About the Author C harles Liu is a professor of astrophysics at the City University of New York’s College of Staten Island, where he also serves as Director of The Verrazano School and Macaulay Honors College. He is an associate with the Hayden Planetarium and Department of Astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. His research focuses on colliding galaxies, starburst galaxies, quasars, and the star formation history of the universe; and he is a member of the COSMOS collaboration, an international team of scientists studying the largest contiguous area ever surveyed with the Hubble Space Telescope. In addition to numerous academic research publications, Charles has written extensively for general audiences. Together with co-authors Neil Tyson and Robert Irion, he received the 2001 American Institute of Physics Science Writing Award for their book One Universe: At Home in the Cosmos. In 2005, he received the Solar Physics Division Popular Writing Award from the American Astronomical Society for his article “Our Stormy Sun.” Currently, he serves on the American Astronomical Society’s Astronomy Education Board. Charles earned degrees from Harvard University and the University of Arizona, and held postdoctoral positions at Kitt Peak National Observatory and at Columbia University. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, daughter, and sons. Also from Visible Ink Press The Handy Anatomy Answer Book by James Bobick and Naomi Balaban ISBN: 978-1-57859-190-9 The Handy Answer Book for Kids (and Parents), 2nd edition by Gina Misiroglu ISBN: 978-1-57859-219-7 The Handy Art History Answer Book by Madelynn Dickerson ISBN: 978-1-57859-417-7 The Handy Biology Answer Book by James Bobick, Naomi Balaban, Sandra Bobick, and Laurel Roberts ISBN: 978-1-57859-150-3 The Handy Dinosaur Answer Book, 2nd edition by Patricia Barnes-Svarney and Thomas E. Svarney ISBN: 978-1-57859-218-0 The Handy Geography Answer Book, 2nd edition by Paul A. Tucci ISBN: 978-1-57859-215-9 The Handy Geology Answer Book by Patricia Barnes-Svarney and Thomas E. Svarney ISBN: 978-1-57859-156-5 The Handy History Answer Book, 3rd edition by David L. Hudson, Jr. ISBN: 978-1-57859-372-9 The Handy Law Answer Book by David L. Hudson Jr. ISBN: 978-1-57859-217-3 The Handy Math Answer Book, 2nd edition by Patricia Barnes-Svarney ISBN: 978-1-57859-373-6 The Handy Ocean Answer Book by Patricia Barnes-Svarney and Thomas E. Svarney ISBN: 978-1-57859-063-6 The Handy Personal Finance Answer Book by Paul A. Tucci ISBN: 978-1-57859-322-4 The Handy Philosophy Answer Book by Naomi Zack ISBN: 978-1-57859-226-5 The Handy Physics Answer Book, 2nd edition by Paul W. Zitzewitz, Ph.D. ISBN: 978-1-57859-305-7 The Handy Politics Answer Book by Gina Misiroglu ISBN: 978-1-57859-139-8 The Handy Presidents Answer Book, 2nd edition by David L. Hudson, Jr. ISBN: 978-1-57859-317-0 The Handy Psychology Answer Book by Lisa J. Cohen, Ph.D. ISBN: 978-1-57859-223-4 The Handy Religion Answer Book, 2nd edition by John Renard ISBN: 978-1-57859-379-8 The Handy Science Answer Book®, 4th edition by The Science and Technology Department Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, James E. Bobick, and Naomi E. Balaban ISBN: 978-1-57859-140-4 The Handy Sports Answer Book by Kevin Hillstrom, Laurie Hillstrom, and Roger Matuz ISBN: 978-1-57859-075-9 The Handy Supreme Court Answer Book by David L Hudson, Jr. ISBN: 978-1-57859-196-1 The Handy Weather Answer Book, 2nd edition by Kevin S. Hile ISBN: 978-1-57859-221-0 Please visit the “Handy” series website at www.handyanswers.com THE HANDY ASTRONOMY ANSWER BOOK Copyright © 2014 by Visible Ink Press® This publication is a creative work fully protected by all applicable copyright laws, as well as by misappropriation, trade secret, unfair competition, and other applicable laws. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a magazine, newspaper, or website. All rights to this publication will be vigorously defended. Visible Ink Press® 43311 Joy Rd., #414 Canton, MI 48187-2075 Visible Ink Press is a registered trademark of Visible Ink Press LLC. Most Visible Ink Press books are available at special quantity discounts when purchased in bulk by corporations, organizations, or groups. Customized printings, special imprints, messages, and excerpts can be produced to meet your needs. For more information, contact Special Markets Director, Visible Ink Press, www.visibleinkpress.com, or 734-667-3211. Managing Editor: Kevin S. Hile Art Director: Mary Claire Krzewinski Typesetting: Marco Di Vita Proofreaders: Shoshana Hurwitz and Chrystal Rosza Indexing: Larry Baker Cover images: Hubble Space Telescope image courtesy NASA; all other images, Shutterstock. Interior images: Shutterstock or otherwise in the public domain, unless otherwise indicated. Star charts provided by Dan Bruton, Ph.D., Associate Dean and Professor, College of Science and Mathematics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Stephen F. Austin State University Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Liu, Charles, 1968– The handy astronomy answer book / Charles Liu. — 3rd ed. p. cm. Includes index. ISBN 978-1-57859-419-1 (pbk. : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-1-57859-190-9 1. Astronomy—Miscellanea. I. Title. QB52.L58 2014 520—dc23 Printed in China 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Contents I NTRODUCTION A T A A PPENDIX: IPS FOR MATEUR STRONOMERS I NDEX S C TAR HARTS ASTRONOMY FUNDAMENTALS Important Disciplines in Astronomy History of Astronomy Medieval and Renaissance Astronomy Eighteenth-and Nineteenth-Century Advances Matter and Energy Time, Waves, and Particles Quantum Mechanics Modern Physics Discoveries THE UNIVERSE Characteristics of the Universe Origin of the Universe Evidence of the Big Bang Evolution of the Universe Black Holes Wormholes and Cosmic Strings Dark Matter and Dark Energy Multi-Dimension Theories The End of the Universe GALAXIES Galaxy Fundamentals The Milky Way The Milky Way’s Neighborhood Galaxy Movement Galaxy Ages Galactic Dust and Nebulae Black Holes in Galaxies Quasars and Active Galaxies More Active Galaxies and Quasars STARS Star Basics Describing and Measuring Stars How Stars Work Sunspots, Flares, and Solar Winds Star Evolution The Sun Dwarf Stars and Giant Stars Neutron Stars and Pulsars X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Stars Binary Star Systems Variable Stars Star Clusters THE SOLAR SYSTEM Planetary Systems Planet Basics The Inner Solar System Gas Giants Moons The Kuiper Belt and Beyond Asteroids Comets EARTH AND THE MOON Earth Orbit and Rotation The Atmosphere The Magnetic Field Van Allen Belts Neutrinos Cosmic Rays Meteors and Meteorites The Moon Tides Clocks and Calendars The Seasons Eclipses The Night Sky Mapping the Night Sky Stargazing Basics Viewing Non-stellar Night Sky Objects SPACE PROGRAMS Rocket History Satellites and Spacecraft The Sputnik Era Communications Satellites First Humans in Space Early Soviet Programs Early American Programs The Apollo Missions Early Space Stations
Description: