All sciences are making an advance, but Astronomy is moving at high speed. Since the principles of this science were settled by Copernicus,four hundred years ago, it has never had to beat a retreat. It is rewritten not to correct material errors, but to incorporate new discoveries.
At one time, Astronomy studied mostly tides, seasons, and telescopic aspects of the planets; now these are only primary matters. Once it considered stars as mere fixed points of light; now it studies them as suns, determines their age, size, color, movements, chemical constitution, and the revolution of their planets. Once it considered space as empty; now it knows that every cubic inch of it quivers with
greater intensity of force than that which is visible in Niagara. Every inch of surface that can be conceived of between suns is more wavetossed than the ocean in a storm.
The invention of the telescope constituted one era in Astronomy; its perfection in our day, another; and the discoveries of the spectroscope a thirdno less important than either of the others. New discoveries are made every day with the advancement of telescopes. The Hubble space telescope has let man see further into the universe then ever before. Astronomy and space science is an ever changing study, and
possibly the most exciting of the sciences. It is for one reason that this book was written, to hopefully interest more people in the exciting study of the universe around us.
CHAPTER PAGE :
1.Why Study Light? 4
2.Introduction To Light 5
3.Introduction To Color 10
4.Astronomical Instruments 14
5.Our Solar System 18
6.The Sun 20
7.Earth's Moon 22
8.Planets 27
9.Asteroids 66
10.Meteoroids 68
11.Comets 70
12.Kuiper Belt 72
13.Beyond Our Solar System 74
14.Stars 76
15.Constellations 94
16.Find The Stars In The Sky 102
How would you like to get started today in the fascinating hobby of astronomy?
