Astronomy at the Frontiers of Science

ISBN-13: 9789400716575 / Angielski / Twarda / 2011 / 358 str.

Jean-Pierre Lasota

Opis

Describes the relations/interactions of astronomy with other sciences, as well as technology, industry, politics, philosophy and superstition, underlining what it means to be an astronomer, the history of astronomy, and the place of astronomy in society today.

Recenzje

From the reviews:

"Lasota (Paris Institute of Astrophysics, France) has compiled a very eclectic and engaging mix of essays on astronomy-related topics. ... This is a unique book that fills a niche rarely addressed by other works. ... anyone with an interest in astronomy will find it a good read. Summing Up: Recommended. All levels/libraries." (T. D. Oswalt, Choice, Vol. 49 (9), May, 2012)

Aus den Rezensionen:

"... Ein Buch über Interdisziplinarität regt dazu an, selbst interdisziplinärer zu denken. Wer bereit ist, diesen mühsamen Weg zu gehen und sich nicht nur für astronomische Ergebnisse, sondern auch für die Astronomie und ihre Vernetzungen selbst interessiert, sollte dieses Buch lesen. Es lohnt sich." (MIRCO SANER, in: Sterne und Weltraum, 2012, Issue 6, S. 104 f.)

Spis treści

Preface.-Part 1: ASTRONOMY AND PHYSICS.-The Universe as laboratory for high energy physics.-Standard candles in astronomy.-High energy cosmic ray & neutrino astronomy.-Interdisciplinary aspects of high energy  astrophysics.-Gravitational wave astronomy.-PART 2: ASTRONOMY IN SOCIETY.-A history of observatory sciences and techniques.-Astronomy and technical progress.-Up the decade! Predictions, prescriptions and international collaborations by the American astronomical (and other) communities.-Building a strong, unified European astronomy.-The future of space astronomy.-PART 3: THE TOOLS OF OBSERVATION AND THE PROFESSION OF ASTRONOMER.-Small telescopes and planets.-Large and very large telescopes.-The challenge of optics in future extremely large telescopes.-Virtual observations.-Doing astronomy at a museum.-Being an astronomer: a testimony.-PART 4: ASTRONOMY AT THE FRONTIERS OF KNOWLEDGE.-Astronomy versus astrology.-Fundamental issues and problems of cosmology.-The Earth and other Solar-system bodies.-Exobiology: an example of  interdisciplinarity at work.-Index.

Blurb

Astronomy is by nature an interdisciplinary activity: it involves mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology. Astronomers use (and often develop) the latest technology, the fastest computers and the most refined software.  In this book twenty-two leading scientists from nine countries talk about how astronomy interacts with these other sciences. They describe modern instruments used in astronomy and the relations between astronomy and technology, industry, politics and philosophy. They also discuss what it means to be an astronomer, the history of astronomy, and the place of astronomy in society today.

 

The book contains twenty chapters grouped in four parts:

• ASTRONOMY AND PHYSICS discusses the place of astronomy among various branches of (mostly high-energy) physics.
• ASTRONOMY IN SOCIETY describes not only the historical context of astronomy, but issues facing astronomers today, including funding, planning, worldwide collaboration and links with industry.
• THE TOOLS OF OBSERVATION AND THE PROFESSION OF ASTRONOMER discusses very small and very large telescopes, as well as mirror technology, the storage, organization and distribution of data, being an astronomer today, and the role played by planetaria in educating the general public.
• ASTRONOMY AT THE FRONTIERS OF KNOWLEDGE highlights the struggle of astronomy versus astrology, and the sciences of cosmology, planetology and astrobiology.

This fascinating book will appeal to professionals in the fields of astronomy and physics, as well as space institutes, research agencies and the general public.