James B Kaler's Books

Stars

By: James B. Kaler

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In this fascinating Journey to the farther reaches of space, astronomer James Kaler explores the nature of stars, describing their origins, varieties, distributions, compositions, and distinctive histories. He demonstrates that stars are the key to our comprehension of how the universe evolved--and that the birth, development, and death of stars is intimately associated with our own origins. From the earliest folklore to recent theories about dark matter, Stars chronicles the science of stellar astronomy, concluding with the evolution of high mass stars, whose spectacular deaths generate supernovae, pulsars, neutron stars, and enigmatic black holes. Elegantly written and illustrated, Stars is a compelling portrait of the cosmos as a vast engine of regeneration where stars are born, live, and die.

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Page Count

273

Publisher

W. H. Freeman

Published Date

ISBN 10

0716760312

ISBN 13

9780716760313

Heaven's Touch

From Killer Stars to the Seeds of Life, How We Are Connected to the Universe

By: James B. Kaler

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Heaven's Touch

From Killer Stars to the Seeds of Life, How We Are Connected to the Universe

By: James B. Kaler

A breathtaking account of how the surrounding cosmos impacts life on Earth Did you know that as you read these words showers of high-speed particles from exploding stars are raining down on you? As you gaze into the starry sky, you might feel isolated from the Universe around you—but you're not. This book reveals the startling ways life on Earth is touched by our cosmic environment, and demonstrates why without such contact, life itself wouldn't be possible. Heaven's Touch embarks on an unforgettable journey across the cosmos, beginning in near space with a look at the gentle ebb and flow of lunar and solar tides. Acclaimed astronomer James Kaler describes their subtle effects on our world and also explores the Sun's more potent influences, such as solar storms that cause auroras, give comets their tails, and knock out power grids on Earth. He ventures across the Solar System to consider how the planets can act to produce climate change, even global disaster. Kaler shows how Jupiter's gravity can throw asteroids toward potentially devastating collision with Earth, and how even our whole Galaxy might hurl comet storms at us. He then takes us into deepest space to describe the cosmic rays launched at us from exploding stars, and considers not just how these exploders might harm us, but how they also join together in the creation of stars and how they serve to populate the Universe with the very building blocks of life. Informative and entertaining, Heaven's Touch reveals how intimately connected we really are with the dynamic Universe in which we live.

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Page Count

264

Publisher

Princeton University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0691242380

ISBN 13

9780691242385

The Little Book of Stars

By: James B. Kaler

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The Little Book of Stars

By: James B. Kaler

The Little Book of Stars answers, in the clearest language, the questions anyone might have about our heavenly canopy. How are stars born? How do they die? Why do they shine? How long do they shine? Is our star, the Sun, dying? How can you tell time from the stars? Or navigate? What are the measures of stars? Can we ever travel to other stars? In this engagingly written and concise book, the second in the Little Book series, noted astronomer James B. Kaler shows us "the significance that the stars have had in human life, how we have used them to tell our stories, and how we use them to find who and where we are.

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Page Count

189

Publisher

Springer Science & Business Media

Published Date

ISBN 10

0387216219

ISBN 13

9780387216218

Stars and Their Spectra

An Introduction to the Spectral Sequence

By: James B. Kaler

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Stars and Their Spectra

An Introduction to the Spectral Sequence

By: James B. Kaler

Revised and expanded, the second edition of this popular book provides a thorough introduction to stellar spectra. Each chapter explores a different star type, including new classes L and T. With modern digital spectra and updates from two decades of astronomical discoveries, it is invaluable for amateur astronomers and students.

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Page Count

413

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0521899540

ISBN 13

9780521899543

The Ever-Changing Sky

A Guide to the Celestial Sphere

By: James B. Kaler

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The Ever-Changing Sky

A Guide to the Celestial Sphere

By: James B. Kaler

The Ever-Changing Sky provides a comprehensive and non-mathematical guide to spherical astronomy. The reader is guided through terrestrial and celestial co-ordinate systems, time measurement and celestial navigation, to the prediction of the rising and setting of the stars, Sun and Moon. It focuses on the geometrical aspects of the night sky without using complex trigonometry. The book progresses to a general study of the Earth and sky, including the stars and constellations (with useful star maps provided), the motions and appearance of the Moon, tides and eclipses, the orbits of the planets and the smaller bodies of the Solar System (asteroids, meteors, meteorites and comets). Finally, there is a brief overview of atmospheric phenomena (including rainbows and haloes). This text will be invaluable to students taking courses in naked-eye astronomy, amateur and professional astronomers, as well as more general readers wanting to know how the night sky changes.

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Page Count

524

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0521499186

ISBN 13

9780521499187

Extreme Stars

At the Edge of Creation

By: James B. Kaler

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Extreme Stars

At the Edge of Creation

By: James B. Kaler

Over the past 200 years, our knowledge of stars has expanded enormously. From seeing myriad dots of different brightnesses, we moved on to measure distances, temperatures, sizes, chemical compositions, even ages, finding stars that dwarf our Sun and are dwarfed by it, some in their youth, others ancient. First published in 2001, Extreme Stars describes the lives of stars from a fascinating perspective. It examines their amazing extremes and results in an engaging overview of stellar evolution, suitable for anyone interested in viewing or studying stars. Ten chapters, generously illustrated throughout, explain the natures of the brightest, the largest, the hottest, the youngest, and so on, ending with a selection of the strangest stars the Universe has to offer. Taken as a whole, the chapters show how stars develop and die and how each extreme turns into another under the inexorable twin forces of time and gravity.

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Page Count

276

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

052140262X

ISBN 13

9780521402620

From The Sun To The Stars

By: James B Kaler

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From The Sun To The Stars

By: James B Kaler

The book begins at the Sun then travels through the solar system to see the stars, how they work, and ultimately what they mean to us. The idea is to provide an integrated view of the galaxy and its contents. Along the way we look at spectra, atmospheric phenomena, gravity and the laws of motion, telescopes and how they work, interstellar gas and dust, star birth and death, and planets orbiting other stars. Most popular books tend to focus on one particular topic. From the Sun to the Stars is one of the few that tells the story of the Sun against the background of other stars and other planets and, for that matter, of stars and other planets against the background of the Sun and solar system. This presents the subject with a breadth that few other books can match.This book grew out of the OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) lectures given by the author at the University of Illinois. It doesn't require any prior knowledge and is suitable for anyone who is interested in astronomy.

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Page Count

252

Publisher

World Scientific

Published Date

ISBN 10

9813143266

ISBN 13

9789813143265

First Magnitude

A Book of the Bright Sky

By: James B. Kaler

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First Magnitude

A Book of the Bright Sky

By: James B. Kaler

First Magnitude" is an entry-level book for readers with brightly lit skies. Its purpose is to show them that all is not lost, that they can still enjoy personal astronomy and have an appreciation of the heavens no matter where they live. It concentrates on the Sun, Moon, the five bright planets, and on the 23 brightest stars, which are visible from just about anywhere. The book concludes with bright ephemeral phenomena: meteors, comets, and exploding stars. The concept is a platform for introducing the reader to the wonders of the nighttime and daytime skies and serves as an introduction to general astronomy.James Kaler takes delight in sharing with us his extensive knowledge and infectious enthusiasm for the study of the skies. He further discusses his thoughts on the evolving field of astronomy and expresses his surprise at having an asteroid named after him in honor of his outreach activities.

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Page Count

252

Publisher

World Scientific

Published Date

ISBN 10

9814417424

ISBN 13

9789814417426

The Hundred Greatest Stars

By: James B. Kaler

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The Hundred Greatest Stars

By: James B. Kaler

While there are guides to the visible sky, this is the first book to encompass the most important stars known in the universe at a level accessible to the layperson. The noted astronomer James Kaler takes us on a tour of the 100 most interesting stars, describing their characteristics and importance in words and vivid pictures. James B. Kaler is an internationally recognized expert on stars and their formation. A professor of astronomy at the University of Illinois, he is the author of "Stars and Their Spectra" (Cambridge), "Stars" (Freeman/Scientific American Library), "Cosmic Clouds" (Freeman/Scientific American Library), and numerous articles for popular and professional astronomy magazines.

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Page Count

239

Publisher

Springer Science & Business Media

Published Date

ISBN 10

0387216251

ISBN 13

9780387216256

The Little Book of Stars

By: James B. Kaler

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The Little Book of Stars

By: James B. Kaler

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Page Count

189

Publisher

Springer Science & Business Media

Published Date

ISBN 10

0387216219

ISBN 13

9780387216218

Stars and Their Spectra

An Introduction to the Spectral Sequence

By: James B. Kaler

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Stars and Their Spectra

An Introduction to the Spectral Sequence

By: James B. Kaler

The study of stars and their spectra is central to an understanding of classical and modern astronomy. The principal tool for investigating the nature of stars is to observe and interpret their spectra. In this lucid book, James Kaler clearly explains the alphabet of stellar astronomy - from the cool M stars to hot O stars - and tells the story of the evolution of stars and their place in the Universe. Before embarking on a fascinating voyage of cosmic discovery, we are introduced to the fundamental properties of stars, and how they can be categorised. Next, the structure of atoms and the formation of spectra is discussed, as a prelude to a full description of the spectral classification itself. The heart of the book examines each star type in turn and explores their spectra in detail. Notable discoveries and features related to each class sustain the story. There is also a review of unusual stars that cannot easily be classified. Finally, the book closes with a skilful integration of all the data - tracing the paths of birth, life and death of stars on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. This book is based on a widely acclaimed series of articles on stellar astronomy which appeared in the magazine Sky and Telescope. It provides an invaluable introduction for observers and students.

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Page Count

326

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0521585708

ISBN 13

9780521585705

Book's by James B Kaler

Stars

Stars

Heaven's Touch

Heaven's Touch

The Little Book of Stars

The Little Book of Stars

Stars and Their Spectra

Stars and Their Spectra

The Ever-Changing Sky

The Ever-Changing Sky

Extreme Stars

Extreme Stars

From The Sun To The Stars

From The Sun To The Stars

First Magnitude

First Magnitude

The Hundred Greatest Stars

The Hundred Greatest Stars

The Little Book of Stars

The Little Book of Stars

Stars and Their Spectra

Stars and Their Spectra

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