The Essential Cosmic Perspective (8^th Ed.)

A practical introduction to Astronomy with an emphasis on critical thinking about our place in the universe

This 8th Edition of Essential Cosmic Perspective provides readers without science backgrounds with a streamlined, cutting-edge introduction to astronomy. Built on a strong tradition of effective pedagogy and coverage, the text focuses on skill-building and includes group work exercises that require active participation. Dedicated to bringing an understanding of the universe, its scientific basis and its relevance to our lives, each chapter is written to specific learning goals that build an ideal learning path for readers. Aiming to foster a lifelong learning experience, the authors focus on key concepts, providing big picture context, promoting conceptual understanding, and preferring plain language to jargon.

The 8th Edition incorporates the latest scientific updates in the field of astronomy and includes new features that reinforce critical thinking and excite readers’ curiosity. New features such as Extraordinary Claims engage readers by presenting extraordinary claims about the universe and how they were either supported or debunked as scientists collected more evidence, reinforcing the process of science and how scientists think critically to evaluate them. My Cosmic Perspective establishes a personal connection between readers and the cosmos as they learn to think critically about the meaning of what they learn in their astronomy studies and beyond. Designed and written for a one semester course, this text shares many of the strengths of its more comprehensive best-selling sibling, The Cosmic Perspective.

Also available with Mastering Astronomy

Mastering^™ Astronomy is the leading online homework, tutorial, and assessment system, designed to improve results by engaging students with vetted, interactive content. Instructors ensure students arrive ready to learn by assigning new Interactive Prelecture videos that give students exposure to key concepts before class and open classroom time for active learning or deeper discussions of topics. With Learning Catalytics^™ instructors can expand on key concepts and encourage student engagement during lecture through questions answered individually or in pairs and groups. Students further master concepts through book-specific Mastering Astronomy assignments, which provide hints and answer-specific feedback that build problem-solving skills.  Mastering Astronomy now features Virtual Astronomy Labs, providing assignable online laboratory activities that use Stellarium and Interactive Figures.

Note: You are purchasing a standalone product; Mastering^™ Astronomy does not come packaged with this content. Students, if interested in purchasing this title with Mastering Astronomy, ask your instructor for the correct package ISBN and Course ID. Instructors, contact your Pearson representative for more information.

If you would like to purchase both the physical text and Mastering Astronomy, search for:

0134516338 / 9780134516332 Essential Cosmic Perspective Plus Mastering Astronomy with eText, The -- Access Card Package

Package consists of:

• 0134509293 / 9780134509297 Mastering Astronomy with Pearson eText -- ValuePack Access Card -- for Essential Cosmic Perspective, The
• 0134446437 / 9780134446431 Essential Cosmic Perspective, The

I. Developing Perspective

1. A Modern View of the Universe

2. Discovering the Universe for Yourself

3. The Science of Astronomy

II. Key Concepts for Astronomy

4. Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

5. Light: The Cosmic Messenger

III. Learning from Other Worlds

6. Formation of the Solar System

7. Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

8. Jovian Planet Systems

9. Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

10. Other Planetary Systems: The New Science of Distant Worlds

IV. Stars

11. Our Star

12. Surveying the Stars

13. Star Stuff

14. The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

V. Galaxies and Beyond

15. Our Galaxy

16. A Universe of Galaxies

17. The Birth of the Universe

18. Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

VI. Life on Earth and Beyond

19. Life in the Universe

Jeffrey Bennett holds a B.A. (1981) in biophysics from the University of California, San Diego, and an M.S. and Ph.D. (1987) in astrophysics from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He has taught at every level from preschool through graduate school, including more than 50 college classes in astronomy, physics, mathematics, and education. He served 2 years as a visiting senior scientist at NASA headquarters, where he created NASA's "IDEAS" program, started a program to fly teachers aboard NASA's airborne observatories (including the recently launched SOFIA observatory), and worked on numerous educational programs for the Hubble Space Telescope and other space science missions. He also proposed the idea for and helped develop both the Colorado Scale Model Solar System on the CU-Boulder campus and the Voyage Scale Model Solar System on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. (He is pictured here with the model Sun.) In addition to this astronomy textbook, he has written college-level textbooks in astrobiology, mathematics, and statistics; two books for the general public, On the Cosmic Horizon (Pearson Addison-Wesley, 2001) and Beyond UFOs (Princeton University Press, 2008); and an award-winning series of children's books that includes Max Goes to the Moon, Max Goes to Mars, Max Goes to Jupiter,and Max's Ice Age Adventure. When not working, he enjoys participating in masters swimming and in the daily adventures of life with his wife, Lisa; his children, Grant and Brooke; and his dog, Cosmo. His personal Web site is www.jeffreybennett.com.

Megan Donahue is a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Michigan State University and President of the American Astronomical Society. Her current research is mainly on clusters of galaxies: their contents-dark matter, hot gas, galaxies, active galactic nuclei-and what they reveal about the contents of the universe and

Pedagogical features enhance learning

• Chapter Learning Goals, written as questions, set up the framework for each section and provide a clear learning path through the chapter.
• Essential Preparation, at the beginning of each chapter, identifies the key prior concepts that the students will need to understand in order to succeed in each chapter.
• Cosmic Calculations Boxes contain most of the mathematics used in the book, and can be covered or skipped depending on the level of mathematics included in the course.
• Cosmic Context Two-Page Figures are two-page spreads that provide visual summaries of key processes and concepts.
• Annotated Figures are key figures in each chapter that utilize the research-based technique of “annotation”–carefully crafted text placed on the figure to guide students through interpreting graphs, following process figures, and translating between different representations.
• Wavelength/Observatory Icons are simple icons that indicate whether an astronomical image is a photo, artist’s impression, or computer simulation; whether a photo came from ground-based or space-based observations; and the wavelength band used to take the photo.
• Think About It sections appear throughout the book as short questions integrated into the narrative, giving students the opportunity to reflect on important new concepts.
• See It for Yourself sections are integrated into the narrative, giving students the opportunity to conduct simple observations or experiments that will help them understand key concepts.
• Common Misconceptions address popularly held but incorrect ideas related to the chapter material.
• Special Topic Boxes contain supplementary discussion topics that are related to the chapter material, but not prerequisite to the continuing di