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Essential Cosmic Perspective, The, 9th edition

Published by Pearson (July 5, 2021) © 2022

  • Jeffrey O. Bennett University of Colorado at Boulder
  • Megan O. Donahue Michigan State University
  • Nicholas Schneider University of Colorado, Boulder
  • Mark Voit Michigan State University

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In this eTextbook — More ways to learn

  • More flexible. Start learning right away, on any device.
  • More supportive. Get AI explanations and practice questions (select titles).
  • More interactive. Bring learning to life with audio, videos, and diagrams.
  • More memorable. Make concepts stick with highlights, search, notes, and flashcards.
  • More understandable. Translate text into 100+ languages with one tap.

In this eTextbook — More ways to learn

  • More flexible. Start learning right away, on any device.
  • More supportive. Get AI explanations and practice questions (select titles).
  • More interactive. Bring learning to life with audio, videos, and diagrams.
  • More memorable. Make concepts stick with highlights, search, notes, and flashcards.
  • More understandable. Translate text into 100+ languages with one tap.

In this eTextbook — More ways to learn

  • More flexible. Start learning right away, on any device.
  • More supportive. Get AI explanations and practice questions (select titles).
  • More interactive. Bring learning to life with audio, videos, and diagrams.
  • More memorable. Make concepts stick with highlights, search, notes, and flashcards.
  • More understandable. Translate text into 100+ languages with one tap.

Title overview

The Essential Cosmic Perspective provides non-science majors with a thoroughly engaging, up-to-date introduction to astronomy. The authors, who are respected teachers and active researchers, present astronomy using a coherent narrative and thematic approach to guide you through connecting ideas.

The 9th Edition features major scientific updates and discoveries that focus on the possibility of life in the universe and provide a context to help you see how astronomy as relevant to your world. This edition also focuses on cultural diversity among scientists.

Table of contents

PART I: DEVELOPING PERSPECTIVE

  1. A Modern View of the Universe
  2. Discovering the Universe for Yourself
  3. The Science of Astronomy

PART II: KEY CONCEPTS FOR ASTRONOMY

  1. Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity
  2. Light: The Cosmic Messenger

PART III: LEARNING FROM OTHER WORLDS

  1. Formation of the Solar System
  2. Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds
  3. Jovian Planet Systems
  4. Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts
  5. Other Planetary Systems: The New Science of Distant Worlds

PART IV: STARS

  1. Our Star
  2. Surveying the Stars
  3. Star Stuff
  4. The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

PART V: GALAXIES AND BEYOND

  1. Our Galaxy
  2. A Universe of Galaxies
  3. The Birth of the Universe
  4. Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

PART VI: LIFE ON EARTH AND BEYOND

  1. Life in the Universe

Author bios

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