I found that offered a hard back version.

Not just for Dummies !!
Got it to help get back into a hobby I had many years ago.Found it easy to read, follow and at times funny while still learning.Great links included .

Gary,
Florida

Introductory Material but no math
I originally read this book for Science Olympiad to learn about the different types of galaxies and the math that went along with it. It was not very helpful in helping me identify the Deep-sky objects but instead only introduced the most general topics (such as black hole, planets, etc.) it also didn't have any math, which was essential for Science Olympiad. I was looking for something beyond this. However, it is an overall a good introductory material.

Thought the topics covered were very good!
For someone who is just entering this fascinating field, this is a great beginning place. The price is reasonable and topics are covered in a way that both keeps your attention and adds a little humor. Would advise anyone to start with this book.

... Read more

Product Description

A brief, introductory astronomy book designed for readers with little or no scientific background, A Beginner's Guide uses an exceptionally clear writing style. The authors present a broad view of astronomy without complex mathematics, yet the book discusses important concepts without simplification. The book's organization follows the popular and effective “Earth-Out” progression, starting with our planet and then moving through the solar system. A study of the Sun as a model star follows, then the book covers the Milky Way Galaxy, cosmology, and the universe as a whole. Because of its easy-to-read yet comprehensive coverage of astronomy, this book can serve as excellent reference material for those readers interested in learning about our universe. Personal Response System: Through a partnership with Interwrite PRS, this text is available with the PRS clicker system. The Instructor Resource Center on CD-ROM contains conceptual "clicker" questions in PowerPoint.

Customer Reviews (11)

What I thought
exactly what I thought it was. Decent book, works great.
Make the most of life.

Quick Shipping from Seller
A++ Seller. Book came in a quick and timely manner... Received well before the start of class. Thanks

Just what I was looking for!
The person who sold me this book is a life saver! I need this book for my college class and as we all know college books are a rip-off! I saved $70 buying this book from here! Thank you!

Awesome purchase.
Fast turn around after purchase :) Very nice to do buisness with, was very satasfied with material. Thanks!!

Great. fast shipping.
After having problems with another seller for the same product. This seller was excellent, fast shipping, provided continuous communication in-order to be contacted, and considered the matter I dealt with previously, which, they expedited my order.I will most certainly purchase from this buyer again.Thank you again!
Trina ... Read more

Product Description
Advance praise for Philip Plaits Bad Astronomy

"Bad Astronomy is just plain good! Philip Plait clears up every misconception on astronomy and space you never knew you suffered from." —Stephen Maran, Author of Astronomy for Dummies and editor of The Astronomy and Astrophysics Encyclopedia

"Thank the cosmos for the bundle of star stuff named Philip Plait, who is the worlds leading consumer advocate for quality science in space and on Earth. This important contribution to science will rest firmly on my reference library shelf, ready for easy access the next time an astrologer calls." —Dr. Michael Shermer, Publisher of Skeptic magazine, monthly columnist for Scientific American, and author of The Borderlands of Science

"Philip Plait has given us a readable, erudite, informative, useful, and entertaining book. Bad Astronomy is Good Science. Very good science..." —James "The Amazing" Randi, President, James Randi Educational Foundation, and author of An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural

"Bad Astronomy is a fun read. Plait is wonderfully witty and educational as he debunks the myths, legends, and 'conspiracies that abound in our society. 'The Truth Is Out There'–and it's in this book. I loved it!" —Mike Mullane, Space Shuttle astronaut and author of Do Your Ears Pop in Space? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (43)

A Great Read for Laypeople and Astronomy Buffs
Phil Plait does a pretty concise review of basic astronomical facts that people should know. He points out several cases of common bad science.

Excellent book!
I love Dr. Plaitt's blog, and I really enjoyed this book.It's easy to understand but contains really good information.

A highly informative and enjoyable book.
This book was like a breath of fresh air - dealing with something very different than any other book out there and in a really fun way too. It cleared many of my "bad" concepts about astronomy. Mr. Plait has a knack of making simple explanations so detailed and interesting at the same time that the reader can't help but go on until the end. Even found myself smiling at some parts. Highly recommended. 5 Stars.

Wonderful fun and loaded with invaluable information!
Phil Plait is a treasure. He takes the time to address kooky claims and mistaken beliefs held by the majority of the public. Our world would be far better off if more scientists cared enough to try and educate people who have been led astray by those who preach nonsense.

Bad Astronomy is loaded with interesting stuff. From explaining away Moon Hoax looniness to fixing common mental errors about seasons, quantum leaps, light years, tides, UFOs, and so on, this book is fantastic fun and intellectually invaluable.

Beyond his astronomy expertise, Plait is a wonderful example of the sort of positive and constructive science-based skeptic who brings more light to the world. His sincerity and enthusiasm jump out at you from every page.

"It's too easy to simply accept what you are told," writes Plait. "This is extraordinarily dangerous. If you just assume without thinking critically that someone is right, you may be voting for the wrong politician, or accepting a doctrine that has a bad premise, or buying a used car that might kill you. Science is a way of distinguishing good data from bad."

I highly recommend Bad Astronomy for everyone. It's highly readable. Anyone can handle it. Save the world, buy a copy for a high school kid today!

I also loved Plait's book, Death from the Skies!: These Are the Ways the World Will End . . .


--Guy P. Harrison, author of

50 Reasons People Give for Believing in a God

and

Race and Reality: What Everyone Should Know about Our Biological Diversity

Bad and Good Astronomy
"The Eagle has landed." Neil Armstrong


"Houston, we have a problem."

"Stop goofing around, Charlie, and get that rock spiked center stage, and let's break for the day. I'm as dry as a nun's gusset."

It's the summer of 2009, and the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11 NOT going to the moon, or at least according to Bill Kaysing, author of We Never Went to the Moon, which details the findings of a purported NASA hoax. That's right: the Apollo moon landings were staged in a top-secret sound stage in the Nevada desert, conveniently located near Las Vegas with easy access to air-conditioned casinos, cold beer, and exotic dancers.

I believe there's a little conspiracy theorist living in all of us, or maybe that's just my alien implant talking, but save your money for the slots. Let's take a small sanity check here. It's now well known that the Soviets were well on the way to sending men to the moon in the 1960's. While the missions never got off the ground, the Soviets worked very hard on them, and were watching carefully when NASA broadcast the historic footage. Both governments spent billions of dollars and countless man hours on their lunar projects; national prestige was at stake for two superpowers. Do you really think Pravda would have acknowledged the truth of the moon missions if there was any doubt?

No one is more appalled that millions of people actually agree with Bill Kaysing than Philip Plait, author ofBad Astronomy: Misconceptions and Misuses Revealed, from Astrology to the Moon Landing "Hoax".Philip Plat debunks the "moon hoax" as well other astronomy-related urban legends--such as you can make an egg stand on end only during the vernal equinox.

What manner of data could possibly convince someone that the moon still lies beyond our grasp? The answer is in the photographs themselves. If you look carefully at the images, the hoax believers say, you'll see the lie. What lie? Thousands of photos were taken, and many of them are quite famous. Most consist of the astronauts performing their duties, and are unremarkable, except for the fact that they show space-suited humans on an alien landscape; unremarkable, unless you are looking for a dark conspiracy.

There are five basic concerns raised by the conspiracy theorists. These are: 1. There are no stars in the astronaut photos 2. The astronauts could not have survived the radiation during the trip 3. There is dust under the lunar landing. 4. The high temperature of the moon should have killed the astronauts, and 5. the play of light and shadows in the surface proves that the photos are faked.

Plait systematically dismantles every point made by the hoax believers with clear, understandable explanations. The hoax believers in many cases use simple physics and common sense to prove their point. Initially, their accusations make sense; however, common sense may not apply on the airless surface of the Moon, and the theorists tend to misunderstand basic physics. Upon closer logical inspection, their arguments fall apart. After all, do you really think that after building elaborate sets, and hiring hundreds of technicians and cameramen and spending millions on the hoax and hookers that NASA would forgot to put stars in the pictures? It is indeed 40 years of inspiration and innovation we celebrate when we acknowledge mankind's epic journey to the Moon, a triumph of human engineering and the human spirit...
... Read more

Product Description
The range of deep sky objects that avail themselves to the backyard observer in the fall covers the entire spectrum.The dazzling array includes planetary nebulae, galaxies, globular clusters, open clusters and emission nebulae.They are widely distributed over 16 constellations.

On many fall nights, armed with this Kindle field guide and a small telescope, an observer can choose between 33 deep sky objects at any given moment.

You don't need pristine skies to use this field guide.Ordinary backyard skies will work just fine.The beauty of the Reference Lines Method™ used for mapping these objects is that in order to locate deep sky objects, you need only to locate the bright stars that outline the constellations.It is not necessary to mark out degrees in the sky or have a magnifying finder telescope.

Get multiple fall field guides for the price of one!This field guide can be used simultaneously on the free "Kindle for PC" application and on the Kindle.The 176 step-by-step maps were conceived, designed and formatted specifically for the Kindle.With this innovation, the amateur astronomer can now go paperless. The maps illuminate clearly on the Kindle with a white or red flashlight.When using the Kindle for PC, the user interface allows minimizing the glare from the laptop monitor to help preserve night vision.The iPhone and iPad versions are crisp and clear with virtually no glare.

Each deep sky object is displayed with a layered series of maps that progressively build a context of constellations and nearby stars.On the maps, the stars, constellations and deep sky objects are displayed in vivid white, and the sky is black.

Bright 4th magnitude reference stars serve as end points for each reference line.Deep sky objects are mapped in order as they traverse the sky throughout each night and throughout the fall season. Because reference line end-point stars are often repeated from one object to the next, after locating a deep sky object it is often easy to locate the next.

"Devon Ronsse proved to be a perfect fit for the task of editing the manuscript.He matched the demographic of a large sector of our intended audience.On the one hand, we are unveiling a method to locate deep sky objects that will be helpful to veteran stargazers.On the other hand, we wanted to be certain that anyone could download this field guide to a laptop or a Kindle and begin locating deep sky objects that same night.His fresh perspective, attention to detail and insistence on clarity proved immeasurably valuable."Renaix






... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

bestseller for a reason
It's easy to see why this book has rocketed to the top of Amazon's bestseller list. This field guide makes it possible to locate deep sky objects in ordinary backyard skies.I guess we knew that someone would eventually come up with a way to use the liquid ink technology to map deep sky objects, but it took some thinking.It's amazing how they found a way to map deep sky objects using the bright stars in the constellations.
Plus, we had tried before to use other maps from our laptop, but the glare was just too much, even with the brightness set to zero--but by combining the zero setting on the "Kindle for PC" and the zero monitor setting, I was able to mostly eliminate the glare from the monitor.Now we have two field guides for the price of one.We don't have an iPhone, and we can't get Amazon's Kindle=Blackberry app to work--but if we can we'll have 3 sets of maps--and all better than anything we ever had before.Bravo.

fantastic
I teach an introductory Astronomy course at our local junior college.I cannot tell you how useful this field guide is to my students.For the last several years we have taken the class up on the mountain for a weekend to study the deep sky.We will probably continue to do that, but now our students will be able to find deep sky objects on their own once the course is over. It's never been a problem seeing the objects in a small telescope or even binoculars.The problem has been finding the objects in anything other than perfect conditions. These maps work just fine in the ordinary skies most of our students have available to them on a regular basis.
We've been looking for a way to go paperless for a long time and finally we have it.
Because each field guide can be used simultaneously on the laptop and the Kindle, we get two field guides for the price of one.I have to say, the maps are awesome illuminated with the red light on the Kindle, but the laptop version with Amazon's Kindle for PC is superb as well.
This book gets a 5+

Excellent book for beginners!
This book is great! I don't own a telescope, although I have done a little observing with binoculars with limited success.It hadn't really occurred to me that I could have just as much fun without any equipment.This book has helped me understand that I already have the best observing equipment I will ever own - My own two eyes. The maps are really helpful and easy to understand, and the instructional guides are clear and easy to follow. ... Read more

Product Description

With Astronomy Today, Seventh Edition, trusted authors Eric Chaisson and Steve McMillan communicate their excitement about astronomy and awaken you to the universe around you. The text emphasizes critical thinking and visualization, and it focuses on the process of scientific discovery, making “how we know what we know” an integral part of the text. The revised edition has been thoroughly updated with the latest astronomical discoveries and theories, and it has been streamlined to keep you focused on the essentials and to develop an understanding of the “big picture.”

Alternate Versions

• Astronomy Today, Volume 1: The Solar System, Seventh Edition—Focuses primarily on planetary coverage for a 1-term course. Includes Chapters 1-16, 28.
• Astronomy Today, Volume 2: Stars and Galaxies, Seventh Edition—Focuses primarily on stars and stellar evolution for a 1-term course. Includes Chapters 1-5 and 16-28.

Customer Reviews (20)

Good job
Product arrived on time and in condition described. Will use again if possible. Thank you!

Slow Shipping
What's the point of paying an extra $12 for two-day shipping when you get it nearly seven days later?

Everything I expected and more
The book is in better condition than stated on the details page. I ordered this book for school and feared it would not be delivered on time for my first class. However, to my surprise, it came within a week and was even earlier than the estimate on my confirmation email. This has taken away my pessimism about ordered and shipping from the internet. The book was also extremely cheap compared to most college book sites.

Finally, a textbook almost worth the price!
I purchased this text for our daughter, who is taking an introductory astronomy class.I never had the chance to take such a class myself but always had an interest in astronomy, so I started reading some of the chapters. To my great satisfaction, it was actually very well written, concise, and seemed to be up to date on the some of the more interesting and current issues in astronomy- dark matter/energy, inflationary universes, black holes, etc.It has an excellent explanation of black body radiation and how the emission profile of a celestial object gives can disclose both its temperature and much about its composition.It also takes care to show exactly what portion of the light specturm is used to generate each image (of which there are many beautiful ones included), which really helps understand why optical telescopes can't solve all the scientific mysteries (the center of the Milky Way can't even be seen in the visual spectrum due to dust).It also used a minimal amount of math, which takes away nothng from the points made.As a parent tired of forking over hundreds of dollars for textbooks that unnecessarily change edition every year (how is that possible, I ask?), I did not mind paying for this one.

Kudos to the authors for a very readable and useful text. I would recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn about astronomy but never had the opportunity.The only material that I thought might be improved was the section covering the H-R diagrams of star evolution- it would help to have a simple diagram of a typical star as it progresses through the main sequence and beyond, gaining or losing mass.the luminosity and temperature portions of the process are well described, but it's a bit hard to put it all together. Is the H-R diagram really the most useful way to understand star evolution?Regardless, this book rates as an outstanding science textbook in my opinion.

Horrible Seller
I ordered this book for a class I was taking on the 26th of January. The book's estimated time of arrival was February 3 through 18, it never came. I emailed the seller three times without a response and finally had to file a claim to get my money back. I no longer needed the book because I dropped the class. I am awaiting a refund. DO NOT PURCHASE ANYTHING FROM XCELLENTEP, or whatever the seller's name is, you'll never get what you purchased and it will take forever for a refund. ... Read more

Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Product Description
This wonderful book uses the classical and Charlotte Mason methodology to give elementary school students an introduction to our solar system and the universe that contains it. Narration and notebooking are used to encourage critical thinking, logical ordering, retention, and record keeping. Each lesson in the book is organized with a narrative, some notebook work, an activity, and a project. The activities and projects use easy-to-find household items and truly make the lessons come alive! They include making a solar eclipse, making craters like those found on Mercury, simulating the use of radar to determine hidden landscape, keeping track of the phases of the moon, making a telescope, making fog, and making an astrometer to measure the brightness of a star. Although designed to be read by the parent to elementary students of various grade levels, it is possible for students with a 4th-grade reading level to read this book on their own. Grades K-6. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (35)

Love Apologia
My children and I are enjoying this product. We had a great time last year with another Apologia book. We've gotten off to a great start with Astronomy this year.
Thanks for offering a great product.

My son begs for Science!
We used this book by Apologia last year. My son loves it. He (and I!) have both learned so much.
His notebook is so fun to look at.
We're doing another book in this series this year, and he loves that one too.

If for some reason, I didn't schedule science one day, he'll say, "Mom, can we please do Apologia?"

The website for extras is great too.

Amazingly well written!
We are using this book with my 7yr old, and he is loving it.I am amazed at how much he is retaining, he even blew away skeptical family members over Christmas!The information is presented conversationally, the experiments are fun and informative, and there are so many free lapbooks on the internet to use in conjunction with the book to really make it all sink in.

We are looking forward to continuing this series in the coming years, the hard part will be choosing which book to do next!

A perfect fit!
This is our family's first year homeschooling all 3 children (ages range from 4-9) and I was SO thrilled to have found such a wonderful book to teach (and truly immerse) our kids in God's creation! Jeannie Fulbright doesn't just teach facts with these books - her approach includes total immersion into the where and how and why that fill my kid's need to know and understand God in each moment, in each created thing! I have learned so much and my dh can't put the books down himself! He is just as excited as we are to begin this new school year finding wonderful ways to see God in the awe and wonder filled amazement of His creation! Jeannie even includes free notebooking pages for her studies and I have found a many free and inexpensive lapbooks that follow along also! What a perfect addition this has been to round out our curriculum!

Excellent science
My child saw this book and wanted to start her science right away!My dh, who is a chemical engineer, said it was a great book to use to get a child interested in science.I can't wait till fall to start using the book. ... Read more

Product Description
Open this book and you'll find yourself on a rocket ship to another galaxy! From stars and planets to aliens and comets, The Everything Kids' Astronomy Book explores everything an astronomer-in-training could hope to discover, including:

• How galaxies like the Milky Way were built
• Why the sun's surface is 20,000 to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit
• Why the earth spins and how gravity works
• What comets and asteroids are made of and how they affect planets
• The truth about the man in the moon
• Why Mars is so hot and what those rings around Saturn are
• What scientists think about aliens and life in outer space

Customer Reviews (2)

GREAT BOOK
GREAT BOOK FOR THE KIDS TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND. WRITTEN VERY CLEAR AND LOTS TO LEARN ABOUT.

Sam Christmas 09
this is a great book and im sure Sam will love it, i was very impressed with the content, the book was brand new and just wonderful. ... Read more

Product Description
The most trusted nonfiction series on the market,Eyewitness Books provide an in-depth, comprehensive look at their subjects with a unique integration of words and pictures.

DK's classic look at astronomy now reissued with a CD and wall chart. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good Book
Like all Eyewhitness books, this one is full of information and great photos. We have a large collection of these books and look forward to enjoying them for years to come.

Another great DK eyewitness book!
I have always loved astronomy, and was hoping to share it with my children.I love the DK books because of their wonderful pictures and simple explanations, perfect to get kids excited, even great for the beginning adult.This would be a perfect book to go along with a first telescope and a star chart.Great book! ... Read more

Product Description
Look to the stars.

Although Astronomy has been around for more than 5,500 years, astronomers say that we've learned more than 90% of what we know about the universe in just the last 50-and much of that in the last decade! The Complete Idiot's Guide(r) to Astronomy, Fourth Edition, continues to be the most comprehensive introduction to the topic, covering all the latest advances and discoveries, including:
• The demotion of Pluto and promotion of Ceres as planetary objects
• Breakthrough evidence of recent water flow on Mars
• New developments in asteroid-tracking programs
• New information on the nature and shape of our universe
• Mind-bending theories concerning multiple universes
• Information on the latest telescopes

As a bonus, this book includes a fascinating CDROM with more than 200 of the most spectacular images from NASA, star maps, and other tools for backyard astronomers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

In depth, entertaining and straightforward
I was looking for something a bit more technical but this book has given me a context in which I can fit a lot of my future endeavors in astronomy. I thoroughly enjoyed it, read it from cover to cover and will keep referring to it for its extensive lists of references. A book well researched and well written.

The Idiot's Guide to Astronomy
This was a great reference book for me, as I've been teaching astronomy to elementary homeschool students, but never actually taken a course in astronomy. I had the library book, but needed my own copy that I can underline. I didn't like some snide references to "those who believe in creationism" (not an exact quote), but the information was clearly presented in a way I could understand, so I can overlook such jibes.

sucks
HARD TO READ.NOT GOOD AT ALL!!!!!!!!
THE COPY I HAVE IS HOLDING UP A
BROKEN SHELF.

Kindle version needs some work
Amazon needs to repair the kindle version. On almost any given page you will find words put together that shouldn't be, and it slows down the reading when your brain has to take the time to figure out what the words really are. In other words, spaces are missing in many places throughout the text. For example, one paragraph reads in part, "If the face of the moon presented a puzzle to our ancestors, the way the Moon apparentlychanged shape surely also fascinated them. One night, the Moon might be invisible (a "new Moon"); then, night by night, it would appear to grow (wax), becominga crescent...."

Otherwise, the book is a terrific read, and I learned some things even my college Astronomy class didn't teach.

A good start
This book has stimulated my interest in astronomy.It is very timely as I have been watching the progress of the Phoenix lander on Mars. ... Read more

Product Description
Key Benefit:

Key Topics:

Charting the Heavens : The Foundations of Astronomy, The Copernican Revolution: The Birth of Modern Science, Light and Matter: The Inner Workings of the Cosmos, Telescopes: The Tools of Astronomy, The Solar System: Interplanetary Matter and the Birth of the Planets, Earth and Its Moon: Our Cosmic Backyard, The Terrestrial Planets: A Study in Contrasts, The Jovian Planets: Giants of the Solar System, Moons, Rings, and Plutoids: Small Worlds Among Giants, The Sun: Our Parent Star, Measuring the Stars: Giants, Dwarfs, and the Main Sequence, The Interstellar Medium: Star Formation in the Milky Way,  Stellar Evolution: The Lives and Deaths of Stars, Neutron Stars and Black Holes: Strange States of Matter, The Milky Way Galaxy: A Spiral in Space,

Normal and Active Galaxies: Building Blocks of the Universe, Hubble’s Law and Dark Matter: The Large-Scale Structure of the Cosmos, Cosmology: The Big Bang and the Fate of the Universe, Life in the Universe: Are We Alone?

Market: Intended for those interested in learning the basics of astronomy

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent A to Z
I purchased the "International" edition of this book in a local book store so I'm assuming the difference being the conversion to metric units.
Although this book was wrapped and I couldn't open the book it immediately stood out from the rest of the books. So this was actually a wild guess but it turned out a real good one.

This book is so well written that you need very little knowledge of astronomy in advance. The average person with basic education could pick this one up and let himself/herself be guided from the first chapters where the basics of spectroscopy and gravitation are explained, followed by the A-Z of our neighboring planets, our star and the rest of the milky way, ending with the final chapters that deal with such topics as black holes and general relativity.

And what makes it even more great is that a code is included that enables you to view interactive animations and videos on the Pearson website which will clear up things that otherwise may look confusing in still pictures.

Very much recommended for people who aren't familiar with the workings of our solar system and universe.
They will learn all the basics (and they are a lot) of the universe.
But for people who are already familiar with astronomy will find this a good reference.

It is also updated with the latest theories and findings, including NASA info from 2008. ... Read more

Product Description

Funded by the National Science Foundation,Lecture-Tutorials for Introductory Astronomy is designed to help make large lecture-format courses more interactive with easy-to-implement activities that can be integrated into existing course structures. The Second Edition of the Lecture-Tutorials for Introductory Astronomy contains nine new activities that focus on planetary science, system related topics, and the interactions of Light and matter. These new activities have been created using the same rigorous development cycle that was used for the highly successful first edition.   The Night Sky: Position, Motion, Seasonal Stars, Solar vs. Sidereal Day, Ecliptic, Star Charts. Fundamentals of Astronomy: Kepler’s 2^nd Law, Kepler’s 3^rd Law, Newton’s Laws and Gravity, Apparent and Absolute Magnitudes of Stars, The Parse, Parallax and Distance, Spectroscopic Parallax.  Nature of Light in Astronomy: The Electromagnetic (EM) Spectrum of Light, Telescopes and Earth’s Atmosphere, Luminosity, Temperature and Size, Blackbody Radiation, Types of Spectra, Light and Atoms, Analyzing Spectra, Doppler Shift. Our Solar System: The Cause of Moon Phases, Predicting Moon Phases, Path of Sun, Seasons, Observing Retrograde Motion, Earth’s Changing Surface, Temperature and Formation of Our Solar System, Sun Size. Stars Galaxies and Beyond: H-R Diagram, Star Formation and Lifetimes, Binary Stars, The Motion of Extrasolar Planets, Stellar Evolution, Milky Way Scales, Galaxy Classification, Looking at Distant Objects, Expansion of the Universe.  For all readers interested in astronomy.

Customer Reviews (6)

It came!
The book I ordered was for school, it does what I need it to and it came to me in fine condition, just as it said online. trustworthy but took a while to ship.

Fast Shipping
The item was shipped to me promptly which was important since I needed this book for school. I bought it new and it was still kept in that condition when it arrived!

Necessary Evil
Needed this for a college class, the bookstore on campus didn't sell the textbook and workbook (this product) separately, so I bought it here. It isn't the best book for learning or supplemental material for that matter, but if you need it for class, you need it for class

A Really Enjoyable Introduction to Astronomy
It's been a long coming, but it's finally here! Astronomy instructors and authors have produced a wonderfully readable and thoroughly comprehensible introduction to the science of astronomy. Each topic in this book really is a mini-tutorial as proclaimed by the cover title. The book format is actually written in a laboratory worksheet fashion (the sheets can be detached from the book along their perforated edges) with each worksheet dedicated to a specific astronomy concept (e.g., position, motion, Keplar's Third Law, etc.). One pass through this ingeniously designed "book of tutorials" and the beginner to the wonderful world of the cosmo is truly ready to move on to more advanced astronomy books and/or astronomy courses. My congratulations (and gratitude) to the Pearson Addison-Wesley Publishing Company for making the concept of learning enjoyable once again.

If you are at all interested in astronomy, but recoiled away from the subject after opening a typical "introductory" college textbook, then you would do yourself a tremendous favor by purchasing this book. You won't be disappointed!

Excellent
This item was in excellent condition and came in a timely manner.It helped a lot with my class. ... Read more

Product Description
Why do planets spin? How hot is the Sun? What keeps the Moon in orbit around the Earth? What are Saturn’s rings made of? What’s a black hole in space? Now you can discover the answers to these and other fascinating questions about basic astronomy. In Astronomy for Every Kid you’ll learn about the constellations using a shoe box planetarium. You’ll chart the movement of the stars with nothing but a string, a marker, and a nail. And you’ll use a toy magnet to simulate the Earth’s protective force field. Each of the 101 experiments is broken down into its purpose, a list of materials, step-by-step instructions, expected results, and an easy to understand explanation. Every activity has been pretested and can be performed safely and inexpensively in the classroom or at home. Also available in this series from Janice VanCleave: Biology for Every Kid Chemistry for Every Kid Dinosaurs for Every Kid Earth Science for Every Kid Geography for Every Kid Geometry for Every Kid The Human Body for Every Kid Math for Every Kid Physics for Every Kid ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Kids love it
Whether you're homeschooling or just need some extra help for after school, this is the book for you!

First step for the sky observer
Before buying a telescope to you kid, keep in mind "letting him time to play with this book first". It would be a great reference to analyze what it is been view in the sky and how the forces of the universe (pure science) work. You might night to support, guide and encourage your kid with some of the experiments, but he would learn more that you think. My daughter is enchanted with the book.

I wish I hadn't bought this...
This book is a big disappointment. I don't know very much about astronomy, but I have done a lot of experiments with my kids. The better experiments in this collection are basic scientific experiments we have done before with a page of explanation on how it relates to astronomy...or how it is a simulation of something in astronomy, which I feel is misleading to the kids.

Other experiments are not even experiments, but demonstrations of things so obvious that most kids can visualize them without a demonstration. For example, stirring tea leaves in a jar with a pencil to simulate a hurricane on Jupiter.

Only one experiment sounded interesting--a sun dial that can act as a compass. But wait! The compass is only accurate two days out of the year, and there is no explanation of the science behind the experiment.

I want my money back!!!!

Absolutely Wonderful!
As a mom who home-schools her kids, this book has been invaluable for keeping the fun and interest in teaching Astronomy. Janice VanCleave's book have been a great assest to our library.

Packed with errors.
This book looks like it tried too hard to be about astronomy. It takes reasonable experiments about basic scientific principles and tacks on explanations related to astronomy that ignore other factors (i.e. both reflectivity and distance from the sun are seperately listed as the reason a planet is hotter when Venus is neither the darkest nor the closest), are overly obscure, or just plain wrong (appearance of 'the man in the moon' caused by shadows).

I have worked in an astronomy museum for six years, and this book has me pausing to try and comprehend what the book is trying to do. I am not familiar with the other Janice VanCleave books, but I specifically recommend AGAINST this one. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent Middle School to 10th Grade Text Series
I teach Physics and General Science at a highly regarded Catholic girls' Prep School here on the island of Guam.Over 99% of our graduates go on to college.

For the Freshman General Science classes, I am using the Prentice Hall "Science Explorer" series, andam highly impressed.Explanations are complete yet concise.Illustrations are appropriate, plentiful, and of excellent quality.Suggested lab activities are reasonable in terms of being age appropriate and not requiring outlandish quantities of expensive and rare lab equipment.While these might seem to be minimal expectations, many science texts I have encountered do not manage to pull off any of the three.

I love, use, and highly recommend the texts Inside Earth, Astronomy, Human Biology and Health, Ecology, Weather and Climate, and Forces and Motion from this series.

Kelly Fitzpatrick
Paradise, Guam

Science Explorer " Astronomy " Book
This was a awsome book. My class read this book and it was awsome so if your a teacher get this book. It has awsome activities in the book it has three chapter and your going to have to find out so get it. ... Read more