Canopus Books » Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology

ExoClimes – Frédéric Pont

admin — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:29:53 +0000

Planetary atmospheres are complex and evolving entities, as mankind is rapidly coming to realise whilst attempting to understand, forecast and mitigate human-induced climate change. In the Solar System, our neighbours Venus and Mars provide striking examples of two endpoints of planetary evolution: the runaway greenhouse effect and the loss of the entire atmosphere to space.

The variety of planets beyond our Solar System (exoplanets) is even more extraordinary: from scorching ‘hot jupiters” to ocean worlds, exo-atmospheres exist in configurations unknown in the Solar System – such as iron clouds, silicate rains, extreme plate tectonics, and steam volcanoes. Exoplanetary atmospheres have recently become accessible to observations.

This book puts our own climate in the wider context of the trials and tribulations of planetary atmospheres. Based on cutting-edge research, it uses a grand tour of the atmospheres of other planet to shine a new light on our own atmosphere, and its relation with life.

The scientific content of the book is inspired from the invited reviews of the ExoClimes conference, held in Exeter, UK in September 2010, organised by the author.

Physics of Relativistic Objects in Compact Binaries: from Birth to Coalescence – Monica Colpi et al. (Eds)

admin — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:13:08 +0000

This book provides a comprehensive, authoritative and timely review of the astrophysical approach to the investigation of gravity theories. Particular attention is paid to strong-field tests of general relativity and alternative theories of gravity, performed using collapsed objects (neutron stars, black holes and white dwarfs) in relativistic binaries as laboratories.

The book starts with an introduction which gives the background linking experimental gravity in cosmic laboratories to astrophysics and fundamental physics. Subsequent chapters cover observational and theoretical aspects of the following topics: from binaries as test-beds of gravity theories to binary pulsars as cosmic laboratories; from binary star evolution to the formation of relativistic binaries; from short gamma-ray bursts to low mass X-ray binaries; from stellar-mass black hole binaries to coalescing super-massive black holes in galaxy mergers.

The book will be useful to researchers, PhD and graduate students in Astrophysics, Cosmology, Physics and Mathematics, who are interested in relativistic astrophysics, experimental gravity and general relativity.

Series: Astrophysics and Space Science Library

Extent: 378pp
ISBN: 978-1-4020-9263-3 (print) / (e-book)
Price: £127.00 (UK) / € (Europe)

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Canopus Encyclopedia of Astronomy – P. Murdin and M. Penston (Eds)

admin — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 20:24:14 +0000

Astronomy is advancing at an unprecedented rate, and there have never before been so many backyard astronomers, from beginners to those at the professional frontier. There is also huge interest in the startlingly imaginative concepts that professional astronomers use to explain our place, and existence, in the universe at large.

This established A-Z encyclopedia is a beautiful and authoritative illustrated reference to the whole of classical and modern astronomy. It includes 515 remarkable diagrams and photographs from leading artists and astrophotographers.

Students, journalists, librarians, and inquisitive families will find it answers any questions that might arise in a professional or personal context.

Within its complement of 1750 articles, it includes 40 articles on practical astronomy from the world’s top practitioners, including editors from Sky and Telescope magazine and members of the British Astronomical Association. These are articles to inspire beginners, and to refine the techniques of those with more experience.

There are 100 essays derived from the current work of 700 research astronomers. With the help of specially commissioned artworks, these articles interpret the latest research findings for non-specialists. Topics such as Active Galaxies, Dark Matter,and General Relativity are made truly comprehensible for the first time.
Under the direction of Professor Paul Murdin, an international team has created this unique reference work, which has been through careful stages of review and checking to ensure it is the ultimate single-volume reference in the field of astronomy.

Published Reviews

Rick Fienberg, Editor-in-Chief, Sky & Telescope
Until now there has been no single best reference…

Royal Astronomical Society
This authoritative and comprehensive volume will be of interest to armchair and backyard astronomers alike. It is an up-to-date work…

Sir Patrick Moore
This encyclopedia is by far the best of its kind I have ever come across.

Astronomy & Geophysics
Quite an achievement … neither patronizes nor overwhelms … an exceptionally useful and attractive volume.

Times Literary Supplement
Exceptionally comprehensive and up-to-date…pitched right at the limits of contemporary research… handsomely produced and reasonably priced.

Science News
Takes readers to the cutting edge of the latest research… details some of the most intriguing aspects of space.

Federation of Astronomical Societies
Well researched and attractively laid out… an excellent source of information and data for amateur and professional, beginner and experienced.

Publishers Weekly
An engaging trove of information.

2001, 480pp, 200 colour illustrations, Hardcover £40
978-0953786886

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Bang! The Complete History of the Universe – Brian May, Patrick Moore and Chris Lintott

admin — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 20:01:59 +0000

Why BANG!? Why did three men from markedly different backgrounds come together and spend two years passionately thrashing out the text of a book about a Big Bang? Because they believe that every intelligent, inquisitive human being should have the chance to hear this astounding story, only very recently beginning to make sense – The Complete History of the Universe – in a language everyone can understand.

BANG! Space, time, matter … the Universe was born 13.7 billion years ago. Infinitely small at first, it expanded more rapidly than anyone can contemplate. Brian May, Patrick Moore and Chris Lintott explain how all this came about, from that moment when time and space came into existence, to the formation of the first stars, galaxies and planets, and to the evolution of human beings able to contemplate our own origins and ultimate destiny. Then on towards that destiny in the infinite future, long after the Earth has been consumed by the Red Giant Sun. The story is told in clear, straight forward terms, in the strict order in which the events happened, and uses no mathematics.

BANG! is an amazing story. Is it fiction? The authors hope not, since it is based upon lifetimes of work by great scientists such as Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking and hundreds of other brilliant minds. Enjoy, and let your imagination run riot.

BANG! is beautifully illustrated with original artworks by UK Space Artist Brian Smallwood.

Chris Lintott, Brian May and Patrick Moore in the garden of Patrick’s house in Sussex.

2008 seond edition, £18. Link to buy to purchase

2009 paperback edition, fully updated - to be released August 2009

A Survey of Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud – Brian May

admin — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:56:28 +0000

The Zodiacal Light, that misty diffuse cone of light seen in the West after Sunset and the East before Sunrise, is a beautiful and intriguing phenomenon. Even though everyone can enjoy the sight from a suitably dark location, it is poorly understood, and has been the subject of relatively little research. Brian May began his research into the subject in 1970, and was finally awarded his PhD in 2007, after a hiatus of more than 30 years pursuing his other career as guitarist with his rock band Queen. This book is Brian’s thesis, and as such presents the results of his research for astronomers.

Reviews

“The Queen guitarist Brian May has achieved a new milestone: he has published his PhD thesis in astronomy. … Entitled A Survey of Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud, his thesis analyses what happens to the dust particles left over from the formation of the solar system about 4.6 billion years ago. … Mike Lockwood, a physics professor at Southampton University, said May’s work was timely … . Brian Cox, a physics professor at Manchester University, applauded May’s tenacity. … That’s hugely impressive.” (Jonathan Leake and Robert Watts, Times Online, August, 2008)

2007 215 pages, Hard covers, colour throughout

978-0-387-77705-4, £43.99

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DotAstronomy: Networked Astronomy and the New Media – Robert J. Simpson and Derek Ward-Thompson (Eds)

admin — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:21:58 +0000

Astronomy is facing a paradigm shift. The huge quantities of data that are being created by a new generation of surveys and instruments will require new ways of thinking. At the same time, an ever-more connected world is bringing astronomy to the masses via new media, comprising blogs, podcasts, social networks, and more.

Google Sky and Microsoft’s Worldwide Telescope have taken astronomy into the home with stunning elegance. Data mining, robotic telescopes and virtual observatories will soon take petabytes of data to a global audience of professionals and amateurs. Projects such as Galaxy Zoo enable members of the public to participate in ‘Citizen Science’ and actually engage with research.

Communication and networking technologies are changing science, for both researchers and the public alike. The dotAstronomy Conference discussed the ideas and methods emerging in this new era and the way in which they present interesting and novel opportunities for both conducting and communicating astronomy.

The conference took place at Cardiff University School of Physics and Astronomy between 22nd and 24th

September 2008.

200 pages, colour throughout

ISBN 0-9549846-9-2 Price: £19.99

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Dark Side of the Universe – Iain Nicolson

admin — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:58:30 +0000

Once we thought the universe was filled with shining stars, dust, planets, and galaxies. We now know that more than 98 percent of all matter in the universe is dark. It emits absolutely nothing yet bends space and time; keeps stars speeding around galaxies; and determines the fate of the universe.

But dark matter is only part of the story. Scientists have recently discovered that the expansion of the universe is speeding up, driven by a mysterious commodity called dark energy. Depending on what dark matter and energy happen to be, our seemingly quiet universe could end its days in a Big Rip, tearing itself apart, or a Big Crunch, collapsing down to a universe the size of nothing, ready to be reincarnated in a Big Bang once again.

For the general reader and armchair astronomer alike, Iain Nicolson’s fascinating account shows how our ideas about the nature and the content of the universe have developed. He highlights key discoveries, explains underlying concepts, and examines current thinking on dark matter and dark energy. He describes techniques that astronomers use to explore the remote recesses of the cosmos in their quest to understand its composition, evolution, and ultimate fate.

Iain Nicolson (left) signing copies of his book with Robin Rees at Astrofest 2008.

2007, 252pp, 200 colour illustrations, Hardcover
ISBN: 978-0-9549846-3-3

Price: £19.95 (UK)

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From Reviews

“A lucid essay on the cosmos — past, present and future — accompanied by clear diagrams, computer graphics and luminous telescopic photos… conveys the excitement of scientists tackling the largest problem yet uncovered.” — Wall Street Journal

“Full of lavish illustrations in beautiful colour — though not of course of dark matter and dark energy — it is a first-class overview for the non-specialist, with enough meaty detail for scientists too.” — New Scientist

“For the general reader and armchair astronomer alike, Nicolson’s fascinating account shows how our ideas about the nature and the content of the universe have developed.” — Lunar and Planetary Information Bulletin

“Not just for college-level science collections strong in astronomy, but for the general-interest lending library catering to non-scientist readers.” — Midwest Book Review

“I particularly enjoyed how Nicolson explores topics that take a back seat in the mainstream media.” — Monica Bobra, Sky and Telescope

“Beautifully illustrated… a valuable contribution to popular scientific literature.” — Choice

Iain Nicolson is a writer, lecturer, and occasional broadcaster on astronomy and space science. A Visiting Fellow of the University of Hertfordshire and a contributing consultant to Astronomy Now, he is a frequent contributor to BBC Television’s The Sky at Night. His most recent books include Unfolding Our Universe and Stars and Supernovas.

Note about the artist

Jamie Symonds has worked closely with Canopus on all our illustrated astronomy titles, and single-handedly meticulously prepared every one of the 200 beautiful artworks for Dark Side. Previously he produced the art for the Canopus Encyclopedia of Astronomy, and is always our first choice for redrawing any technical illustrations for our more academic physics titles. He is currently working on our new production: A Village Lost and Found, by Brian May and Elena Vidal, which presents a lyrical series of stereo cards from mid-19th century photographer T. R. Williams for readers to enjoy using the specially designed stereo viewer which is included with the book. Jamie is an incredibly talented time lapse photographer too: see Clifton Suspension Bridge Timelapse. Contact him at Canopus!