Discovering Astronomy 6th edition

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Stephen J. Shawl, Gene Byrd, Susana Duestua, and Michael LoPresto
Publisher: Self Published Works

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  • Chapter 1: Beyond the Blue Horizon: A Grand Tour of the Universe
    • 1.1: What Is Astronomy?
    • 1.2: Our View of the Cosmos
    • 1.3: The Solar System
    • 1.4: Stars, Galaxies, and Beyond
    • 1.5: Where Does Astronomy Go from Here?
    • 1: Problems (77)
    • 1: Extra Problems

  • Chapter 2: Science and Pseudoscience
    • 2.1: An Expedition to Earth
    • 2.2: Astronomy as an Observational Science
    • 2.3: Science as a Process
    • 2.4: Is It Science or Pseudoscience?
    • 2.5: Do New Ideas Displace the Old Ones?
    • 2: Problems (37)
    • 2: Extra Problems

  • Chapter 3: Astronomical Observations: Angles and Uncertainties
    • 3.1: Angles and Angular Measurement
    • 3.2: Angles on the Celestial Sphere
    • 3.3: The Relationship between Physical and Angular Size
    • 3.4: Measurement Uncertainty
    • 3.5: Systematic Uncertainties in Astronomy: The Kapteyn Universe as an Example
    • 3: Problems (98)
    • 3: Extra Problems

  • Chapter 4: Basic Observations and Interpretations of the Sky
    • 4.1: Early Observations of the Sky
    • 4.2: Early Greek Observations: The Round Earth
    • 4.3: The Observed Motions of the Sky
    • 4.4: The Motion of the Sun
    • 4.5: The Reasons for the Seasons
    • 4.6: The Location of Stars on the Celestial Sphere
    • 4.7: The Motion and Phases of the Moon
    • 4.8: The Motions of the Planets
    • 4.9: How Stars Get Their Names
    • 4.10: Measuring Star Brightness
    • 4: Problems (77)
    • 4: Extra Problems

  • Chapter 5: The Historical Quest to Model the Solar System
    • 5.1: Greek Astronomy
    • 5.2: Astronomy during the Middle Ages
    • 5.3: The Heliocentric Hypothesis
    • 5.4: Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion
    • 5.5: The Search for Underlying Laws
    • 5.6: Evidence in Favor of the Heliocentric Hypothesis
    • 5.7: Observational Evidence of the Earth's Rotation
    • 5: Problems (93)
    • 5: Extra Problems (16)

  • Chapter 6: The Structure and Formation of Planetary Systems
    • 6.1: An Overview of the Solar System
    • 6.2: Observations: Orbital Patterns
    • 6.3: The Distribution of Angular Momentum
    • 6.4: Hypotheses of the Origin of the Solar System
    • 6.5: Modern Ideas
    • 6.6: Other Planetary Systems
    • 6: Problems (83)
    • 6: Extra Problems

  • Chapter 7: The Smallest Objects of the Solar System
    • 7.1: Pluto and the Trans-Neptunian Objects
    • 7.2: Comets
    • 7.3: Asteroids
    • 7.4: Meteors, Meteor Showers, and Meteorites
    • 7.5: Interplanetary Dust
    • 7.6: Meteorites and the Early Solar System
    • 7: Problems (82)
    • 7: Extra Problems

  • Chapter 8: The Earth and Moon: Processes and Facts
    • 8.1: Earth as an Astronomical Body
    • 8.2: Earth's Interior
    • 8.3: Earth's Surface
    • 8.4: Earth's Atmosphere
    • 8.5: Earth's Magnetism
    • 8.6: The Moon: Large-Scale Characteristics
    • 8.7: The Moon's Atmosphere
    • 8.8: The Lunar Surface
    • 8.9: The Moon's Interior
    • 8.10: The Origin of the Moon
    • 8.11: Tides and the Future of the Earth-Moon System
    • 8.12: Understanding the Universe using the Moon
    • 8: Problems (103)
    • 8: Extra Problems

  • Chapter 9: The Earth-Like Planets
    • 9.1: Introduction to the Terrestrial Planets
    • 9.2: Large-Scale Characteristics
    • 9.3: Atmospheres
    • 9.4: Surfaces
    • 9.5: Interiors
    • 9.6: Moons
    • 9.7: Evolutionary Comparison
    • 9: Problems (107)
    • 9: Extra Problems

  • Chapter 10: The Jovian Planets
    • 10.1: Introduction
    • 10.2: Large-Scale Characteristics
    • 10.3: Atmospheres
    • 10.4: Planetary Interiors
    • 10.5: Moons
    • 10.6: Planetary Rings
    • 10.7: Future Studies of the Jovian Planets and Moons
    • 10: Problems (129)
    • 10: Extra Problems

  • Chapter 11: The Nature of Light
    • 11.1: Light as a Ray
    • 11.2: Light as a Wave
    • 11.3: Light as a Stream of Particles
    • 11: Problems (61)
    • 11: Extra Problems

  • Chapter 12: Telescopes: Our Eyes of Discovery
    • 12.1: The Formation of Images
    • 12.2: Telescopes
    • 12.3: Comparing Reflecting and Refracting Telescopes
    • 12.4: Reflecting Telescopes of Various Types
    • 12.5: The Telescopes of the Future
    • 12.6: Detectors and Instruments
    • 12.7: Radio Astronomy
    • 12.8: Optical and Radio Observatory Sites
    • 12.9: Beyond Optical and Radio Astronomy
    • 12.10: NASA's Great Observatories
    • 12: Problems (63)
    • 12: Extra Problems

  • Chapter 13: Spectra: The Key to Understanding the Universe
    • 13.1: Observations of Spectra
    • 13.2: Understanding Spectra
    • 13.3: Applications of Spectroscopy
    • 13: Problems (81)
    • 13: Extra Problems

  • Chapter 14: Understanding Stellar Spectra
    • 14.1: Classification of Stellar Spectra
    • 14.2: The Cosmic Abundance of the Chemical Elements
    • 14.3: The Doppler Effect
    • 14.4: What We Can Learn from Spectral Lines
    • 14: Problems (72)
    • 14: Extra Problems

  • Chapter 15: The Observed Properties of Normal Stars
    • 15.1: Distance Measurements
    • 15.2: Binary Stars and Stellar Masses
    • 15.3: Binary Stars and Other Stellar Properties
    • 15.4: The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
    • 15.5: Main-Sequence, Giant, Supergiant, and White Dwarf Stars
    • 15.6: Explanation of the Main Sequence
    • 15.7: Stellar Distances and the H-R Diagram
    • 15: Problems (100)
    • 15: Extra Problems

  • Chapter 16: Energy Source and Structure of the Sun and Stars
    • 16.1: The Power Produced by the Sun
    • 16.2: Energy Sources
    • 16.3: The Conditions Required for Fusion
    • 16.4: Proof of Fusion in Stars
    • 16.5: Stellar Structure
    • 16.6: The Lifetimes of Stars
    • 16.7: The Sun—A Typical Star
    • 16: Problems (76)
    • 16: Extra Problems

  • Chapter 17: Star Formation and Evolution to the Main Sequence
    • 17.1: Matter for Star Formation
    • 17.2: Star-Formation: Theory
    • 17.3: Star-Formation: Observations
    • 17.4: A Prominent Region of Star Formation: The Orion Molecular Cloud Complex and Nebula
    • 17: Problems (69)
    • 17: Extra Problems

  • Chapter 18: Stellar Evolution after the Main Sequence
    • 18.1: The Mid-Life Evolution of Sun-like Stars
    • 18.2: The Mid-Life Evolution of Stars Less Massive Than the Sun
    • 18.3: The Mid-Life Evolution of Stars More Massive Than Eight Solar Masses
    • 18.4: Pulsating Stars
    • 18.5: Mass Loss, Binary Stars, and Stellar Evolution
    • 18.6: The Death of Stars Less Massive Than Eight Solar Masses
    • 18.7: The Observational Evidence for Stellar Evolution
    • 18: Problems (84)
    • 18: Extra Problems

  • Chapter 19: Stellar Death and Catastrophes
    • 19.1: Novae
    • 19.2: Supernovae
    • 19.3: Neutron Stars and Pulsars
    • 19.4: Black Holes
    • 19.5: Compact Objects in Binary Systems
    • 19: Problems (84)
    • 19: Extra Problems

  • Chapter 20: The Milky Way: Our Galaxy
    • 20.1: Characteristics of the Milky Way I
    • 20.2: Characteristics of the Milky Way II
    • 20.3: Interstellar Gas and Dust
    • 20.4: The Structure of the Milky Way System
    • 20.5: The Formation and Evolution of the Galaxy
    • 20.6: The Galactic Magnetic Field
    • 20.7: Cosmic Rays
    • 20: Problems (108)
    • 20: Extra Problems

  • Chapter 21: Galaxies
    • 21.1: The Historical Problem of the Nebulae
    • 21.2: The Morphology of Galaxies
    • 21.3: Distances of the Galaxies
    • 21.4: General Galaxy Attributes
    • 21.5: The Star and Gas Content of Galaxies
    • 21.6: The Formation and Evolution of Galaxies
    • 21.7: Clusters of Galaxies
    • 21.8: Clusters of Clusters: Superclusters
    • 21.9: Cluster and Supercluster Formation
    • 21: Problems (101)
    • 21: Extra Problems

  • Chapter 22: Active Galaxies and Quasars
    • 22.1: Seeing Galaxies in a New Light
    • 22.2: Other Active Galaxies: Seyfert Galaxies, BL Lac Objects, and Quasars
    • 22.3: The "Monster" Energy Source for QSOs and AGNs
    • 22.4: A Unified Model of AGN, BL Lacs and Quasars
    • 22: Problems (76)
    • 22: Extra Problems

  • Chapter 23: The Origin and Evolution of the Universe
    • 23.1: The Four Pillars of the Big Bang
    • 23.2: Questions about the Big Bang
    • 23.3: Surprising Mysteries of the Big Bang
    • 23.4: Multiple Universes?
    • 23: Problems (86)
    • 23: Extra Problems

  • Chapter 24: The Search for Extraterrestrial Life
    • 24.1: What is Life?
    • 24.2: The Ingredients for Life
    • 24.3: The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Life inside Our Solar System
    • 24.4: The Search for Life Outside Our Solar System
    • 24.5: The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
    • 24: Problems (55)
    • 24: Extra Problems

Discovering Astronomy is a college-level introductory astronomy textbook now in its sixth edition. The new edition by S. Shawl, G. Byrd, S Deustua, and M. Lopresto expands upon the previous edition's unique pedagogical features including an emphasis on understanding the nature of science, its use of in-text inquiries, and chapter discoveries. Chapter summaries help to emphasize the nature of science by grouping the chapter's ideas into observations, theory, and conclusions.

New to this edition are Critical Observations, which illustrate specific examples throughout astronomy of how a specific observation allowed astronomers to choose one theory over the competing ideas.

For the first time in a digital format, WebAssign has integrated the test bank questions associated with the textbook, which were collaboratively written by the authors of Discovering Astronomy. These questions can be used for practice, homework, or testing.

The eBook for this course is currently available directly from Acadiem.

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Group Quantity Questions
Chapter 1: Beyond the Blue Horizon: A Grand Tour of the Universe
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Chapter 2: Science and Pseudoscience
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Chapter 3: Astronomical Observations: Angles and Uncertainties
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Chapter 4: Basic Observations and Interpretations of the Sky
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Chapter 5: The Historical Quest to Model the Solar System
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Chapter 6: The Structure and Formation of Planetary Systems
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Chapter 7: The Smallest Objects of the Solar System
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Chapter 8: The Earth and Moon: Processes and Facts
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Chapter 9: The Earth-Like Planets
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Chapter 10: The Jovian Planets
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Chapter 11: The Nature of Light
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Chapter 12: Telescopes: Our Eyes of Discovery
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Chapter 13: Spectra: The Key to Understanding the Universe
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Chapter 14: Understanding Stellar Spectra
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Chapter 15: The Observed Properties of Normal Stars
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Chapter 16: Energy Source and Structure of the Sun and Stars
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Chapter 17: Star Formation and Evolution to the Main Sequence
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Chapter 18: Stellar Evolution after the Main Sequence
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Chapter 19: Stellar Death and Catastrophes
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Chapter 20: The Milky Way: Our Galaxy
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Chapter 21: Galaxies
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Chapter 22: Active Galaxies and Quasars
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Chapter 23: The Origin and Evolution of the Universe
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Chapter 24: The Search for Extraterrestrial Life
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