Books with title The Lucent Library of Science and Technology - Telescopes

Ancient Greek and Egyptian scientists dreamed of viewing Earth's distant cousins scattered throughout the solar system but it was not until the early seventeenth century that telescopes made such dreams a reality. Simple telescopes provided the first extension of eyesight that shifted authority in the observation of the universe from men to instruments. Within a short time, telescopes defined the universe and ignited an interest in knowing the universe's origins and possibly even its eventual demise. Enormous improvements in telescopes in the twentieth century captured and focused the light from bodies billions of light years away. Newer ones even captured X-rays and Gamma rays that better defined the known universe. As the end of the century drew near, the Hubble telescope was launched into orbit to beam back the most dazzling photographs of the most distant bodies ever detected. Because of telescope improvements, astronomers have added a new quest in understanding the universe, the search for life beyond Earth.

The remains of collapsed stars, black holes possess enormous gravities that pull in and annihilate any matter that strays too close. The latest evidence and theories for these bizarre objects are presented in this intriguing book, including how black holes were first predicted, how they form, their physical properties, and how scientists detect them. Also covered are the giant black holes now known to lurk at the centers of most galaxies and the possibility of using these objects as cosmic gateways.

Space stations have been the mainstay and "work horses" of the international aerospace industry for the past three decades. They are highly valued as medical laboratories for learning about the effects of space on humans, astronomy platforms for studying distant stars and galaxies, observation posts for viewing and analyzing environmentally sensitive regions on Earth, and springboards for future human travel to a variety of planets within our solar system and possibly beyond. From the early and relatively simple Skylab, Salyut, and Mir to the modern International Space Station, these platforms have been home to many astronauts from many nations investigating scientific phenomena in a microgravity environment 250 miles in space whirling by at 17,000 miles per hour.