Synopses & Reviews
The sun has been an object of fascination and scientific interest to humans since the time of the ancient Greeks. With minimum technical language, this book gives an account of what we now know about the sun's interior, its surface and atmosphere, its role in our solar system, and its relation to other stars. The ways that solar power is being converted to useful forms of energy are also explained. The book is aimed at anyone interested in learning about the latest developments in solar studies, from those at high-school level to the nonspecialist professional.
Review
"The book is well written...it contains so much material that even professionals may find it a valuable summary...I can therefore recommmend it highly to both the interested outsider and the professional." Stephen M. White, Physics Today"I have not seen a more complete work at this level." Gordon Bond, The Practical Observer"Guide to the Sun does not get bogged down in the technical details of astrophysics but always reminds the reader of the grand view. As a guide and reference work, this book is quite good." Richard Hill, Sky &Telescope"Overall, this book is a well-written and easily readable history of the development of knowledge about the sun, as well as a comprehensive reference work." George J. Flynn, Science Books &Films"An excellent introduction to the sun that can easily be understood by anyone who is able to read Scientific American. It is more complete than most recent books on the subject, and includes a number of interesting topics not seen elsewhere. One of the best books on the subject in recent years, and a good choice for anyone wanting to learn about the sun." B.R. Parker, Choice"...will be a helpful tool for high school students faced with the need to do research about the sun but unable to understand advanced astronomy textbooks." Book Report"...as a general guide for those with a technical interest in solar astrophysics it has much to recommend it." John Gribbin, New Scientist"The end result, accessible to a wide range of reader, is an excellent genreal account of the Sun, its properties and relationship to other stars, and the solar-terrestrial environment that it supports. Bernard Roberts, The Times Higher Education Supplement"As a guide and reference work, this book is quite good." Richard Hill, Sky and Telescope
Synopsis
The sun has been an object of fascination and scientific interest to humans since the time of the ancient Greeks. With minimum technical language, this book gives an account of what we now know about the sun's interior, its surface and atmosphere, its role in our solar system, and its relation to other stars. The ways that solar power is being converted to useful forms of energy are also explained. The book is aimed at anyone interested in learning about the latest developments in solar studies, from those at high-school level to the nonspecialist professional.
Synopsis
This book is an account of the latest developments in studies of our nearest star.
Synopsis
With minimum technical language, this book provides an account of what we now know about the sun's interior, surface and atmosphere, role in our solar system and relation to other stars. The ways that solar power is being converted to useful forms of energy are also explained.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 373-380) and index.
About the Author
Professor Kenneth Phillips is Visiting Professor, Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, and specialises in solar physics and X-ray and ultraviolet spectroscopy. He is co-author of Ultraviolet and X-ray Spectroscopy of the Solar Atmosphere and has authored over 300 research papers. In 2009, he was awarded the Gold Medal of the University of Wroclaw, Poland, for collaborative projects with the solar group there, and from 2002 to 2005, held a National Research Council Senior Research Associateship at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. He worked for 25 years in the Space Science Department, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire and is also Honorary Professor at Queen's University, Belfast.
Table of Contents
1. History of solar observation: from sun worship to the space age; 2. Solar interior; 3. The solar photosphere; 4. The solar chromosphere; 5. The solar corona; 6. The active Sun; 7. The Sun and the solar system; 8. The Sun and other stars; 9. Solar energy; 10. Observing the Sun; Epilogue; Glossary; Appendices: physical and astronomical constants finding the heliographic co-ordinates of a sunspot; Bibliography.