The Milky Way (ebook)

Argumento de The Milky Way (ebook)

One of SkyNews Best Astronomy Books of the Year 2013, chosen by SkyNews editor, Terence Dickinson

"[E]rudite, yet eminently accessible. . . . Another component of the author's winning strategy is evident in the book's subtitle; it's the most immediate example of Waller's playful and plainspoken use of language, an approach that helps make this exploration of our immediate stellar neighborhood a joy to read."--ForeWord

"[A] thrilling story of our home galaxy, quite the best I've seen in popular astronomy books."--Simon Mitton, Times Higher Education

"[R]ich with fascinating detail. . . . The author delivers everything we need in a book about our Galaxy, bringing a welcome depth to our appreciation of those clear, dark nights."--Alastair Gunn, BBC Sky at Night

"This clearly written, largely nontechnical book balances the poetic interpretation of the starry realm with the modern scientific nature of the Milky Way galaxy. . . . The book can be used as a textbook or be a good general read."--Choice

"The breadth of material Waller covers is astonishing. . . . As a space journalist, I'll definitely keep this book on my shelf."--Elizabeth Howell, Universe Today

"The Milky Way is a good overview of our knowledge of the Milky Way. . . . [F]or those who want to get up to speed on the Milky Way, or simply refresh their knowledge of it, this book can help the reader become an insider about our galactic home."--Jeff Foust, Space Review

"This book is superb: written in an engaging, even folksy, style, it would be the perfect primer for a beginning undergraduate wanting an up-to-date overview of stellar and galactic astronomy."--David Stickland, Journal of Continuity and Change

"Waller's book provides an excellent starting point, telling the story of the formation and evolution of the Milky Way, and how this hard-won knowledge was obtained--and it does so in an entertaining and not overly detailed fashion. It should be among the first recommendations to new students of the field, as well as to citizen scientists who wish to deepen their understanding of one of the fundamental, as well as fast-advancing, areas of modern astronomy."--Timothy C. Beers, Nature Physics

"Clearly written, splendidly up-to-date, and full of delightful analogies, this book is the natural heir to Bok's The Milky Way. It explores and explains our Galaxy in a way accessible to all readers and will excite anyone who craves an adventure of the mind and imagination."--Andrew Fraknoi, professor of astronomy, Foothill College

"The Milky Way takes readers on a nontechnical journey through our Galaxy, and strikes a nice balance between the personal, the poetic, and the educational--it also moves at a good pace. Waller communicates the true wonder of nature, but he is also quite thorough and deep in his coverage of the latest science."--Mark Whittle, University of Virginia

"Waller presents a careful overview of the structure of the Milky Way Galaxy, with informative asides into the history of astronomy, galaxy formation and evolution, and more recent observations. There is much of value here."--Gerry Gilmore, University of Cambridge

"[W]ell-written and accessible. . . . Strongly recommended, as this volume should have a wide readership among student and lay astronomers."--Library Journal

"[W]aller's goal--fully achieved, in my opinion--is to familiarize readers with the history of the discovery of the Milky Way Galaxy's size, shape, and contents and our place in it. Attention is given to the origin of stars in general and to the nature of specific types of stars and how our galaxy came to be in the first place."--Terence Dickinson, SkyNews

"The photographs are quite stunning. As new techniques and more elaborate apparatus for exploring the universe are being developed, our knowledge and understanding are increasing exponentially. This excellent and comprehensive guide to the Milky Way may well be the definitive book on the subject for the time being, but it is unlikely to remain so for too long."--Anthony Toole, Shvoong.com

"The Milky Way: An Insider's Guide is a very comprehensive and up-to-date survey of its subject. The overall impression it leaves one with is of our galaxy as a very busy place, fizzing with what the author, in a particularly felicitous phrase, calls 'vigorous fecundity.' Our little burg may be a mere speck in the grand scheme of things, but there's a lot going on here."--John Derbyshire, American Spectator0Preface vii
Chapter 1: First Impressions 1
Chapter 2: Historic Perceptions 10
Chapter 3: Panchromatic Vistas 53
Chapter 4: Neighbors of the Sun 82
Chapter 5: Beacons from Afar 102
Chapter 6: Star Birth 127
Chapter 7: Lives of the Stars 148
Chapter 8: Stellar Afterlives 171
Chapter 9: The Galactic Garden 194
Chapter 10: Monster in the Core 221
Chapter 11: Tales of Origin 236
Chapter 12: Life in the Milky Way 251
Glossary 277
Notes 295
Selected Readings 303
Index 311