Online Astronomy Ebooks & Book Reviews

Skylab's Astronomy and Space Sciences

2009-01-28T04:13:00.000-08:00

Skylab's Astronomy and Space Sciences is edited by Charles A. Lundquist.

Editor's Note

The astronomy and space science of Skylab are primarily the product of the principal investigators, the instruments they built, and the results they derived. Their willing cooperation with the editorial participants in this volume was essential to its completion.

In an enterprise like Skylab, the analysis and interpretation of scientific data are typically the activities that continue beyond all others. In most cases, the investigators can begin a serious attack on the data only after the flight operations have ended and the tapes, film, and specimens have reached a home laboratory. The results of the Skylab astronomy and space science investigations reach the scientific community in diverse ways: through papers presented at summary conferences on Skylab findings (e.g., those sponsored by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the American Geophysical Union jointly, and sponsored by the American Astronautical Society); through specific symposia such as that held in 1974 on Comet Kohoutek; and, most importantly, through refereed papers in various scientific journals. This normal course of prolonged analysis and publication influenced the preparation of this volume. Efforts were made to incorporate new material as it became available, but this was accomplished incompletely at best.

The preparation of this volume was guided by an editorial board composed of the following members: Karl G. Henize and Robert A. Parker of the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center; Curtis Hemenway of the Dudley Observatory; Jerry L. Weinberg of State University of New York at Albany; and Robert J. Naumann, Martin O. Burrell, William C. Snoddy, and Robert E. Lake of the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center. Jack Waite of the Marshall Center served as the Managing Editor. In the course of coordinating the set of Skylab volumes, Rein Ise also provided valuable advice and comments for this particular volume.

The material for the text was assembled by John W. Kierein, Richard J. Barry, John G. Meeker, and Jorgen Jensen. The manuscript draft was further edited by John C. Goodrum, Mitchell R. Sharpe, and Harry R. Melson, who also helped in preparing the illustrations. Final revisions of the manuscript draft were made by Annette Tingle, by Bob Richards and Ausra Richards, and by Karen Simon.

As editor of Astronomy and Space Sciences, I extend my thanks to all who helped. The preparation of this volume was appropriately a collective effort, as was Skylab itself.
by Charles A. Lundquist.

Following are the topics covered in the Astronomy and Space Science Book

Introduction to Skylab.
Stellar and Galactic Astronomy.
Interplanetary Dust.
Observations of Comet Kohoutek.
Energetic Particles.
The Earth's Atmosphere.
Orbital Environment.
Skylab's Astronomy and Space Sciences Experiments.

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Annals of the Astrophysical Observatory of the Smithsonian Institution Volume I

2009-01-28T03:52:00.000-08:00

This is Volume 1 of the Annals of the Astrophysical Observatory of the Smithsonian Institution. The book is the result of research originally due to the discovery, made in 1881 with the newly invented bolometer, of solar heat in spectral region now known as the lower infra-red spectrum. Presented in the book are tables and charts of the infra-red solar spectrum extending to 5.3 microns and mapping nearly 750 lines, of which most are below 1.1 microns and are nearly all new.

Preface
This book is the result of a research originally due to a discovery, made in the year 1881 with the then newly invented bolometer, in the clear air of an altitude of over 12,000 feet, of solar heat in a then unknown spectral region now called the "lower infra-red spectrum". The bolometer has since been used to explore and to map the region in question, through the long succeeding interval, in the latter part of which it has reached an accuracy and a sensitiveness greater than i could once have hoped for.

This map is now (June 18, 1900), after years of constant work, finally published in the present form; not because this edition is final, but because the long labor must come to some term, and because i desire to see its results published while i may hope to see them made useful.

In my early work i was led to notice not only the change of the infra red absorption spectrum at different hours of the day, but at different seasons of the year, without my observations in the last respect having attained a precision which seemed to justify me in publishing them. Of late, improvements on the early methods seem to be at last bringing more conclusive evidence that there are distinguishable effects in the different seasons of the year upon the absorption of the solar heat by the earth's atmosphere, or perhaps it might be said, evidence that the absorption of the earth's atmosphere is directly associated with the seasonal changes of spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

While we are far from looking forward to foretelling by such means the remoter changes of weather which affect the harvests, or to results of such importance as the power of such a prevision would indicate, still it is hardly too much to say that we appear to begin to move in that direction, and it seems to me that my own early hopes of making the study of the solar energy not simply an interesting scientific pursuit, but one of material usefulness, may one day be justified.. by S. P Langley

The following are the topics covered in this astronomy book.

The absorption lines in the infra-red spectrum of the sun
Historical account of contributory researches
Account of the progress of the investigations at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
Description of the observatory buildings and the apparatus employed in the research -- adjustments of apparatus
Methods of procedure in preparing and comparing bolographs
Limitations of the research-sources of error now existing
The absorption lines in the infra-red solar spectrum; results of bolographic spectrum analysis in 1897-98
The variations of absorption in the infra-red solar spectrum
The dispersion of rock salt and fluorite
Miscellaneous observations such as The accuracy of the bolometer and Radiation from terrestrial sources
Construction of a sensitive galvanometer
The determination of wave-lengths in the infra-red spectrum of rock salt
The constants for rock salt in Ketteler's dispersion formula
The minute structure of the absorption band omega

You can read or download this astronomy book, Annals of the Astrophysical Observatory of the Smithsonian Institution Volume I from the following link.
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Annals of the Astronomical Observatory of Harvard College, Volume VIII

2009-01-28T03:36:00.000-08:00

This is Volume VIII of the Annals of the Astronomical Observatory of Harvard College. Part I of the Annals contains a historical account of the observatory from October, 1855 to October, 1876. Included are biographical notes on some of the astronomers whose work is detailed, as well as information on the observatory buildings, instruments, and research. Part II of the Annals contains astronomical engravings of the Moon, Planets, and Solar Phenomena.

Following are the astrological topics covered in this book.

PLAN OF THE WORK
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
William Cranch Bond
George Phillips Bond
Joseph Winlock
W.C. Bond, Jr
Richard F. Bond
Philip Sidney Coolidge
PROPERTY OF THE OBSERVATORY.
Original endowment
Phillips Fund
Quincy Fund
Sears Fund
Sturgis Fund
Hayward Fund
Savage Fund
Occasional donations
Fund for Meridian Circle
Income from sale of clock-signals
Grounds of the Observatory
Improvements in the grounds
Land in West Medford
Buildings of the Observatory
Improvements in 1866 and later
Prime Vertical Room
East Transit Room
West Transit Room
West Dome
Detached buildings
Clocks
Chronometers
Chronographs
Apparatus for determining personal equation
Apparatus for shifting electric connections
Apparatus for transmitting clock-signals
Meridian Circle
East Transit Circle
Portable Transit Instrument
East Equatorial
Finder of the Equatorial
Apparatus for finding faint objects
Machinery of Dome
West Equatorial
Small telescopes
Spectroscopes
Inductive Coil
Photographic lenses, and apparatus connected with them
Inventions of Professor Winlock for photographing the sun
Micrometers
Photometer
Occultator
Meteorological apparatus
Wind register
Magnetic apparatus
Phillips Library
WORK OF THE OBSERVATORY.
Work done between 1855 and 1866
Work done in 1866 and later
Observations of double stars
Spectroscopic observations
Observations of the aurora
Miscellaneous equatorial observations
Investigation of lunar phenomena
Drawings of celestial objects
observations of the sun
Chart of the Trifid Nebula
Work done with the East Transit Circle
Work done with the Meridian Circle
Observations for determining longitudes
Magnetic and meteorological observations
Observations of meteoric showers
Work done with the Quincy Photometer
Expeditions made by Professor Winlock
His spectroscopic and photographic observations of total eclipses
General account of the part taken by the Observatory in expeditions to observe eclipses
Account of some engravings copied from photographs of eclipses
Photographs of partial phases of eclipses
Ordinary photographs of the sun
Experiments in viewing the whole border of the sun
Establishment of the system of clock-signals

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The Original Astronomical Observations Made in the Course of a Voyage to the Northern Pacific Ocean

2009-01-28T03:13:00.000-08:00

The Original Astronomical Observations Made in the Course of a Voyage to the Northern Pacific Ocean (from the Cook expeditions of 1776-1780) is written by William Bayly, James Cook, and James King. This astronomical book contains varioius astronomical observations made at different places on shores.

Following are the astronomical topics covered in this book. This astronomy book is intended for astronomers, and students doing research in the space science and astrology.

Astronomical Observations on Drake's Island in Plymouth Sound
Comparison of the clocks and watches while among the society Islands
Observations at King George's Sound, by Capt. Cooke, and Lieut. King
Lieut. King's remarks concerning the watch N' 1
Lunar Observations made at Kamtschatka by Lieut. King and officers
Observations for the latitude of the ship, and her longitude by the watch N' 1
Lunar Observations made by Capt. Cooke and officers of the resolution
Azimuths, by Capt. Cooke and officers
Dips of the magnetic Needle, by Capt. Cooke and Lieut. King
Observations for determining the latitude of the ship, and her longitude, by the watch N' 2
Lunar Observations made by W.Bayly
Azimuths by W. Bayly
Dips of the magnetic Needle by W. Bayly
Meteorological Observations by W. Bayly
Observations for determining the saltiness of Sea water

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Astrophysics and Space Sciences Transactions Articles and Ebooks

2009-01-28T01:24:00.000-08:00

Astrophysics and Space Sciences Transactions is an Open Access Journal of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Extraterrestrische Forschung e.V.

Astrophysics and Space Sciences Transactions (ASTRA) is an international scientific journal dedicated to the publication and public discussion of high quality original research on all fields of Astrophysics and Space Sciences and related technology.

ASTRA covers the following fields:

Astrophysics;
Cosmic Rays and Gamma Astronomy;
Interstellar Matter;
Heliospheric Physics;
Solar and Stellar Physics;
Planets, Comets, Asteroids and Dust;
Extrasolar Planets;
Magnetospheric Physics;
Scientific Instrumentation;
Solar/Interstellar Terrestrial Relations.

You can download or read Astrophysics and Astronomy articles or free astronomy ebooks from the following links.