Discover Astronomy is Your Guide to the Universe.SAN RAFAEL San Rafael (săn rəfĕl`), residential city (1990 pop. 48,404), seat of Marin co., W Calif., a suburb of San Francisco on the northern shore of San Francisco Bay; inc. 1913. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 13, 1996--Late last month, millions of Americans braved the chill of the early Spring night to catch a fleeting glimpse of the Comet Hyakutake Comet Hyakutake (Japanese: 百武彗星 Hyakutake suisei, IPA [çakɯtake sɯiseː]; formally designated C/1996 B2 and discovered the beauty and interest of the night sky. But exactly when did such comets form? How old are they? And how were they attracted into the solar system solar system, the sun and the surrounding planets, natural satellites, dwarf planets, asteroids, meteoroids, and comets that are bound by its gravity. The sun is by far the most massive part of the solar system, containing almost 99.9% of the system's total mass. ? Maris Multimedia's newest CD-ROM CD-ROM: see compact disc. CD-ROM in full compact disc read-only memory Type of computer storage medium that is read optically (e.g., by a laser). , Discover Astronomy, has the answers. But this is no dry academic textbook. Discover Astronomy is an interactive multimedia voyage that takes you from planet Earth to the outer reaches of the solar system. Narrated animated guided tours and lessons written by Dr. Jacqueline Mitton, author of the Penguin Dictionary of Astronomy, describe the evolution of the universe from the Big Bang big bang Model of the origin of the universe, which holds that it emerged from a state of extremely high temperature and density in an explosive expansion 10 billion–15 billion years ago. to the development of life on earth. Twenty full-motion, 3D virtual reality simulations of the universe illustrate the principles of astronomy from finding your way around the night sky to the complex science of planetary orbits. The simulations of the stars, planets, moons, comets, asteroids This is a list of numbered minor planets, nearly all of them asteroids, in sequential order. As of late September 2007 there are 164,612 numbered minor planets, and many more not yet numbered. Most asteroids are ordinary and not particularly noteworthy. and distant galaxies are created using the same 3D modeling engine developed for Maris' best-selling PC planetarium planetarium, optical device used to project a representation of the heavens onto a domed ceiling; the term also designates the building that houses such a device. A modern planetarium consists of as many as 150 motor-driven projectors mounted on an axis. software, RedShift redshift Displacement of the spectrum of an astronomical object toward longer wavelengths (visible light shifts toward the red end of the spectrum). In 1929 Edwin Hubble reported that distant galaxies had redshifts proportionate to their distances (see , the winner of 10 international awards for excellence including Parent's Choice Gold Award for children's software. Each simulation is linked to authoritative explanatory text from the Penguin Dictionary of Astronomy and accompanied by musical excerpts from RedShift Suite, composer Jean Paul Garatoni's space-age symphony inspired by his travels through space using RedShift, the world's most popular astronomy program. Topping off Discover Astronomy is a full-screen Photo Gallery, which features stunning full-color astro-photographs of fascinating astronomical phenomenon, such as the doomed comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, the Horsehead Nebula, and Voyager 2 photos of Saturn and Neptune. Also included is a fully-functional demo of RedShift 2, allowing users to create their own views of the stars and planets. "Discover Astronomy opens up a complex subject to children and adults of ages," said Mitton. "It is great fun and good science." Pricing and Availability With a street price of $14.95, Discover Astronomy is available immediately through all major U.S. software retailers and mass merchandisers. Maris products are distributed in the United States by Maxis and can be ordered by contacting Maxis directly at 800/33-MAXIS or via Maxis' Website address www.maxis.com. CONTACT: Maris Multimedia Jeneane Harter, 415/492-2819 100443.3121@compuserve.com or A&R Partners Lisa Auslen, 415/363-0982 lisa_auslen@arpartners.com or Visit Maris at E3: Booth #3413 |
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