Canopus Books » Popular Astronomy

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.

Mary Sommerville and the World of Science – Allan Chapman

admin — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:28:55 +0000

Mary Sommerville (1780-1872), after whom Sommerville College Oxford was named, was the first woman scientist to win an international reputation entirely in her own right, rather than through association with a scientific brother or father.

She was active in astronomy, one of the most demanding areas of science of the day, and flourished in the unique British tradition of Grand Amateurs, who paid their own way and were not affiliated with any academic institution.

Mary Sommerville was to science what Jane Austen was to literature. Allan Chapman’s vivid account brings to light the story of an exceptional woman, whose achievements in a field dominated by men deserve to be very widely known.

0 95 49846 2 5 paperback

176 pages £14.95

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Allan Chapman

Dr Allan Chapman, MA, DPhil, FRAS, is an historian of science at Oxford University, specialising in biographies of nineteenth-century astronomers. He has written several books, presented a TV series, and is a highly sought after lecturer with an international reputation.

Dr Allan Chapman and Sir Patrick filming and episode of the Sky at Night.

Reviews

What Chapman has produced is eminently readable and an excellent introduction to Mary Sommerville.. I hope that this relatively inexpensive book will make more people aware of her. British Astronomical Association

A vivid and engaging insight into the life and legacy of Mary Sommerville. New Scientist

The Star of Bethlehem – Patrick Moore

admin — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:59:19 +0000

Is the story about the Star in the East true? And, if so, what exactly was the ’star’? While Sir Patrick cannot give a definitive answer, in The Star of Bethlehem he looks at various astronomical theories and comes up with a possible answer of his own. Who has not heard of the Star in the East? It is one of the most famous stories in the Bible, and tells us how the Wise Men came to Bethlehem to seek out the infant Jesus; they were guided by a brilliant star, which ‘went before them’ and stopped over the place where the child lay. Though all this happened two thousand years ago, the fascination of the Star of Bethlehem is a great as ever. This book presents the astronomical candidates in detail. Was it a star, a planet or planets, a comet, a nova or a supernova, or a shooting star? Unique artwork shows precisely how the sky would have appeared from Jerusalem at that time, so readers can assess for themselves which astronomical phenomena are likely solutions to the puzzle. Everyone who has wondered about this part of the nativity will enjoy Sir Patrick’s honest and engaging account.

Journal of the British Astronomical Association, December 2001
“The Star of Bethlehem encapsulates some of the best and most endearing features of Patrick Moore’s writing”

ISBN 0 9537868 2 X

128 pages, illustrations, £9.95

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Stars of Destiny – Patrick Moore

admin — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:58:00 +0000

Every day millions of individuals consult astrologers, mostly in daily newspapers or on the radio, though some potentates still possess their own personal astrologers. And each year, thousands of new books about astrology are added to the vast numbers that have been previously been published. Is there room for another book? Since this is Sir Patrick Moore writing about a subject which apparently conflicts with the science which underlies his own subject of astronomy, the answer is a resounding “yes”.

Setting aside preconceptions, Sir Patrick addresses the problem with his inimitable directness, asking some tough questions: is there a scientific basis for astrology, and does astrology work and if so, why? The answers are revealing and entertaining, and will stimulate lively debate wherever the book is read. Astronomers and astrologers will for once share a common enjoyment in this delightful little book.

ISBN 0 9537868 6 2

128 pages, £9.95

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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

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!