Universe: The Definitive Visual Guide.UNIVERSE: The Definitive Visual Guide MARTIN REES ET AL., EDS (Electronic Data Systems, Plano, TX, www.eds.com) Founded in 1962 by H. Ross Perot (independent candidate for the President of the U.S. in 1992), EDS is the largest outsourcing and data processing services organization in the country. . This oversized o·ver·size n. 1. A size that is larger than usual. 2. An oversize article or object. adj. o·ver·size also o·ver·sized Larger in size than usual or necessary. , illustrated atlas is a seemingly complete reference guide to the universe and astronomy. Richly detailed with full-color illustrations, diagrams, and photos, the guide is divided into three sections. The first gives an overview of astronomy, including helpful definitions and information on how the cosmos has been studied from the Copernican revolution The Copernican Revolution refers to the paradigm shift away from the Ptolemaic model of the heavens, which placed Earth at the center of the Universe. It was one of the starting points for the Scientific Revolution of the 17th Century. to the Apollo missions The Apollo missions were a series of space missions, both manned and unmanned, flown by NASA between 1961 and 1975. They culminated with a series of manned moon landings between 1969 and 1972. . The second section is' devoted to celestial bodies, beginning with the planets of 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. and then moving out to the Milky Way and beyond. The text explains subjects including the various types of stars, research on the formation of galaxies, and current theories on the makeup of planetary systems. The last section is devoted to the night sky and includes a guide to the constellations and a sky guide for each month of the year. This book will be a must-have for astronomy buffs, yet its clear presentation and stunning look will appeal to a wider audience. OK Adult, 2005, 512 p., color plates, hardcover, $50.00. |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion