21st Century Astronomy - Softcover

Written by a team of specialists who are also experienced teachers, this accessible text fosters scientific literacy by relating core concepts in modern astronomy to the real-world process of science. Retaining the lively prose and narrative style of the previous edition, the text now offers improved pedagogy, an expanded art program, and dynamic new multimedia tools for students and instructors. The text is also now available in a comprehensive one-volume edition, a flexible ebook format, or two separate volumes, one focusing on the solar system and the other focusing on stars and galaxies.

Jeff Hester is professor of physics and astronomy at Arizona State University. He studies the interstellar medium in the Milky Way and external galaxies, the structure of the diffuse ISM, and supernova remnants. David Burstein is professor of physics and astronomy at Arizona State University. His research focuses on the structure and evolution of galaxies, stellar evolution, and cosmology. George Blumenthal is chancellor at the University of California-Santa Cruz, where he has been a professor of astronomy and astrophysics since 1972. Chancellor Blumenthal received his BS degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and his PhD in physics from the University of California-San Diego. As a theoretical astrophysicist, Chancellor Blumenthal's research encompasses several broad areas, including the nature of the dark matter that constitutes most of the mass in the universe, the origin of galaxies and other large structures in the universe, the earliest moments in the universe, astrophysical radiation processes, and the structure of active galactic nuclei such as quasars. Ronald Greeley is professor of geological sciences at Arizona State University. His current research is focused on gaining an understanding of planetary surface processes and geological histories. Brad Smith is a retired professor of planetary science. He has served as an associate professor of astronomy at New Mexico State University, a professor of planetary sciences and astronomy at the University of Arizona, and as a research astronomer at the University of Hawaii. Through his interest in Solar System astronomy, he has participated as a team member or imaging team leader on several U.S. and international space missions, including Mars Mariners 6, 7, and 9; Viking; Voyagers 1 and 2; and the Soviet Vega and Phobos missions. He later turned his interest to extrasolar planetary systems, investigating circumstellar debris disks as a member of the Hubble Space Telescope NICMOS experiment team. Brad has four times been awarded the NASA Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement. He is a member of the IAU Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature and is Chair of the Task Group for Mars Nomenclature. Howard Voss is professor of physics emeritus at Arizona State University and has been active in the American Association of Physics Teachers and the American Institute of Physics.