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The spectacular collision of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 with Jupiter in July 1994 was a unique event in the history of astronomy. With a year's advance warning, astronomers and planetary scientists around the world were able to coordinate an observing campaign to track the event in unprecedented detail. A year after the event, a workshop at the Space Telescope Science Institute provided the first opportunity for them to bring together their observations and foster a new understanding of the impact. In this book, the editors present fifteen invited reviews from authors selected as international leaders in the study of the impact and its aftermath. They have edited and arranged the chapters to provide a thorough and comprehensive overview of our knowledge of the event. While our understanding of the impact will evolve with future work, this book provides a solid foundation for new insights. ... Read more

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What can emission lines tell us about an astrophysical object? This book answers that question for a host of objects, including supernovae and active galactic nuclei, across a broad range of wavelengths. The editors present sixteen review articles from internationally renowned experts in a coherent overview of the latest data, techniques and applications of the study of emission lines. Subjects include the theory of radiative transfer, shocks, photoionization, and expanding atmospheres, as well as Doppler tomography, X-ray plasmas, IR and UV spectroscopy, molecular diagnostics, spectropolarimetry and gamma-ray lines.Together these review articles provide a unique and up-to-date overview of the analysis of emission lines. In this way, they provide an excellent introduction and reference for graduate students and professionals in astronomy and physics. ... Read more

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Physics of Fluids in Microgravity provides a clear view of the latest research and progress in the different fields of fluid research in space at the beginning of the International Space Station Era. The topics presented include bubbles and drops dynamics, Marangoni flows, diffusion and thermodiffusion, solidification and crystal growth. The results obtained so far are, in some cases, to be confirmed by extensive research activities on the International Space Station, where basic and applied microgravity experimentation will take place in the years to come. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

For space manufacturing
If manufacturing in space is ever to be practical, we are going to need serious and extensive research in how fluids (liquids and gases) behave under conditions of microgravity. Which is why this book is important.

It details the boundaries of our knowledge in this field. And it comes at an important time. When the International Space Station looks like becoming established in a few years time. One of the justifications for the station was to expand vastly our knowledge of how indeed fluids will behave.

The book's discussion seems comprehensive. Undoubtedly, the editor must hope that it rapidly becomes outdated! ... Read more

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Hawking, clever and playful as usual, sides with Bohr and the Copenhageninterpretation and builds a strong case for quantum gravity. Penrose,inevitably a bit dry in comparison, shares Einstein's horror at suchintuition-blasting thought experiments as Schrödinger's long-sufferingcat--and scores just as many points for general relativity. The math istough going for lay readers, but a few leaps of faith will carry themthrough to some deeply thought-provoking rhetoric. Though no questionsfind final answers in The Nature of Space and Time, the quality ofdiscourse should be enough to satisfy the scientifically curious. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Now that is a trip down the rabbit hole as it were.
I love cosmology, physics and math but this book goes outside my comfort zone...so many equations and concepts that are beyond my complete understanding.There were times where I had to re-read sections 2-3 times and I'm still not sure that I completely grasp what they were saying.Now let's be honest we are talking about 2 geniuses here so I really didn't stand a chance.

The concept of the book with both men taking different sides to the cosmos questions as they relate to General Relativity, Quantum Field Theory, gravity and much more was a blast...the learning curve is HUGE though so be sure you brush up on you algebra and calculus prior to reading this book.

I also love the questions and answers at the end!!

used book
I would not have ordered a used bookwith a "good" rating if I had known that it had coffee stains on multiple pages and the back cover.It makes me wonder about the cleanliness of the item being shipped.
There were also creases which don't bother me at all.

Not for the Mathmatically Challenged
If you liked "The Road to reality" and have an understanding of the Mathmatics of Quantum Physics and Relativity then you will enjoy this book. Otherwise don't bother.

Sweet
The complexity of space and time easily transcribed, though a more laymens terms kind of explaination would have been more interesting.

Fascinating, yet complex.
I found this to be a fascinating overview of some of the major issues in cosmology from both Hawking and Penroses point of view.What is amazing is the actual level of agreement between the two.Perhaps only the real physicists appreciate the nuances of their differences of opinion.

I would recommend this book for anyone who's gone to the trouble of picking up a basic understanding of relativity ( special and/or general ).

The math is not terrbily daunting in most places and you get a real overview for the big picture of the state of relativity and quantum gravity. ... Read more

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Reflecting the results of twenty years' experience in the field of multipurpose flights, this monograph includes the complex routes of the trajectories of a number of bodies (e.g., space vehicles, comets) in the solar system.
A general methodological approach to the research of flight schemes and the choice of optimal performances is developed. Additionally, a number of interconnected methods and algorithms used at sequential stages of such development are introduced, which allow the selection of a rational multipurpose route for a space vehicle, the design of multipurpose orbits, the determination of optimal space vehicle design, and ballistic performances for carrying out the routes chosen. Other topics include the practical results obtained from using these methods, navigation problems, near-to-planet orbits, and an overview of proven and new flight schemes. ... Read more

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This monograph, which grew out of a series of lectures delivered by Stephen Wiggins at the Fields Institute in early 1993, is concerned with the geometrical viewpoint of the global dynamics of nonlinear dynamical systems. With appropriate examples and concise explanations, Wiggins unites many different topics into one volume and makes a unique contribution to the field. Engineers, physicists, chemists, and mathematicians who work on issues related to the global dynamics of nonlinear dynamical systems will find these lectures very useful. ... Read more

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Proceedings of the 2nd International LISA Symposium on the Detection and Observation of Gravitational Waves in Space held in Pasadena, California, July 1998. ... Read more

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This standard establishes qualification and quality requirements for solar cells. Section 7 describes specific tests necessary to ensure the quality and reliability of solar cells intended for space application. Section 8 describes specific tests necessary to characterize the performance of solar cells intended for space application. Section 9 describes the quality requirements for cells to be qualified to this standard. Section 11 describes the reporting format for the qualification tests in Section 7 and the characterizations tests in Section 8. ... Read more

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This document establishes a standard for the design, analysis, material selection and characterization, fabrication, test, and inspection of structural items in space systems, including payloads, spacecraft, upper-stages, and expendable and reusable launch vehicles. This standard, when implemented on a particular space system, will assure high confidence in achieving safe, reliable operation in all phases of the mission. This document applies specifically to all structural items including fracture-critical hardware used in space systems during all phases of the mission - with the following exceptions: adaptive structures, engines, solid rocket nozzles, and thermal protection systems. ... Read more

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This standard establishes baseline requirements for the design, fabrication, test, inspection, storage, and transportation of a flywheel rotor assembly used in a spaceflight flywheel system for energy storage and/or attitude control. These requirements when implemented on a particular system will assure a high level of confidence in achieving safe and reliable operation. ... Read more

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In our rush-rush society, attempting to get more things done to stay on top of more tasks, we end up diminishing our enjoyment of the day. Studies show that the typical person is sleeping less today than 10-20 years ago. Stanford University's Center for Sleep Research found that in America, the typical adult no longer knows what it's like to feel fully awake and alert. Are you in this group? Do the people who report to you fall in this group? You can bet they do.

On the path to creating more time and space in your life, we have to understand, first and foremost, that everything ends. Whether you live 60, 70, 80 years or more, your life will come to an end. Michael Jordan's hang time is only a second or so. The Pledge of Allegiance ends after about 14 seconds. The basketball shot clock in the NBA ends in 24 seconds. The fastest mile that a person can run is about 217 seconds. Everything ends, including your time on this planet. The question is: Do you want to get to the end of your days with grace and ease, or continue to have it race by as it apparently is doing now? ... Read more

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This book explores the interactions between humans, microorganisms, and plants in a closed habitat, and the life support systems necessary to maintain habitability over long periods of time. Problems and approaches involved in creating closed man-made ecological systems (CMESs) from a theoretical and experimental viewpoint are given. Topics include the cultivation of bacteria, microalgae and higher plants; the use of biotechnology to support life outside the Earth's biosphere; methods for recycling air, water and food for human consumption; interactions between humans and other organisms in CMESs; and methods for intensifying the level of photosynthesis. In addition to space the authors investigate problems associated with living conditions in dangerous or difficult environmental areas on Earth such as the Arctic and Antarctica, deserts and mountains. ... Read more

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This work identifies issues and positions that negotiators could adopt when considering the control of arms in space. Topics considered include how to set the boundaries between air space and outer space, peaceful and non-peaceful uses of outer space, weapons in space and their components/sub-components, laboratory and field testing, testing in an ABM or an ASAT mode, testing in space itself and non-dedicated space weapons. The book also considers internationalization as a means of distinguishing "peaceful" from "non-peaceful" uses of outer space. ... Read more

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Deconditioning is an integrated physiological response of the body to a reduction in metabolic rate, that is, to a reduction in energy use or in exercise level. This multi-author volume presents selected background information on the many aspects of ground-based and in-flight physiological research and applications, with an emphasis on human research programs on prolonged bed rest, immersion and confinement studies simulating conditions of space flight as well as data from humans in space. Deconditioning and Reconditioning will be of special interest to health professionals and clinical physicians. ... Read more