At the end of a star's life, it wraps itself in a cocoon by spilling out gas and dust; later, a butterfly emerges and develops into a planetary nebula. This book, illustrated in colour throughout, tel
How did life originate on Earth? For over 50 years, scientists believed that life was the result of chemistry involving simple molecules such as methane and ammonia cooking in a primordial soup. Recen
If you have ever wanted to understand the basic principles of astronomy and celestial movements, you should read this book. Using pictures of the sky observed from different places on Earth, as w
Our knowledge of the origin, evolution, nature, and distribution of organic matter in space has undergone a revolution in recent years. Insights into various aspects of this material can be found using a variety of different technical approaches. These range from telescopic measurements by observational astronomers over a wide range of wavelengths, to laboratory experiments and simulations by chemists, physicists, and spectroscopists, and analyses of actual extraterrestrial materials. IAU Symposium 251 brought together expertise of scientists from different disciplines, including observational astronomers, laboratory spectroscopists, and solar system scientists, to provide a synthesis of our current understanding of these organics and to identify areas in which additional work and new ideas are required to further our understanding.
This authoritative volume provides a comprehensive review of the origin and evolution of planetary nebulae. It covers all the stages of their evolution, carefully synthesizes observations from across the spectrum, and clearly explains all the key physical processes at work. Particular emphasis is placed on observations from space, using the Hubble Space Telescope, the Infrared Space Observatory, and the ROSAT satellite. This book presents a thoroughly modern understanding of planetary nebulae, integrating developments in stellar physics with the dynamics of nebular evolution. It also describes exciting possibilities such as the use of planetary nebulae in determining the cosmic distance scale, the distribution of dark matter and the chemical evolution of galaxies. This book provides graduate students with an accessible introduction to planetary nebulae, and researchers with an authoritative reference. It can also be used as an advanced text on the physics of the interstellar medium.
The popular notion is that the space between stars--besides the odd planet or two--is pretty much nothing at all, but astrophysicists have been looking at interstellar ions, atoms, molecules, and soli
The book explains how multi-generational Australian-born Chinese (ABC) negotiate the balance of two cultures. It explores both the philosophical and theoretical levels, focusing on deconstructing and
