Search results for [Astronomical instruments] at NC Cardinal

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Picturing the cosmos : Hubble Space Telescope images and the astronomical sublime / by Kessler, Elizabeth A.,author.(CARDINAL)401294;

Includes bibliographical references and index.Machine generated contents note: -- Contents -- Abbreviations -- Introduction: Astronomy's Romantic Landscapes -- 1. The Astronomical Sublime and the American West -- 2. Ambivalent Astronomers and the Embrace of Hubble Images -- 3. Translating Data into Pretty Pictures -- 4. From Unknown Frontiers to Familiar Places -- Epilogue: A Very Distant Peaceful Star -- Acknowledgments -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index."The vivid, dramatic images of distant stars and galaxies taken by the Hubble Space Telescope have come to define how we visualize the cosmos. In their immediacy and vibrancy, photographs from the Hubble show what future generations of space travelers might see should they venture beyond our solar system. But their brilliant hues and precise details are not simply products of the telescope's unprecedented orbital location and technologically advanced optical system. Rather, they result from a series of deliberate decisions made by the astronomers who convert raw data from the Hubble into spectacular pictures by assigning colors, adjusting contrast, and actively composing the images, balancing the desire for an aesthetically pleasing representation with the need for a scientifically valid one.In Picturing the Cosmos, Elizabeth A. Kessler examines the Hubble's deep space images, highlighting the remarkable resemblance they bear to nineteenth-century paintings and photographs of the American West and their invocation of the visual language of the sublime. Drawing on art history and the history of science, as well as interviews with astronomers who work on the Hubble Heritage Project, Kessler traces the ways that the sublime, with its inherent tension between reason and imagination, not only forms the appearance of the images, but also operates on other levels. The sublime informs the dual expression--numeric and pictorial--of digital data and underpins the relevance of the frontier for a new era of exploration performed by our instruments rather than our bodies. Through their engagement with the sublime the Hubble images are a complex act of translation that encourages an experience of the universe as simultaneously beyond humanity's grasp and within the reach of our knowledge.Strikingly illustrated with full-color images, this book reveals the scientific, aesthetic, and cultural significance of the Hubble pictures, offering a nuanced understanding of how they shape our ideas--and dreams--about the cosmos and our places within it. "--

Subjects: Illustrated works.; Hubble Space Telescope (Spacecraft); Galaxies; Stars; Sublime, The, in art.;

Available copies: 4 / Total copies: 4

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Astronomy / by Lippincott, Kristen,1954-(CARDINAL)318450;

Study of the heavens -- Ancient astronomy -- Ordering the universe -- Celestial sphere -- Uses of astronomy -- Astrology -- Copernican revolution -- Intellectual giants -- Optical principles -- Optical telescope -- Observatories -- Astronomer -- Spectroscopy -- Radio telescope -- Venturing into space -- Solar system -- Sun -- Moon -- Earth -- Mercury -- Venus -- Mars -- Jupiter -- Saturn -- Uranus -- Neptune and Pluto -- Travelers in space -- Birth and death of stars -- Our galaxy and beyond -- Did you know? -- Cutting-edge astronomy -- Find out more -- Glossary -- Index.Be an eyewitness to the planets and stars of the Universe, and discover the mysteries of the world's oldest science. Discover the astronomical connection between the Earth's seas and the Moon. Find out why the planet Jupiter is named after a Roman god. See how 19th-century astronomers explained our Solar System. New Look! Relaunched with new jackets and 8 pages of new text! Here is a spectacular, thought-provoking, and highly informative guide to the fascinating world of astronomy. Superb full-color photographs of scientific instruments, experiments, and innovative 3-D models reveal the discoveries and research that have transformed our understanding of the Universe. See how sailors navigated by the Sun and stars, where the asteroid belt is, how the planets and constellations were named, why the Earth was considered the center of the Universe, what a black hole is, and the hot volcanic surface of Venus. Learn how space probes photograph planets, what causes a meteor shower, what makes Mars red, why the Sun shines, where the Moon came from, how the first telescopes worked, the stages in the life of a star, and how the Earth's atmosphere sustains life. Discover what creates auroras, why the Zero Meridian is located at Greenwich in England, how the amazing early observatories were built, how Saturn could float on water, the "sound" of our own galaxy, how a comet is formed, and much, much more.1110LAccelerated Reader AR

Subjects: Astronomy;

Available copies: 5 / Total copies: 5

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The Hubble Telescope launch / by Mikoley, Kate,author.(CARDINAL)416422;

Includes bibliographical references and index.Galileo's telescopes -- Why observe from space? -- The lst project -- Disaster strikes -- The long-awaited launch -- Hubble stats -- Hubble's achievements -- Servicing missions -- A crew of hundreds -- What's next?"The Hubble Space Telescope's findings have revolutionized the way we see and think about space. Its launch led to discoveries that have changed what we know about the universe. Readers of this indispensible volume will learn all about this incredible instrument, from how it was placed into orbit to how it still affects their lives today. Colorful photographs accompany engaging and informative text, providing a deeper insight into the workings and history behind the extraordinary telescope. This captivating book is sure to be popular among both space and history lovers alike"--Accelerated Reader AR

Subjects: Hubble Space Telescope (Spacecraft); Astronomy; Orbiting astronomical observatories;

Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1

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Exoplanets : hidden worlds and the quest for extraterrestrial life / by Goldsmith, Donald,author.(CARDINAL)324855;

Includes bibliographical references and index.The long search for other solar systems -- Cosmic distances -- Early quests for exoplanets -- The breakthrough: measuring radial velocity precisely -- Finding exoplanets by their transits -- Directly observing exoplanets -- Detecting planets with Einstein's lens -- Two minor methods for finding exoplanets -- A gallery of strange new planets -- What have we learned? -- How planets form with their stars -- Habitable planets and the search for life -- Future approaches to hunting exoplanets -- Proxima calls:can we visit?.Using a variety of innovative techniques, astronomers have recently discovered thousands of planets that orbit stars throughout our Milky Way galaxy. Donald Goldsmith presents the science of exoplanets and the search for extraterrestrial life in a way that Earthlings with little background in astronomy or astrophysics can understand and enjoy. Much of what has captured the imagination of planetary scientists and the public at large is the unexpected strangeness of these distant worlds, which bear little resemblance to the planets in our solar system. The sizes, masses, and orbits of exoplanets detected so far raise new, unanswered questions about how planets form and evolve. Still more tantalizing are the efforts to determine which exoplanets might support life. Astronomers are steadily improving their means of examining planets' atmospheres and surfaces, with the help of advanced spacecraft sent into orbits a million miles from Earth to obtain finer views of the cosmos. These instruments will provide better observations of planetary systems in orbit around the dim red stars that throng the Milky Way. Previously spurned as too faint to support life, these cool stars turn out to possess myriad planets that nestle sufficiently close to maintain Earthlike temperatures. The quest to find other worlds brims with possibility. Exoplanets shows how astronomers have already broadened our planetary horizons, and tells us what may come next, including the ultimate discovery: life beyond our home planet.--

Subjects: Extrasolar planets.; Extrasolar planets; Life on other planets.;

Available copies: 2 / Total copies: 3

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Women of the scientific revolution / by Freedman, Jeri.(CARDINAL)761177;

Includes bibliographical references (pages 103-107) and index.Women in the scientific revolution -- Natural history and botany -- Astronomy -- Mathematics and physics -- Anatomy and medicine -- Chemistry -- On the shoulders of their sisters."Women were not allowed to attend academic institutions in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, but many were highly educated and contributed significantly to understanding laws of science and nature. Many are unfamiliar with the women who were instrumental to the Scientific Revolution: the naturalist Maria Sibylla Merian; Margaret Cavendish, author of scientific books; physicist |milie du Cht́elet; Maria Agnesi, a professor of mathematics and natural philosophy at the University of Bologna; and astronomer Caroline Herschel, among others. This book explores the context of women's involvement in the Scientific Revolution and their contributions to botany, astronomy, mathematics, physics, biology, and chemistry"--Provided by the publisher.Years 12-17.9-12Grade 7-12.Grade 8.Z

Subjects: Young adult literature.; Young adult literature.; Women in science; Women scientists;

Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1

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Hubble legacy : 30 years of discoveries and images / by Bell, Jim,1965-author.(CARDINAL)667358; Grunsfeld, John Mace,1958-writer of foreword.(CARDINAL)430589;

Includes bibliographical references and index.Engineering & history -- Science. Solar Systems ; Stars ; Nebulae ; Galaxies ; The distant universe -- Beyond Hubble.This is the definitive book on the Hubble Space Telescope, written by noted astronomer Jim Bell. Looking deep into space, by definition, means looking back in time--and the Hubble Space Telescope can look very far back, including at stars, nebulae, and galaxies that are millions, even billions, of years old. If there is a single legacy of Hubble as it turns 30 years old and nears the end of its useful life, it is this: It has done more to chronicle the origin and evolution of the known universe than any other instrument ever created. Hubble has also captured an astounding collection of ultraviolet images that include geysers of solar light, Mars' famous dust storms, exploding stars, solar flares, globular clusters, and actual galaxies colliding. As for scientific milestones, Hubble has helped us learn that the universe is 13.8 billion years old, that just about every large galaxy features a black hole at its center, and that it's possible to create 3-D maps of dark matter. Hubble Legacy will not only feature the most stunning imagery captured by the telescope, but also explain how Hubble has advanced our understanding of the universe and our very creation.--

Subjects: Illustrated works.; Hubble Space Telescope (Spacecraft); Orbiting astronomical observatories; Space astronomy; Space telescopes; Galaxies; Stars; Nebulae;

Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1

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The light ages : the surprising story of medieval science / by Falk, Seb,author.(CARDINAL)837772;

Includes bibliographical references and index.Prologue: the mystery manuscript -- Westwyk and Westwick -- The reckoning of time -- Universitas -- Astrolabe and Albion -- Saturn in the first house -- The bishop's crusade -- Computer of the planets -- Epilogue: the mystery instrument."An illuminating guide to the scientific and technological achievements of the Middle Ages through the life of a crusading astronomer-monk. Soaring Gothic cathedrals, violent crusades, the Black Death: these are the dramatic forces that shaped the medieval era. But the so-called Dark Ages also gave us the first universities, eyeglasses, and mechanical clocks, proving that the Middle Ages were home to a vibrant scientific culture. In 'The Light Ages', Cambridge science historian Seb Falk takes us on an immersive tour of medieval science through the story of one fourteenth-century monk, John of Westwyk. From multiplying Roman numerals to navigating by the stars, curing disease, and telling time with an ancient astrolabe, we learn emerging science alongside Westwyk, while following the gripping story of the struggles and successes of an ordinary man in a precarious world. An enlightening history that argues that these times weren't so dark after all, 'The Light Ages' shows how medieval ideas continue to color how we see the world today"--

Subjects: John of Westwyk, active 14th century.; Science, Medieval; Science; Inventions;

Available copies: 12 / Total copies: 13

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The story of science ; from the writings of Aristotle to the big bang theory / by Bauer, Susan Wise.(CARDINAL)347134;

Includes bibliographical references (pages 279-294) and index.Part I. The beginnings. The first science texts: The first written attempt to explain the physical world in physical terms -- Beyond man: The first big-picture accounts of the universe -- Change: The first theory of evolution -- Grains of sand: The first use of mathematics to measure the universe -- The void: The first treatise on nature to dispense entirely with the divine -- The Earth-centered universe: The most influential science book in history -- The last ancient astronomer: An alternate explanation for the universe, with better mathematics, but no more proof -- Part II. The birth of the method. A new proposal: A challenge to Aristotle, and the earliest articulation of the scientific method -- Demonstration: The refutation of one of the greatest ancient authorities through observation and experimentation -- The death of Aristotle: The overthrow of ancient authority in favor of observations and proofs -- Instruments and helps: Improving the experimental method by distorting nature and extending the senses -- Rules of reasoning: Extending the experimental method across the entire universe -- Part III. Reading the earth. The genesis of geology: The creation of the science of the earth -- The laws of the new science: Two different theories are proposed as explanations for the Earth's present form -- A long and steady history: Uniformitarianism becomes the norm -- The unanswered question: Calculating the age of the Earth -- The return of the grand theory: Continental drift -- Catastrophe, redux: Bringing extraordinary events back into Earth's history -- Part IV. Reading life (with special reference to us). -- Biology: The first systematic attempt to describe the history of life -- Natural selection: The first naturalistic explanation for the origin of species -- Inheritance: The laws, and mechanisms, of heredity revealed -- Synthesis: Bringing cell-level discoveries and the grand story of evolution together -- The secret of life: Biochemistry tackles the mystery of inheritance -- Biology and destiny: The rise of neo-Darwinist reductionism, and the resistance to it -- Part V. Reading the cosmos (reality). Relativity: The limits of Newtonian physics -- Damn quantum jumps: The discovery of subatomic random swerves -- The triumph of the Big Bang: Returning to the question of beginnings, and contemplating the end -- The butterfly effect: Complex systems, and the (present) limits of our understanding.Far too often, public discussion of science is carried out by journalists, voters, and politicians who have received their science secondhand. The Story of Science shows us the joy and importance of reading groundbreaking science writing for ourselves and guides us back to the masterpieces that have changed the way we think about our world, our cosmos, and ourselves. Able to be referenced individually, or read together as the narrative of Western scientific development, the book leads readers from the first science texts by the Greeks through 20th-century classics in biology, physics, and cosmology. The Story of Science illuminates everything from mankind's earliest inquiries to the butterfly effect. Each chapter recommends one or more classic books and provides accounts of crucial contributions to science, sketches of the scientist-writers, and explanations of the mechanics underlying each concept. The Story of Science reveals science to be a dramatic undertaking practiced by some of history's most memorable characters. It reminds us that scientific inquiry is a human pursuit -- an essential, often deeply personal, sometimes flawed, frequently brilliant way of understanding the world.

Subjects: Science;

Available copies: 11 / Total copies: 13

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Johannes Vermeer : der Geograph und der Astronom nach 200 Jahren wieder vereint : Stadelschen Kunstinstitut und Stadtische Galerie 15. Mai bis 13. Juli 1997. by Vermeer, Johannes,1632-1675.(CARDINAL)138195; Städelsches Kunstinstitut (Frankfurt am Main, Germany)(CARDINAL)225342; Städtische Galerie im Städelschen Kunstinstitut Frankfurt am Main.(CARDINAL)170970;

Includes bibliographical references.

Subjects: Exhibition catalogs.; Vermeer, Johannes, 1632-1675; Globes in art; Scientists in art; Scientific apparatus and instruments in art; Scholars in art; Painting, Dutch;

Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1

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Results 31 to 39 of 39 | « previous