Stars Above, Earth Below: A Guide to Astronomy in the National Parks (Springer Praxis Books / Popular Astronomy)

Stars Above, Earth Below uses photographs and sky charts to form a connection between what is seen on the ground and in the sky, and looks at the deeper scientific meaning behind these sights. Nordgren describes other objects in the Solar System with features similar to those on Earth and links the geological features seen in the national parks to the very latest NASA spacecraft discoveries on other planets and their moons. Additionally, historical context is discussed to show why we humans (who have lived in and around our national parts for tens of thousands of years) have always been astronomers. The first book to make direct connections between astronomy and the landscapes, processes and cultures one experiences in the US National Parks Each chapter ties a specific astronomical phenomenon to a particular National Park or type of park and concludes with a "See for yourself" section that shows you how to see the planets, stars, nebulae, moons, etc. that are described within that chapter A personal guide showing the reader the astronomical phenomena that you can see for yourself when visiting the U.S. National Parks As an example, one chapter will begin by explaining the causes of tides one sees while visiting the Atlantic Ocean along Maine's Acadia National Park.-Tides are a direct visible example of how planetary bodies affect one another. The planet Jupiter, which one can see in the sky during specific times of the year, has a moon upon which it exerts such enormous tides that its frozen interior has melted resulting in a liquid ocean far larger and deeper than our own. While standing on our ocean's shores, marvelling at the life we see in tidal pools, we are able to understand the causes of another planet's ocean and wonder what the prospect of life may be beneath its waves. In another chapter, the author explores volcanism, one of the most spectacular geological activities that can shape a planet.- In Sky Above, Earth Below, Tyler Nordgren examines a range of astronomical topics and makes the connection between them and the landscapes, processes and cultures which one can see and experience within specific US National Parks. For each park and topic this story unfolds in three steps: what does the reader see for his or herself? What is the scientific cause or explanation of what the reader sees? And finally, what is the big picture about ourselves, our world, or our Universe, towards which understanding of this object or process leads? The author takes us the length and breadth of the US from the coast of Maine to the Rocky Mountains, from the Grand Canyon to Hawaii, exploring these natural links between the features of the parks and features of our Universe.- In Stars Above, Earth Below , Tyler Nordgren examines a range of astronomical topics and makes the connection between them and the landscapes, processes, and cultures which can be seen and experienced within specific U.S. National Parks. For each park and topic the story unfolds in three steps: what does the reader see for him - or herself? What is the scientific cause or explanation of what is seen? And finally, what is the big picture about ourselves, our world, and our Universe? The author takes us the length and breadth of the U.S., from the coast of Maine to the Yellowstone volcano, from the depths of the Grand Canyon to the heights of the Rocky Mountains, exploring the natural links between the features of the parks and those of our Universe. TOC:Come see the Milky Way - Yosemite and the National Park System.- Eclipses and Science - Grand Tetons and Chaco Culture National Historic Park.- Exploring New Frontiers - Yellowstone National Park.- Tides and Our Cosmic Connection - Acadia National Park.- Pele's Planet - Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.- Seasons of Fire - Great Smokey Mountains.- Red Rock Planet - Arches and Zion National Parks.- The Goldilocks Planet - Glacier National Park.- The Lives of the Stars - Chaco Culture National Historic Park.- Worlds Bountiful and Strange - Rocky Mountain National Park.- Creation Stories - Grand Canyon National Park.- Our Natural Heritage Above the Horizon Front Matter....Pages i-xii Come see the Milky Way....Pages 1-34 Black hole Sun....Pages 35-68 Tides on a cosmic shore....Pages 69-104 Worlds of fire and ice....Pages 105-146 Red rock planet....Pages 147-186 Glaciers and Goldilocks: a tale of three planets....Pages 187-226 Autumn Moon....Pages 227-270 Our cosmic connection....Pages 271-316 Worlds without number....Pages 317-356 Far away and long ago: the Universe before you....Pages 357-396 Starry sky national park....Pages 397-436 Back Matter....Pages 437-444 Visitors to the caldera of Kilauea in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will see an analogue to calderas on Jupiter's moon, Io, the most volcanically active body in the Solar System.-Astronomers using telescopes atop Mauna Kea, an extinct volcano right next to Kilauea, make regular observations of Io and thus attempt to understand its volcanic activity so as to better understand our own.- A great way to learn/teach astronomy. Uses photographs and sky charts to form a connection between what is in the sky and seen on the ground