Astronomers‘ Universe

How We Can Make Sense of the Celestial Landscape

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Since the invention of the telescope 400 years ago, astronomers have discovered countless spectacular celestial objects. But how does one make sense of it all? Astronomer and retired NASA Chief Historian Steven J. Dick brings order to this menagerie by defining 82 classes of astronomical objects and placing them in a beginner-friendly system he calls “Astronomy’s Three Kingdoms.” Rather than concentrating on the technicalities of classification, this book focuses on the history of each object, the nature of its discovery, and our current knowledge about it. Accompanying each spread are spectacular historical and modern images.The result is a pedagogical tour-de-force, whereby readers can easily see how all of these astronomical objects relate to one other. In addition to the historical and scientific backgrounds provided for each case, the book includes tips for how amateurs can observe most of the objects themselves, thereby serving as a call to action for people of all ages to observe and learn about the stories behind the many types of objects that populate the night sky.