This spectacularly illustrated book is a comprehensive exploration of astronomy through the eyes of the world's observatories and spacecraft missions. Featuring the latest and most stunning images, it provides a magnificent picture of the beauty of the cosmos. The accompanying text is an accessible guide to the science behind the wonders and includes clear explanations of all the major themes in astronomy. An essential guide to understanding and appreciating the Universe, Visions of the Cosmos builds on the success of the authors' previous book, Hubble Vision, which became an international best-seller and won world-wide acclaim. Carolyn Collins Petersen is a science journalist and creator of educational materials for astronomy. She is the former Editor of Books & Products at Sky Publishing Corporation, and served as Editor of SkyWatch and Associate Editor of Sky & Telescope magazines. Petersen is the lead author of the book Hubble Vision, first published in 1995 by Cambridge University Press, and co-written with Dr. John C. Brandt. She is also co-editor (with J. Kelly Beatty and Andrew Chaikin) of The New Solar System, fourth edition, co-published by Sky Publishing Corporation and Cambridge University Press. John C. Brandt has held positions as a research scientist, teacher, and administrator, and is currently an adjunct professor of physics and astronomy at the University of New Mexico. He served for 20 years as Chief of a major NASA scientific laboratory and was the Principal Inverstigator for the Goddard High Resolution Spectograph on the Hubble Space Telescope. John received the NASA Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement in 1978 and 1992, and has had a minor planet formally named after him (3503 Brandt) for his fundamental contributions to understanding of solar system astrophysics.

Native American starlore has instructed and entertained non-natives for generations. Yet until recently the importance of this extensive body of tradition and acute observation has been ignored or viewed by non-natives simply as crude means to astronomical insight. In this edited collection, seventeen folklorists and astronomers consider American starlore and its relation to specific observation of the sky in terms of its native uses and interpretations. Far from being another recount of sky mythology, this is a book that relates clear descriptions of astronomical phenomena and mechanics to interpretation and ritual usage from all areas of North America. Navajo, Seneca, Alabama, Pawnee, Lakota, Apache, and other peoples are represented. Rather than focus on pristine astronomies, the contributors to this volume consider ongoing traditions and contemporary usages. A broad perspective on the exciting new field of ethnoastronomy, as well as fascinating insight into Native American wisdom.

Space Opera is a sub-genre of science fiction that emphasizes space warfare, melodramatic adventure, interplanetary battles, and chivalric romance. Using larger-than-life characters, dramatic settings, and sophisticated technology, space opera transports readers into the expanses of a frequently war-torn galaxy where the stakes are as high as the outer limits of the imagination allow. This collection, "Visions of the Cosmos," curates three stellar examples of space opera that not only explore diverse aspects of this expansive genre but also reflect its evolution from simple pulp fiction to complex narratives that address deep philosophical questions. Featured Stories Box-garden This intriguing tale unfolds in a casual setting—a bar—where the narrator meets a man with unusually large ears, obscured by his view of a TV commercial. The story elegantly weaves a social critique of American advertising, equating the nurturing of bonsai in Japan to the manipulative nurturing of consumer behavior through ads. It's a clever juxtaposition that adds a unique, earth-bound flavor to the cosmic scale typical of space operas. F.O.B. Venus This adventurous tale from Nelson S. Bond introduces us to Mr. Lancelot Biggs, a new crew member aboard the space freighter Saturn whose incompetence leads to a series of near-disastrous mishaps. The story infuses traditional space opera elements with humor and unexpected twists, culminating in a miraculous incident where cosmic rays transform worthless cargo into valuable gold, illustrating the unpredictability of space and the fortunes it can hold. The Comet-Drivers In a dramatic narrative filled with cosmic stakes, this story follows the Chief of the Interstellar Patrol on a daring mission to prevent a colossal comet from annihilating the galaxy. Hamilton’s tale is packed with action, heroism, and sacrifice, encapsulating the essence of space opera with its detailed depiction of interstellar warfare and moral dilemmas faced by those who guard the cosmos. Influence in Film and Comics: Space opera has significantly influenced other media, notably in blockbuster films like "Star Wars" and series such as "Star Trek," which mirror the genre’s themes of adventure, moral conflict, and the human spirit. In comics, epic sagas like "Saga" by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples further explore these themes, proving the enduring appeal of space opera’s blend of fantastical escapism and reflective storytelling. Conclusion: "Visions of the Cosmos" offers a gateway into the exhilarating world of space opera, presenting readers with stories that are not only entertaining but also provoke thought about our place in the universe and the choices we make. Whether you're drawn to the quiet reflections of life's daily dramas or the grandiose battles among the stars, this collection promises to ignite your imagination and whisk you off to worlds unknown. Extensively illustrated eBook.

Presents a revolutionary new theory that bridges the divide between science and spirituality • Discloses the ramifications of non-localized consciousness and how the physical world and spiritual experience are two aspects of the same reality • Includes contributions from Jane Goodall, Ed Mitchell, Stanislav Grof, Ralph Abraham, and Christian de Quincy, among others What scientists are now finding at the outermost frontiers of every field is overturning all the basic premises concerning the nature of matter and reality. The universe is not a world of separate things and events but is a cosmos that is connected, coherent, and bears a profound resemblance to the visions held in the earliest spiritual traditions in which the physical world and spiritual experience were both aspects of the same reality and man and the universe were one. The findings that justify this new vision of the underlying logic of the universe come from almost all of the empirical sciences: physics, cosmology, the life sciences, and consciousness research. They explain how interactions lead to interconnections that produce instantaneous and multifaceted coherence--what happens to one part also happens to the other parts, and hence to the system as a whole. The sense of sacred oneness experienced by our ancestors that was displaced by the unyielding material presumptions of modern science can be restored, and humanity can once again feel at home in the universe.

The interest of nineteenth-century Lakotas in the Sun, the Moon, and the stars was an essential part of their never-ending quest to understand their world. The Spirit and the Sky presents a survey of the ethnoastronomy of the nineteenth-century Lakotas and relates Lakota astronomy to their cultural practices and beliefs. The center of Lakota belief is the incomprehensible, extraordinary, and sacred nature of the world in which they live. The earth beneath and the stars above constitute their holistic world. Mark Hollabaugh offers a detailed analysis of aspects of Lakota culture that have a bearing on Lakota astronomy, including telling time, their names for the stars and constellations as they appeared from the Great Plains, and the phenomena of meteor showers, eclipses, and the aurora borealis. Hollabaugh’s explanation of the cause of the aurora that occurred at the death of Black Elk in 1950 is a new contribution to ethnoastronomy.

If man’s next big step is to live and work in space, then what will everyone do out there that is so different from what we are now doing here on Earth? As the future of space comes into focus it is clear that profit and power are the core elements of the new space economy. This entertaining and informative book looks at human settlement in space as a mainstream business opportunity for investors, entrepreneurs and far-sighted individuals seeking to secure their place in the innovative commercial space sector. Dr. Jack Gregg presents a unique 5-phase development roadmap that shows how space will grow from a frontier economy to a mature integrated market. Written in simple, non-technical language, this book answers such questions as: • What is the new industrial space economy? • What are the challenges and roadblocks on the way to a robust space economy? • How will the rapid growth of the new space economy impact commerce back on Earth? • How can one best invest in profitable space-related enterprises? The Cosmos Economy is for readers who hope to be better equipped and more informed about the new space economy; and Investors, entrepreneurs, and futurists who wants to learn how to take part in the business opportunities of the new high frontier of commercial space.