Our sun : biography of a star

Cooper, Christopher (Energy specialist) (author.). Spergel, David N., (author of introduction, etc.). Guhathakurta, Madhulika, (author of introduction, etc.).

Summary: Our Sun reveals the science behind the sun, traces its impact on human history, and reveals its growing importance to our future way of life.

Record details

ISBN: 9781937994198
ISBN: 1937994198
Physical Description: print
224 pages : illustrations (chiefly color), color maps ; 32 cm
Publisher: New York, New York : Race Point Publishing, 2013.
Copyright: ©2013

Content descriptions

General Note:

Includes index.

Formatted Contents Note:

Introduction. Solar exploration -- The birth of our sun. The Big Bang -- The early universe in microwaves -- Star nurseries -- Going supernova -- Fusion : energy of combination -- Two's company -- The structure of our sun. Layers of our sun -- The solar wind -- The sun's rotation -- The sun's magnetism -- The importance of our sun. How far away is the sun? -- Let there be light -- Evolution of sight -- The miracle (and curse) of photosynthesis -- The worship of our sun -- The history of our sun. The Aristotelian model -- The Ptolemaic model -- Heliocentrism -- Who invented the telescope? -- Spectroscopy : shedding light on the movement and composition of stars -- Modern telescopes -- The power of our sun. The Earth's magnetosphere -- Solar power : harnessing the sun's energy -- Power over power : the perfect storm -- The solar cycle -- The future of our sun. Running out of gas -- The red giant phase -- The white dwarf phase -- The black dwarf phase -- Looking ahead.