Celestial calculations : a gentle introduction to computational astronomy / J.L. Lawrence.
| Author/creator | Lawrence, J. L. author. |
| Format | Electronic |
| Publication | Cambridge : MIT Press, 2019. |
| Description | 1 online resource (392 pages) |
| Supplemental Content | ProQuest Ebook Central |
| Subjects |
| Abstract | How to predict and calculate the positions of stars, planets, the sun, the moon, and satellites using a personal computer and high school mathematics. Our knowledge of the universe is expanding rapidly, as space probes launched decades ago begin to send information back to earth. There has never been a better time to learn about how planets, stars, and satellites move through the heavens. This book is for amateur astronomers who want to move beyond pictures of constellations in star guides and solve the mysteries of a starry night. It is a book for readers who have wondered, for example, where Saturn will appear in the night sky, when the sun will rise and set, or how long the space station will be over their location. In Celestial Calculations, J.L. Lawrence shows readers how to find the answers to these and other astronomy questions with only a personal computer and high school math. Using an easy-to-follow step-by-step approach, Lawrence explains what calculations are required, why they are needed, and how they all fit together. Lawrence begins with basic principles: unit of measure conversions, time conversions, and coordinate systems. He combines these concepts into a computer program that can calculate the location of a star, and uses the same methods for predicting the locations of the sun, moon, and planets. He then shows how to use these methods for locating the many satellites we have sent into orbit. Finally, he describes a variety of resources and tools available to the amateur astronomer, including star charts and astronomical tables. Diagrams illustrate the major concepts, and computer programs that implement the algorithms are included. Photographs of actual celestial objects accompany the text, and interesting astronomical facts are interspersed throughout. |
| Source of description | Print version record. |
| Issued in other form | Print version: Lawrence, J.L. (Jackie L.). Celestial calculations 9780262536639 |
| Genre/form | Handbooks and manuals. |
| ISBN | 9780262351768 (electronic bk.) |
| ISBN | 0262351765 (electronic bk.) |
| Stock number | 11401 MIT Press |
| Stock number | 9780262351768 MIT Press |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic Resources | Access Content Online | ✔ Available |