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Accidental Astronomy: How Random Discoveries Shape the Science of Space

Name: Accidental Astronomy: How Random Discoveries Shape the Science of Space
Brand: Basic Books
SKU: 9781541605411
Price: 21.99 USD
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Contributors:

Chris Lintott

Publisher:

Basic Books

Binding:

Hardcover

Book Category:

Science, Nature

Book Subcategory:

Space Science, Star Observation

Book Topic:

Astronomy, Planetary

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The product is eligible for a complimentary return within 30 days from the date of purchase. Furthermore, individual items are shipped within 24 hours of receiving the order.

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Release Date:

2024-06-11

ISBN 13:

9781541605411

Weight:

1.13 lbs

Size:

9.50 x 6.21 x 1.08 inches

Pages:

320

Mint Condition +

product description

Description

A "riveting real-life Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (The Telegraph), told "with an engaging voice, a diverting sense of humor, and a humble awe for the wonders of the universe" (Wall Street Journal), shows why so much of astronomy comes down to looking up and lucking out

If you learn about the scientific method, you learn that first we hypothesize about something we've experienced, and then we look for more of it. This works well enough--but what if you are interested in studying a heretofore unknown comet or supernova? That is the essential problem of the astronomer: the most important discoveries happen without notice! 
 
Indeed, as Chris Lintott argues in Accidental Astronomy, luck defines astronomy. Lintott explores the ways in which happenstance shapes how we investigate the sky. To catch a glimpse of a comet, asteroid, or even a sign of alien life, we must be in the right place at the right time. And if we can't be there, we must have a team of professionals and amateurs, across the globe, ready to spring into action at a moment's--or a night's--notice. For any astronomer, regardless of their experience or resources, the first step to discovery is the same: to stare at the sky and wait. 
 
A celebration of astronomy, stargazing, and cosmic discovery, Accidental Astronomy offers an irresistible window into how luck defines our knowledge of the skies. 

About the Author
Chris Lintott is a professor of astrophysics at the University of Oxford, after a stint at Adler Planetarium, Chicago, and the winner of the American Astronomical Society's prestigious Beatrice M. Tinsley Prize. He is best known as co-presenter of the BBC's long-running Sky at Night program. He is the author of The Crowd and the Cosmos and coauthor of Bang! He lives in Oxford, UK.

Accidental Astronomy: How Random Discoveries Shape the Science of Space

Description

110 Things to See with a Telescope: The World's Most Famous Stargazing List

110 Things to See with a Telescope: The World's Most Famous Stargazing List

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