FireFly

Table of Contents

Introduction

Searching the heavens
The Solar System
Stars, galaxies and celestial light
The night sky
The universe
Factfile

Glossary
Index

Introduction

Astronomy has fascinated us as far back in our history as we care to explore. At first, the interest stemmed from religious beliefs. The stars, and planets were considered deities -- indeed, this is true even today. Later, as we learned to domesticate animals and grow crops, the sky served as a celestial agricultural calendar, its constant motions reminding us when to sow and reap.

Today, our interest in astronomy is no less profound, and some might argue it is even more deep-rooted, perhaps because we know so much more about it. Or perhaps it's the human desire to explore, and to understand that which we currently do not. Whatever the reason, astronomy is a subject of research at universities across the globe. The more time our scientists spend peering into the depths of space, the greater the wonders -- and mysteries -- they uncover. Exploding stars called supernovae shine, just briefly, with the power of hundreds of billions of our Sun. They produce superdense neutron stars, shiny balls of matter the size of a city, and yet containing the mass of an entire planetary system, spinning hundreds of times every second. Enigmatic black holes twist time and space and suck in light. At the edge of the known Universe, quasars spew jets of charged particles millions of light-years into space. And then there is the material we cannot see but which we know must exist -- dark matter and the newly discovered, bizarre and poorly understood dark energy.

Join us on a cosmic journey in which we will meet all of these marvels and many more, in stunning words and pictures.

 

Astronomy provides a survey of science's growing understanding of space, including facts on space research and space probes. Packed with stunning images and diagrams, the book features a wide variety of heavenly phenomena, including distant stars, the planets of the solar system, comets and shooting stars, eclipses and black holes, and spectacular photographs from the world's finest observatories and space-based cameras, many further expertly clarified by digital graphics.
- Rob Mooy  Kingston This Week  2010 01 28

With an interesting mix of content, graphics and photography, Astronomy is an easy-to-use, illustrated reference for amateurs of all levels. Garlick offers a trove of information that is manageable and is sure to inspire young and old.... At less than $30, Astronomy is the perfect family gift.
- Jessica Harrison  Deseret News (Salt Lake City)  2009 03 15

This gorgeous book provides 90 charts and graphs, 100 maps, along with 430 color illustrations and photographs--all nicely packaged to give all ages of reader a breathtaking look at the surrounding cosmos.... You really can't do much better than this volume, which lives up to its title as a visual guide. Easy-to-read and understandable text makes it a volume that you'll reference on a regular basis. The blend of space exploration and astronomy--dipping back to the past to today's mind-boggling findings also means it's a page-turner. As is a particular passion of Firefly Books, the reader is given guidance on how to become a skywatcher, with or without equipment.... This superb book is a great add to your personal library.
-   Coalition for Space Exploration  2009 03 19

Astronomy is a fascinating and easy-to-use illustrated reference for amateur astronomers of all levels.
-   Lunar and Planetary Information Bulletin, Lunar and Planetary Institute  2009 06 30

Packed with stunning images and diagrams, the book features a wide variety of heavenly phenomena...and spectacular photographs from the world's finest observatories and space-based cameras.
- Rob Mooy  Frontenac This Week/Kingston This Week  2010 01 28