Challenges of Astronomy: Hands-On Experiments for the Sky and Laboratory (Hands-on Experiments for the Sky & Laboratory)

Challenges of Astronomy in a unique collection of thirty astronomy experiments ranging from ancient astronomy to cosmology. Each of the experiments contains one or more challenges for the reader. The progression is from the Earth outward through the solar system to the stellar and galactic realm. Topics include the shape of the sky, Stonehenge as a stoneage abacus, determination of the size of the Earth, the distance of the Moon and planets, Kepler's laws, planetary mass and density, the temperatures and atmospheres of planets, the speed of light, the distances of stars, the nature of the quiet and active Sun, photometry and spectroscopy, stars clusters and variable stars, fundamental properties of stars, and Olber's paradox. Challenges of Astronomy is a translation and extensive revision of a German-language resource book for secondary school teachers of science. Physical science teachers will find this edition too a rich resource of experiments to their own milieus, but it is suitable for many other English-language readers too, from northern and southern hemisphere locations. The beginning experiments are suitable for bright high school and non-science major university students while the later experiments which offer increasingly difficult challenges are more suitable for sciences majors. Amateurs with a variety of skills will find this hands-on book entertaining, informative, and useful. Booknews A collection of thirty astronomy experiments progressing from an advanced high-school to a professional level, from ancient astronomy to cosmology, and from the earth through the solar system to the stellar and galactic realm. First published in German in 1989. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) A Unique Collection Of Thirty Experiments Ranging From Ancient Astronomy To Cosmology, Each Containing One Or More Challenges For The Reader. The Progression Here Is From The Earth Outward Through The Solar System To The Stellar And Galactic Realm. Topics Include The Shape Of The Sky; Stonehenge As A Stone-age Abacus; Determining The Size Of The Earth; The Distance Of The Moon, Stars And Planets; Planetary Mass, Density, Temperature And Atmosphere; The Speed Of Light; The Nature Of The Quiet And Active Sun; Photometry And Spectroscopy; Star Clusters And Variable Stars; And Fundamental Properties Of Stars. The Vault Of Heaven -- Astronomy Of The Spheres -- Early Astronomy -- The Earth's Radius -- The Distance Of The Moon -- Measuring Lunar Mountains -- The Phases Of Venus -- Saturn's Parallax And Motion -- The Astronomical Unit -- The Moon's Orbit -- The Galilean Moons Of Jupiter -- Planetary Packaging: Mean Densities -- Earth Satellites -- Orbits And Space Travel -- Photography Of The Sun And Stars -- The Speed And Color Of Light -- Planetary Atmospheres -- Atmospheric Effects On Starlight And Sunlight -- Sources Of Cosmic Radiation -- Optical Aids And Their Limitations -- Laser Light And Speckle Interferometry -- Photometry -- Spectral Analysis -- The Doppler Effect -- Binary Star Systems -- Fundamental Properties Of Stars -- The Face Of A Star: The Sun -- Star Clusters -- Olbers's Paradox: Cosmology And The Night Sky -- Appendices: A. Coordinate Systems And Spherical Astronomy -- B.a Brief Summary Of Error Analysis -- C. Constructing A Cross-staff -- D. Julian Day Number Table -- E. Planetary Position Tables -- F. Photographic Targets. W. Schlosser, T. Schmidt-kaler, E.f. Milone. Rev. Translation Of: Astronomische Musterversuche. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-viii The Vault of Heaven....Pages 1-3 Astronomy of the Spheres....Pages 4-8 Early Astronomy....Pages 9-16 The Earth’s Radius....Pages 17-21 The Distance of the Moon....Pages 22-25 Measuring Lunar Mountains....Pages 26-30 The Phases of Venus....Pages 31-37 Saturn’s Parallax and Motion....Pages 38-43 The Astronomical Unit....Pages 44-47 The Moon’s Orbit....Pages 48-53 The Galilean Moons of Jupiter....Pages 54-58 Planetary Packaging: Mean Densities....Pages 59-62 Earth Satellites....Pages 63-69 Orbits and Space Travel....Pages 70-76 Photography of the Sun and Stars....Pages 77-82 The Speed and Color of Light....Pages 83-87 Planetary Surface Temperatures....Pages 88-93 Planetary Atmospheres....Pages 94-97 Atmospheric Effects on Starlight and Sunlight....Pages 98-105 Sources of Cosmic Radiation....Pages 106-112 Optical Aids and Their Limitations....Pages 113-118 Laser Light and Speckle Interferometry....Pages 119-123 Photometry....Pages 124-134 Spectral Analysis....Pages 135-146 The Doppler Effect....Pages 147-151 Binary Star Systems....Pages 152-160 Fundamental Properties of Stars....Pages 161-168 The Face of a Star: The Sun....Pages 169-177 Star Clusters....Pages 178-186 Olbers’s Paradox: Cosmology and the Night Sky....Pages 187-193 Back Matter....Pages 194-236