Astronomica

Combining the knowledge of astronomy experts with the very latest images to present an in-depth look at the universe and the celestial bodies that abound in the night sky, this reference book covers a wide range of astronomy topics.

The Astronomica of Manilius is a poem in five books, at least partly written under the Emperor Augustus, which purports to teach the reader the art of astrology and the means by which an accurate horoscope may be cast. It is, therefore, a text from the classical age of Roman literature which deals with a topic to whose enduring popular interest any daily Western newspaper will testify. And yet, despite some notable modern exceptions, the infamously harsh verdict of Manilius' most ardent modern critic, A. E. Housman, continues to cast an imposing shadow on the poem. Forgotten Stars seeks to lift this shadow once and for all, as it brings together an international contingent of scholars to analyse this dynamic poem from a variety of perspectives. Matters of literary interest are complemented by approaches which assess the work's socio-political, philosophical, scientific, and astrological resonance, as well as its influence on later Renaissance writers.

This is the first English-language monograph on Marcus Manilius, a Roman poet of the first century AD, whose Astronomica is our earliest extant comprehensive treatment of astrology. Katharina Volk brings Manilius and his world alive for modern readers by exploring the manifold intellectual traditions that have gone into shaping the Astronomica: ancient astronomy and cosmology, the history and practice of astrology, the historical and political situation at the poem's composition, the poetic and generic conventions that inform it, and the philosophical underpinnings of Manilius' world-view. What emerges is a panoroma of the cultural imagination of the Early Empire, a fascinating picture of the ways in which educated Greeks and Romans were accustomed to think and speak about the cosmos and man's place in it.

Guiding us through Einstein's theory of relativity, quantum mechanics, and string theory, Astronomical explains the baffling mysteries of the cosmos: from alien life to the zodiac; from white holes to wormholes; from quasars to quark stars—all within a narrative that is as entertaining as it is edifying. Does the Big Bang prove the existence of God? What's the Universe expanding into? Is Earth the only planet which supports life? Space is the biggest, oldest, hottest, coldest, strangest thing a human can study. It's no surprise then, that the weirdest facts in science (not to mention the weirdest scientists themselves) are found in astrophysics and cosmology. If you're looking for instructions on how to set up your grandad's telescope this book probably isn't for you. In Astronomical, Tim James takes us on a tour of the known (and unknown) universe, focusing on the most-mind boggling stuff we've come across, as well as unpacking the latest theories about what's really going on out there. Guiding us through Einstein's relativity, quantum mechanics and string theory, Astronomical delves into the baffling corners of the cosmos and tackles the biggest mysteries we face: from alien life to the zodiac; from white holes to wormholes; from quasars to quark stars. This is the science of space at its absolute strangest.

Vistas in Astronomy, Volume 1: Co-operation and Organization, History and Philosophy, Dynamics, Theoretical Astrophysics, Instruments, Radio Astronomy, Solar Physics brings together the ideas that form the structural units of what is known about astronomy. This book is organized into seven sections encompassing 93 chapters. Section I provides a summary of the significant contributions of international cooperation and various astronomy-related organizations in the advancement of astronomy. Section II highlights the historical developments in astronomy, from the early studies of the Egyptians to the formulation of philosophical concepts of cosmology. Sections III and IV describes the dynamic and theoretical aspects of astrophysics. These sections consider research studies on stellar dynamics, atmospheres, and magnetic fields, as well as the formation of condensation in a gaseous nebula. Part V is devoted o the developments in telescope optics and mirrors, spectrographs, electronic calculating machines, and photometers, while Section VI examines the field of radio astronomy. Part VII looks into solar physics related studies, including the structure and movements of sunspots, eclipse observation, and spectroscopic investigations of the solar corona. This book is of great value to astronomers, astrophysicists, solar physicists, and researchers in the allied fields.

This Is A New Release Of The Original 1697 Edition.

Space science in China is one of the most active areas in modern science, and China has played a dynamic and steadily increasing role in this field since the 1960s. Until recently, however, activity in China was a mystery to the rest of the world. With the commercial importance of space, and the fact that space is now used as a "laboratory" to carry out various experiments, China has recently emerged as an important international competitor. Space Science in China provides a clear understanding of the latest research and progress in such wide-ranging areas as the development and research in solar-terrestrial science, space astronomy, geoscience, remote sensing, microgravity science, and life science.

A symposium to celebrate the life of Bohdan Paczynski (1940-2007), Lyman Spitzer Jr. Professor of Theoretical Astrophysics at Princeton University, took place on 29-30 September 2007. Bohdan Paczynski impacted astronomy and astronomers alike with his innovative ideas, philosophies, and insight to astronomy, science and life in general. This volume has assembled thoughts, memories and scientific accomplishments influenced in one way or another by Bohdan, who was a Giant in his field. Nine friends, colleagues and admirers who have been touched by Paczynski personally, professionally, or both, contributed invited presentations. Topics in this volume include the influence of Bohdan Paczynski in the field of stellar evolution and variable stars, his crucial role in making the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) and the All Sky Automated Survey (ASAS) possible, and his revolutionary insistence on allowing anyone and everyone access to his stellar evolution code: The Paczynski Code. Also included are Bohdan's contributions to gravitational microlensing and the search for dark matter in the form of MACHOs. Particular emphasis is given to advances and unexpected discoveries from surveys such as MACHO, OGLE, and EROS. The impact Paczynski had on our understanding of gamma-ray bursts is also discussed. Finally, this celebration of Professor Bohdan Paczynski is completed with the addition of personal accounts of his life, brilliance, sense of humor, and inspiration to others. Paczynski's scientific contributions reach across all of astrophysics and bridge the gap between observation and theory. This book is of interest not only to those who knew him, but also to those who know of him and the immeasurable ways he left his mark on the community.

This book contains the Astrological Compendium of the late Classical astrologer Rhetorius the Egyptian. It contains his Explanation and Narration of The Whole Art of Astrology, and was translated from the Greek by James Herschel Holden, M.A., Research Director of the American Federation of Astrologers. Also included are the treatises by Teucer of Babylon on the Nature of the Signs of the Zodiac and the Nature of the Seven planets. Rhetorius was the last major astrological writer of the Classical period of Greek Astrology.