Early Astronomy

The dramatic inside story of the first four historic flights that launched SpaceX—and Elon Musk—from a shaky startup into the world's leading edge rocket company. In 2006, SpaceX—a brand-new venture with fewer than 200 employees—rolled its first, single-engine rocket onto a launch pad at...

How did a universe with no stars, no planets, and not even atoms become the cosmos we see today? From the Big Bang to the First Stars tells the extraordinary story of the early universe—from its first unimaginably hot moments to the birth of the first generation of stars. This is not simply a book about the Big Bang. It is the story of how the universe was built, step by step. In the beginning, there were no galaxies, stars, atoms, or familiar forms of matter. The universe was an extreme world of energy, fundamental forces, elementary particles, and radiation. As space expanded and ...

A Nobel Prize-winning physicist explains what happened at the very beginning of the universe, and how we know “Science writing at its best.” ―New York Review of Books Our universe has been growing for nearly fourteen billion years. But almost everything about it can be traced back to what...

After the Apollo program put 12 men on the moon and safely brought them home, anything seemed possible. In this spirit, the team at NASA set about developing the space shuttle, arguably the most complex piece of machinery ever created.

"Astronomy: A Quick Read" is a fascinating exploration of the cosmos in bite-sized articles tailored for readers of all ages. Delve into the wonders of our Solar System, from the majestic Sun to the enigmatic Pluto, and unravel the mysteries of moons, asteroids, and comets. Witness the celestial dance of lunar and solar eclipses, and marvel at the cosmic ballet of meteors streaking through the night sky. Journey through galaxies, including our own Milky Way, and ponder the vastness of the Universe and theories like the Big Bang and Multiverse. Encounter celestial phenomena like black holes,...

Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler: The Lives of the Early Modern Astronomers Whose Partnership Revolutionized the Field of Astronomy examines the work that made the two of them some of history’s most important scientists. You will learn about Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler like never before.

What if the story of humanity didn’t begin with pyramids or philosophers, but with clay tablets, starlit rituals, and cities built from mud? Before Rome, before Egypt, before Athens, there was Mesopotamia—a land where the first humans dared to organize, to write, to rule. In the silence of ancient courtyards and the shadows of crumbling ziggurats, something extraordinary was born: civilization. Mesopotamia: The Empire That Shaped the World is not just a history book. It’s a rediscovery of the people who gave us the blueprint for modern life. Through vivid storytelling and emotional ...

Trace the epic history of astronomy from ancient stargazing myths to modern astrophysics and unlock the cosmos. Perfect for an awe-inspiring evening commute or winding down under the night sky, this thought-provoking audio journey connects early philosophers with today's deep-space explorers...

The American Civil War has ended, leaving the Baltimore Gun Club—an organization of artillery experts and weapons enthusiasts—without purpose. No battles to fight, no cannons to design, no wars requiring their expertise. Then Club President Impey Barbicane makes an announcement that will captivate the world: they're going to fire a projectile to the Moon. The plan is audacious bordering on insane. A cannon 900 feet long, cast into the earth of Florida. Enough gunpowder to shatter windows across three states. Calculations so precise they account for the Earth's rotation and the Moon's ...

Why are we fascinated by the night sky? With this single question Patrick Moore sets out on a journey of exploration which takes the listener to the edge of the universe and back. Was ever a man more engaged and associated with his subject matter than Patrick Moore? He has become synonymous with astronomy, and we have grown up over the last 50 years with his name and voice becoming comfortingly familiar. His TV programme The Sky at Night is the longest running TV show in the world.

Quintessence is an extraordinary story from Jess Redman about friendship, self-discovery, interconnectedness, and the inexplicable elements that make you you. Find the Elements. Grow the Light. Save the Starling. Three months ago, twelve-year-old Alma moved to the town of Four Points. Her panic...

Witness the dramatic intellectual history that shattered ancient dogma and ignited the dawn of modern science. Perfect for an enlightening daily commute, this thought-provoking journey transports you to Renaissance Europe's bustling coffeehouses and crowded workshops. Here, rebel astronomers and...

An essential guide to milestone developments in astronomy, telling the story of our ideas about space, time, and the physics of the cosmos-from ancient times to the present day. From planets and stars to black holes and the Big Bang, take a journey through the wonders of the universe. Featuring...

Embark on a brilliant journey from your backyard to the heart of the solar system with "What the Sun Teaches Us Every Day," the perfect science book to illuminate young minds! Have you ever struggled to explain why the sky is blue, where shadows come from, or why we have warm summers and chilly winters? This charming and beautifully crafted guide makes learning about our amazing star a delightful adventure for every child. Join us as we uncover the sun's biggest secrets in thirteen easy-to-understand chapters. Young readers will discover that the sun is a star, how its position creates day ...

Have you ever wondered how we came into being? Have you ever looked in the sky and marveled at the stars? This introduction to space gives you a foundation to explore whatever sparks your interest within this magnificent universe of ours. All this and more is available in this astronomy book. This book on astronomy is a perfect introduction to finding the truth out about wormholes, black holes, and the planets that surround us. Have you ever wondered what is out there? What about if there are more planets out there that we don't know about?

Rockets and Revolution offers a multifaceted study of the race toward space in the first half of the twentieth century, examining how the Russian, European, and American pioneers competed against one another in the early years to acquire the fundamentals of rocket science, engineer simple rockets, and ultimately prepare the path for human spaceflight.

This is a fascinating introduction to the history of Western astronomy, from prehistoric times to the origins of astrophysics in the mid-19th century. Historical records are first found in Babylon and Egypt, and after two millennia the arithmetical astronomy of the Babylonians merged with the Greek geometrical approach to culminate in the Almagest of Ptolemy. This legacy was transmitted to the Latin West via Islam and led to Copernicus's claim that the Earth is in motion.

Have you ever wondered how we came into being? Have you ever looked in the sky, marveled by the stars? This book is a friendly and accessible guide to our universe, our galaxy, our solar system, and the planet we call home. If you are an aspiring astronomer or someone who wishes to know more about the topic, this is the perfect book. It is not just for astronomers. Any layman or someone who is intrigued by the universe, planets, stars, and the like will be capable of understanding this book.

For a thousand years, the sun went around the Earth, the body was ruled by four humors, and Aristotle was law. Then a few stubborn minds broke the world open. What if everything you thought you knew about the world was wrong? For more than a thousand years, the stars circled the Earth, the four humors ruled the body, and the words of Aristotle were treated as law. Then, between the 16th and 17th centuries, a small group of stargazers, artisans, doctors, and philosophers began to ask harder questions — and would not stop. The answers they uncovered ended a worldview that had held since ...

A complete guide to the universe. Take a look through the lens and discover the beauty and science of the magnificent world that is our night sky - and beyond. From the 150km- (93 mile-) -wide impact craters on the Moon to Jupiter's Great Red Spot, a swirling storm that started in the 1600s...