For as long as mankind has possessed a sense of wonder, astronomy has been practised in one form or another. It can be thought of as having graduated to the status of a true science at the point in history when it became forever separated from astrology. Clearly they were not of the same mould; astronomy was hard to do; astrology was merely hard to swallow. The next significant change came in the early 20th century. Men and women of science felt it was no longer sufficient to simply catalogue the visual characteristics of the stars and other heavenly bodies; the desire to understand their physical makeup, behaviour and creation gave us the study of astrophysics. As the name suggests, this is the physics of astronomical bodies and the space they inhabit. During the second half of the 20th century interest turned also to the other eight planets of our solar system, spawning several new disciplines relating to Planetology, the formation of the solar system, and the possibility of past or present extraterrestrial life. Every decade of the last century brought ever more numerous and fascinating discoveries. It was not until 1930 that Pluto, the ninth planet, was discovered. Only as late as 1978 was it discovered that Pluto possessed a moon. And now, in late 2005, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has given astronomers evidence that Pluto may have not one, but three moons. In recent decades much interest has also been given to the far reaches of the universe -- far stars; other galaxies, some old, some still forming; and even the earliest detectable galaxies of the universe, at the very limits of our ability to probe. Each field of space study requires its own special tools and its own expertise. The many programs that come loosely under the headings of astronomy and space exploration are as varied and rewarding as the fascinating discoveries that they have made. To the uninformed, the exploration of deep space may seem esoteric and unexciting, but in truth the wonder and the beauty of deep space outshine almost anything that Earth and man can offer. The time when people can go and explore deep space in person is still well into the future. Until then, we shall continue to do as we have done for the past 40 years, sending unmanned spacecraft and satellites as our proxies and ambassadors to the universe. This book examines deep space exploration missions, past, present and future, and their results.

Every episode of the first four seasons of equipment oddities, weird science, strange but true observations, and nutty technical difficulties for discriminating fans of Deep Space Nine. Commanders Log, DS9: Star Date 46379.1: Bajor below. The cosmos above. Bloopers Everywhere! How long is the wormhole? In "Emissary," it is 70,000 light years. Four episodes later Sisko says it is 90,000. Better check the odometer, Sisko! Does the Space Station rotate? Sometimes it does, and sometimes it doesn't! Look at the stars in the windows... Now that NextGen is history, the time has come to take a leap through hyperspace and land on Deep Space Nine. It's unexplored territory for nitpicking, the ultimate challenge for discriminating fans. This guide brings you the scoop on Deep Space Nine--the good, the bad, and the Ferengi. Author Phil Farrand (with a little help from his Trekker friends) has had his VCR in warp drive and surveyed every DS9 episode of the first four seasons for the glitches, gaffs, and goofs that neither the station's engineers nor the show's writers have solved. Sit yourself down with this guide in one hand, your remote control in the other, and see for yourself what the wormhole has wrought.

In this meditation on religion and science, Lightman explores the tension between our yearning for permanence and certainty, and the modern scientific discoveries that demonstrate the impermanent and uncertain nature of the world. As a physicist, he has always held a scientific view of the world. But one summer evening, while looking at the stars from a small boat at sea he was overcome by the sensation that he was merging with a grand and eternal unity, a hint of something absolute and immaterial. This is his exploration of these seemingly contradictory impulses, and the journey along the different paths of religion and science that become part of his quest. -- adapted from publisher info.

At the climactic close of the TV series of Star Trek Deep Space Nine the forces of the Federation and their allies finally overcame the Dominion invaders and averted the threat of totalitarian rule. And yet ... the future of the Alpha Quadrant is by no means as safe as it seems. Deep within the bowels of Deep Space Nine is a secret that has been kept for seven years. When it is uncovered the very heart of the Federation will be ripped apart, succeeding where the shapeshifting Founders failed. The destruction of the Federation is at stake. Only the crew of Deep Space Nine can stop it - but will they be in time?

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Fall: The Crimson Shadow comes a compelling and suspenseful tale of politics and power set in the universe of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Elim Garak has ascended to Castellan of the Cardassian Union...but despite his soaring popularity, the imminent publication of a report exposing his people's war crimes during the occupation on Bajor looks likely to set the military against him. Into this tense situation come Dr. Katherine Pulaski—visiting Cardassia Prime to accept an award on behalf of the team that solved the Andorian genetic crisis—and Dr. Peter Alden, formerly of Starfleet Intelligence. The two soon find themselves at odds with Garak and embroiled in the politics of the prestigious University of the Union, where a new head is about to be appointed. Among the front-runners is one of Cardassia’s most respected public figures: Professor Natima Lang. But the discovery of a hidden archive from the last years before the Dominion War could destroy Lang’s reputation. As Pulaski and Alden become drawn into a deadly game to exonerate Lang, their confrontation escalates with Castellan Garak—a conflicted leader treading a fine line between the bright hopes for Cardassia’s future and the dark secrets still buried in its past... ™, ®, & © 2016 CBS Studios, Inc. Star Trek and related marks are trademarks of CBS Studios, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

For the very first time, the secrets of "Star Trek's" most vital space station are revealed in hundreds of schematic diagrams and illustrations.