Astronomy: The Solar System and Beyond

IF you are the type who wants to learn the basics about Astronomy then this is the book for you. It has great information about what astronomy is about and is able to teach you about it without having any physics or astrophysics background. I highly recomend this boo

We purchased this book for my husband's class and to be quite honest, I don't want to sell it back. Very interesting!

This book is a text aimed at the astronomy course that non-science majors might take in fulfillment of the requirement that they can't get out of college without at least one science class. As such, the book goes far beyond simply looking at the solar system and a few stars. Perhaps the most important concept in the book is for the student to come away with a basic understanding of the scientific method. Here is how you study/observe nature, create a theory, test the theory, use the theory to make predictions, test the predictions, alter the theory as needed. In a time where the President of the United States is talking about things like Intelligent Design as though it is science, this simple explanation of science is sorely needed in the population. This is the fifth edition of the book. The most important changes in the new edition is the inclusion of new ideas, new photographs, new things that have been discovered since the last edition. Other changes include new writeups, new figures that are hopefuly more clear than in preceeding editions.

A fun read if you are already keen on astronomy. But even if you are not, Seeds has presented an introductory course on the subject in an attractive and clear manner. Heavily illustrated with colour diagrams of many topics, you can find both a centuries long history, and the latest research observations. Especially for interplanetary exploration, for which there has been an enduring fascination by the public. All this is presented in a consistent framework that can instill a sense of wonder in a student. Indeed, to a student with imagination and diligence, studying the book can convey a magnificent picture of the universe.

Seeds has a deep understanding of science and a refined writing style that is rarely found among textbook writers. Aside from hard astronomy details, he strives to train his student readers to think like real scientists, which includes the necessary skill to distinguish true science from pseudoscience. Sometimes the tone of the author subtly reminds of Carl Sagan; If you like Carl Sagan, you'll love this book. The beautiful graphics and the student's edition of TheSky CD further enhances the value of this product. Seeds is a strong force indeed.