From the first time mankind had an inkling of the vast space that surrounds us, those who study the universe have had to struggle against political and religious preconceptions. They have included some of the most charismatic, courageous, and idiosyncratic thinkers of all time. In Coming of Age in the Milky Way, Timothy Ferris uses his unique blend of rigorous research and captivating narrative skill to draw us into the lives and minds of these extraordinary figures, creating a landmark work of scientific history.

    "A fine introduction to modern astronomical theory." -- LIBRARY JOURNAL

    Prepared under the aegis of the Association of Space Explorers and in cooperation with the Soviet agency Mir, The Home Planet conveys as no book ever has the human dimension of space exploration, and the deeply personal response to our terrestrial home which space travel awakens.

    "Det" Cox has just spent three years under psych observation on Earth; now that he's out-system, he isn't about to tell anyone he's seeing aliens again. Paige Barnett has lost everything, even her name, because she knows too much about the rebellion spreading through the Earth-Space mining colonies.Together Cox and Barnett stumble upon the mystery at the revolution's heart and learn why the rebels are willing to die for it.Is their discovery humanity's worst threat or greatest gift? The authorities are willing to destroy whole planets to keep the revolution's secret from reaching Earth! What's to stop them from destroying two people?

    If you are a new observer, it is not that easy to ?nd your way in this swarm of stars, but this atlas tries to make it as easy as possible. So now it is not just experienced amateurs that can enjoy looking at the heavens. Two additional observing aids are recommended. The ?rst is a planisphere, where one can dial in the time and day in order to see which constellations are visible and where they are in the sky. The second is an astronomical yearbook listing the current positions of the planets and all important phenomena. So, let us begin our journey around the night sky, and see what the universe can reveal to us! Sky Atlases Most sky atlases can be classi?ed into one of two major groups according to the number of stars they contain. Some atlases only show the stars visible to the naked eye. As there are not more than a few thousand such stars, such charts can be simple and clear and can be arranged in a handy format. They are ideal for all naked-eye Facing page, top: The constellation Cygnus (Swan) in the midst of the northern Milky Way.

    Her story is one of courage and adventure, as Jade accepts a suicide assignment against the most violent alien conquerors!

    The National Air and Space Museum (NASM) houses the world's greatest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft plus an amazing assortment of other historic objects. Many fascinating items from the twenty-three galleries and two off-site facilities are presented here in 197 full-color photographs, and are accompanied by their equally intriguing stories.This gallery-by-gallery tour presents many milestones of aviation and spaceflight, such as the Wright Flyer, Chuck Yeager's Bell X-1, and the spacesuits worn by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. Some of the lesser-known but equally captivating treasures illustrated here include soda cans specially engineered for space use, Otto Lilienthal's 1894 glider (which inspired the Wright brothers), and a sobering American flag recovered from the wreckage of the Challenger. Each gallery section concludes helpfully with notes about smaller objects and displays that are not to be missed.The final two sections are devoted to the museum's sprawling thirty-building Paul E. Garber Preservation, Restoration, and Storage Facility in Maryland -- where three-hour tours are available by reservation -- and the soon-to-be-opened Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles Airport. When completed, this facility will have enough space to finally display the Enola Gay, the first space shuttle (the Enterprise), and the fastest jet in the world, the ultrasleek SR-71 Blackbird.Certainly offering an enriched experience for any NASM visitor, this sturdy, richly detailedguide is also an inspiring tribute to the human spirit.

    The evolution of the universe from nothing is described by the big bang theory. Creation of the Universe is the story of advances in cosmology and how they were made. It traces the developments of the big bang theory, from the expansion of the universe to quantum cosmology, from the formation of large scale structures to the physics of the PLank Era.

    No other text so clearly communicates the thrill of discovery in astronomy to all students, regardless of their scientific background.Features: Exciting, authoritative, and fully up-to-date, the lucid writing and lavish full-color artwork share with students the scientific way of knowing. A flexible part structure and highlighted cross-references let instructors choose what they wish to cover—and when they wish to cover it. For greater flexibility and student suppport, difficult math and physics are set off in optional boxes—now called Tools of the Astronomers' Trade and Looking Deeper into Astronomy—with extensive worked examples. Problem-Solving Tips and Tools give students an extra edge in solving the unusual variety of chapter questions.