21st Century Astronomy (Full Second Edition)

By Bradford Smith, Jeff Hester, Brad Smith, et al.

Book Overview

The Second Edition of 21st Century Astronomy reaffirms itsstatus as the most current and authoritative text for introductorycourses. Written by a team of specialists who are also experiencedteachers, this accessible text fosters scientific literacy byrelating core concepts in modern astronomy to the real-worldprocess of science. Retaining the lively prose and narrative styleof the previous edition, the text now offers improved pedagogy, anexpanded art program, and dynamic new multimedia tools for studentsand instructors. The text is also now available in a comprehensiveone-volume edition, a flexible ebook format, or two separatevolumes, one focusing on the solar system and the other focusing onstars and galaxies. Highlights The most up-to-date and authoritative introductory text. With six experienced teachers on the author team, each specializingin a different area of astronomy, 21st Century Astronomy continuesto provide the most current and authoritative coverage in thefield. Among other recent discoveries, the Second Edition includescoverage of 2003 UB313 and the many recently documented extrasolarbodies. Fosters scientific literacy by emphasizing the scientificprocess. 21st Century Astronomy enables students to grasp the core conceptsof modern astronomy by emphasizing the scientific process throughwhich astronomers make observations and interpret their findings.Integrated throughout, this emphasis shows students how scientificprinciples are developed through the trial-and-error process ofdiscovery and research. Expanded art program and pedagogy reinforce core concepts. 21st Century Astronomy\'s acclaimed four-color art program has beenexpanded for the Second Edition, with over 150 new photographs andfigures. The Second Edition also offers improved pedagogicalfeatures: Annotated figures offer visual cues to help students focus onthe essential principles being conveyed. Key Concepts boxes at the beginning of each chapter call attentionto important topics, while new end-of-chapter Summaries reinforcethese topics. Key Idea statements, throughout each chapter, draw students\'attention to important concepts as they read. Seeing the Forest Through the Trees sections conclude each chapterby linking the chapter\'s key concepts to the larger themes. Review Questions at the end of each chapter have been expanded, andKey Term lists have been added. Inviting narrative style emphasizes the dynamic "story" of scienceand modern astronomy. Avoiding the dry, encyclopedic style of other texts, 21st CenturyAstronomy engages students by focusing on the dynamic narratives ofscientific discovery. Each chapter presents theories and conceptsby telling their "story": explaining how and when they weredeveloped, how they are related to fundamental scientificprinciples, and how they are connected to other astronomicaltheories and concepts covered in the text. New multimedia tools for instructors and students. The Second Edition features an exceptional multimedia program,including the SmartWork homework management system to help studentsreview and hone their math skills, an extensive student website(StudySpace) for reviewing important concepts, a brand-new set ofinteractive animations, and the Starry Night Enthusiast 5.0 CD-ROMand Workbook. Instructors will have access to full-color lecturepresentations, test banks, course cartridges for WebCT andBlackBoard, and more.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393924432
• ISBN13: 9780393924435
• Release Date: December 2006
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 726 Pages
• Weight: 3.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.9" x 1.1" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Astronomy textbook

Very well written astronomy textbook. I attended a week-long Elderhostel seminar on astronomy after reading this book and heard almost nothing I hadn't already read in it. Astronomy is a difficult subject to wrap your mind around, but 21st Century Astronomy is a tremendous help. Be sure to do all the exercises and problems at the end of each chapter. That's how half the learning takes place. Engineers, mathematicians and physicists will want to dig deeper, but this text takes the reader about as far as possible with only a good grounding in algebra. I heartily recommend it.

A teacher in a book

I am learning the fundamentals of science, while exploring the skies. This book lays out complex information in a very descriptive way, it aids in teaching the way to think when it comes to science.

One of the best!

I am teaching an introductory astronomy course this semester, and chose to use a different text since that is what others before me had used. Early on, the publisher sent a free copy of this book to me. I liked it so much that I ended up using it to prepare many of my lectures, and when I teach this course again I suspect that this will become the new text. The overall tone of the book is very good, presenting scientific material in a well thought-out fashion that doesn't talk down to the reader. The figures are clear, and often address common misconceptions. The material is also very up to date, addressing hot topics like Pluto's status as a planet, dark energy, WMAP results, etc. The only thing I don't like about the book is that the chapter titles and section headings are often complete sentences. For example, the chapter on the Sun is called "The Sun is an ordinary G star," instead of just calling it "The Sun." Strange, but overall an excellent book.

A Favorite Astronomy Textbook

This is my third year teaching introductory astronomy. I've used three textbooks. Last year I got a copy of 21st Century Astronomy free--publishers are always trying to get professors to adopt their textbooks. Anyway, I really like this one. I haven't been able to use it in a class yet, but I would like to. I use it already to help me prepare for lectures. It's clear and don't talk down to the reader. Many textbooks get weighted down with frills, but not this one. The graphics are clear but never superfluous. In keeping with its title, it includes may up to date topics. The other texts I have used are Kaufman, Seeds, and Bennet et al. (which I liked a lot too--it's a little bulky though.)

Out of this world

Wonderful explanations. This is the astronomy book I never had as a kid! I'm a biologist and always thought I had the good fortune of working in the most interesting field. It sounds trite, but this book has opened my eyes to a universe out there. Now I even sort of understand black holes and the implications of relativity.