The Cosmic Perspective

Building on a long tradition of effective pedagogy and comprehensive coverage, The Cosmic Perspective; Stars and Galaxies, Seventh Edition provides a thoroughly engaging and up-to-date introduction to astronomy for non-science majors. The text provides a wealth of features that enhance skill-building, including new group work exercises that help you retain concepts longer and build communication skills for the future. The Seventh Edition has also been fully updated to include the latest astronomical observations, results from recent space missions, research, and theoretical developments that inform our understanding of the early universe. This volume includes Chapters 1-6, S2-S4, and 14-24 of the main text, The Cosmic Perspective, Seventh Edition.I. DEVELOPING PERSPECTIVE 1. Our Place in the Universe 2. Discovering the Universe for Yourself 3. The Science of Astronomy S1. Celestial Timekeeping and Navigation II. KEY CONCEPTS FOR ASTRONOMY 4. Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity 5. Light and Matter: Reading Messages from the Cosmos 6. Telescopes: Portals of Discovery S2. Space and Time S3. Spacetime and Gravity S4. Building Blocks of the Universe 14. Our Star 15. Surveying the Stars 16. Star Birth 17. Star Stuff 18. The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard VI. GALAXIES AND BEYOND 19. Our Galaxy 20. Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology 21. Galaxy Evolution 22. Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe 23. The Beginning of Time VII. LIFE ON EARTH AND BEYOND 24. Life in the Universe