Space and Astronomy

Space and Astronomy: An Illustrated Guide to Science is one of eight volumes in ""Facts On File's"" new ""Science Visual Resources"" set. Containing eight sections, a comprehensive glossary, a Web site guide, and an index, ""Space and Astronomy"" is an ideal learning tool for students and teachers of science. Full-color diagrams, graphs, charts, and maps on every page illustrate the essential elements of the subject, while parallel text provides key definitions and step-by-step explanations. The eight sections include: ""The Universe"" - provides an overview of the physical dimensions of space and current theories concerning the origin and eventual fate of the universe. This section also defines and illustrates the main classes of objects, from black holes to binary stars, that populate the known universe; ""The Sun's Family"" - examines our solar system and defines all the classes of celestial bodies that it includes. There are detailed comparisons of all nine planets, as well as information about asteroids, meteoroids, moons, and the Sun; and ""Astronomy"" - is concerned with the human effort to observe and understand objects beyond the Earth from the earliest times to the present day. It describes the different methods of astronomy that are used to examine the universe across the entire electromagnetic spectrum. It also includes: ""Space Travel"" - is an overview of the practical and theoretical challenges of getting into space and traveling through it. Everything from the basics of celestial mechanics to the advantages and disadvantages of different types of propulsion systems is covered in this section; ""Uncrewed Exploration"" - is a history of the exploration of space by uncrewed spacecraft; and ""Crewed Exploration"" is a history of the human exploration of space from Yuri Gagarin to Neil Armstrong and the crews of the International Space Station. Space Shuttle and Using Space are concerned with the economic and scientific importance of space travel today. The many classes of satellite that provide the world with communications and vital data are examined here.