Learning Astronomy
Edition: 4
Copyright: 2025
Pages: 331
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$90.00 USD
Learning Astronomy provides a comprehensive introduction to the universe, exploring how humans have observed, studied, and understood celestial objects throughout history. Students begin by examining the foundations of astronomy, including naked-eye observations, ancient astronomical discoveries, and the development of modern observational tools such as telescopes. The course also introduces the nature of light and its critical role in helping astronomers gather information about distant objects in space.
Building on these foundations, the course investigates the physical properties and life cycles of stars, from their formation and evolution to their eventual deaths. Students also explore the structure and behavior of galaxies, including active galaxies and the large-scale organization of the universe through cosmology. The course concludes with an examination of exoplanets and the search for planetary systems beyond our own, providing insight into current discoveries and the ongoing quest to understand the origins, evolution, and future of the cosmos.
Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 Naked Eye Astronomy
Chapter 3 Ancient Astronomy
Chapter 4 Light and Telescopes
Chapter 5 The Nature of Light
Chapter 6 The Sun
Chapter 7 Understanding Stars
Chapter 8 Star Formation
Chapter 9 Stellar Evolution
Chapter 10 Star Death
Chapter 11 Galaxies
Chapter 12 Active Galaxies
Chapter 13 Cosmology
Chapter 14 Exoplanets
Dr. Wayne Barkhouse is a Professor in the Department of Physics and Astrophysics at the University of North Dakota. He earned his Ph.D. in Astronomy and Astrophysics from the University of Toronto after completing a B.Sc. in Physics and an M.Sc. in Astronomy at Saint Mary's University in Nova Scotia, Canada. Following his doctoral studies, Dr. Barkhouse pursued postdoctoral research at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and later at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, gaining extensive experience in astronomical research and higher education.
Dr. Tim Young is a Professor in the Department of Physics and Astrophysics at the University of North Dakota. At the University of North Dakota, Dr. Young contributes to the department’s mission of promoting excellence in science education and research. His work supports student engagement with contemporary developments in physics and astrophysics.