Space Systems

Our modern understanding of the heliocentric universe developed five hundred years ago. Since the time of Copernicus and Galileo, scientists have made major strides in understanding how gravity, stars, and planets interact. Gravity, Orbiting Objects, and Planetary Motion explains how early ideas have given way to sophisticated, proven theories about the universe. The book aligns with Next Generation Science Standards and also presents a look at what is next in the cutting-edge field of astronomy.

Space exploration depends on a comprehensive understanding of the forces at work in the universe, and so for centuries, it seemed impossible that humans could leave Earth to travel in space. Telescopes, Probes, Spacecraft, and the Future of Space Exploration meets Next Generation Science Standards and describes how foundational understanding of astronomy developed and how visionaries invented the technology to make space travel a reality. The book also considers achievements on the horizon that could change our understanding of astronomy and our way of life.

Much of our contemporary understanding of space systems dates back to Isaac Newton. It's surprising to think that the underpinnings of astronomy are centuries old. While for a time it seemed as though major discoveries in the field had stagnated, in the early twentieth century, scientists like Albert Einstein and Max Planck redefined our understanding of light waves. And in 1948 scientists developed a theory about how our entire universe came to be, a theory that would be proven in 1965. The Big Bang Theory and Light Spectra is modeled closely on Next Generation Science Standards. The book explains the science behind these groundbreaking discoveries, profiles the scientists responsible, and details the technology astronomers and astrophysicists use to continue refining our knowledge.

How do the planets compare to one another? What about stars and galaxies? How do the differences in celestial bodies affect life here on Earth? The Universe to Scale: Similarities and Differences in Objects in Our Solar System presents the latest information about the universe while also looking at how scientists built upon the research and theories of earlier generations. The book covers Next Generation Science Standards, includes the history of space travel, and discusses how these important missions have allowed astronomers to make accurate models of the planets, moons, suns, and more.

In the early seventeenth century, Galileo Galilei posited that tides were a consequence of Earth's motion. Today we've achieved an accurate understanding of the ways that orbiting objects interact to create visible-and sometimes tangible-effects on Earth. Earth, Sun, and Moon: Cyclic Patterns of Lunar Phases, Eclipses, and the Seasons explains the cycles that affect our daily lives and how the major figures in astronomy used the scientific method to prove their theories about these cycles in accordance with Next Generation Science Standards.

Within galaxies, stars grow from clouds of gas and dust, shine brilliantly, and die stunning deaths. The Composition of the Universe: The Evolution of Stars and Galaxies traces the lives of stars and also the lives of famous scientists like Edwin Hubble, Albert Einstein, and Henrietta Leavitt. Closely aligned to Next Generation Science Standards, the book demonstrates how technology and scientific ideas evolve over time, just like the universe itself.