Stephen P. Maran - Astronomy For Dummies

Astronomy For Dummies , 4th Edition

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2017947198

ISBN 978-1-119-37424-4 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-119-37438-1 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-119-37441-1 (ebk)

1. Table of Contents

Astronomy is the study of the sky, the science of cosmic objects and celestial happenings. Its nothing less than the investigation of the nature of the universe we live in. Astronomers carry out the business of astronomy by using backyard telescopes, huge observatory instruments, radio telescopes that detect celestial radio emissions, and satellites orbiting Earth or positioned in space near Earth or another celestial body, such as the Moon or a planet. Scientists send up telescopes in sounding rockets and on unmanned balloons, some instruments travel far into the solar system aboard deep space probes, and some probes gather samples and return them to Earth.

Astronomy can be a professional or amateur activity. About 25,000 professional astronomers engage in space science worldwide, and an estimated 500,000 amateur astronomers live around the globe. Many of the amateurs belong to local or national astronomy clubs in their home countries.

Professional astronomers conduct research on the Sun and the solar system, the Milky Way galaxy, and the universe beyond. They teach in universities, design satellites in government labs, and operate planetariums. They also write books like this one (but maybe not as good). Most hold PhDs. Nowadays, many professional astronomers study abstruse physics of the cosmos or work with automated, remotely controlled telescopes, so they may not even know the constellations.

Amateur astronomers know the constellations.