Weird Astronomy appeals to all who are interested in unusual celestial phenomena, whether they be amateur or professional astronomers or science buffs who just enjoy reading of odd coincidences, unexplained observations, and reports from space probes that "don’t quite fit." This book relates a variety of "unusual" astronomical observations – unusual in the sense of refusing to fit easily into accepted thinking, or unusual in the observation having been made under difficult or extreme circumstances. Although some of the topics covered are instances of "bad astronomy," most are not. Some of the observations recorded here have actually turned out to be important scientific breakthroughs. Included are some amusing anecdotes (such as the incident involving "potassium flares" in ordinary stars and the story of Abba 1, the solar system’s own flare star!), but the book’s purpose is not to ridicule those who report anomalous observations, nor is it to challenge scientific orthodoxy. It is more to demonstrate how what's "weird" often turns out to be far more significant than observations of what we expect to see.

As new discoveries complicate the scientific picture of the universe, the evolving theories about the nature of space and time and the origins and fate of the universe threaten to become overwhelming. Enter David Seargent. Continuing the author's series of books popularizing strange astronomy facts and knowledge, Weird Universe explains the bizarre, complicated terrain of modern cosmology for lay readers. From exploring some of the strange consequences of the theories of special and general relativity, to probing time dilation and the twin and mother-and-baby “paradoxes” and the theory that the universe can be mathematically considered as a hologram, all of the latest findings and conjectures are clearly described in non-technical language. The development of quantum physics and the more recent developments of string and M-theory are looked at, in addition to several hypotheses that have not won wide acceptance from the scientific community, such as modified gravity. Enter the wonderfully weird world of these theories and gain a new appreciation for the latest findings in cosmological research.

In a series of fun and involving hands-on astronomy experiments, kids learn how distance from the sun affects atmospheric temperature, why the Earth is called the “Blue Planet,” why Jupiter’s ring shines, and how to reproduce Mars’ red soil and Jupiter’s stormy red spot. They will also determine why radio wave receivers are curved, how radio waves are sent around the Earth via satellite, how satellites enter into orbit, and how rockets achieve escape velocity. Featuring color illustrations and safe, simple step-by-step instructions, Janice VanCleave again shows just how much fun science can be.

This book is, in a sense, a sequel to David Seargent's first Springer book Weird Astronomy (2010). Whereas Weird Astronomy extended over a broad range of purely astronomical topics, the present work concentrates on phenomena closer to home; the atmospheric and "shallow space" events as opposed to deep space events. The line between astronomy and meteorology is blurred - a fact that is discussed in Weird Weather. It is not primarily a book of "wonders" or of the unexplained, although some of the topics covered remain mysteries. It is primarily directed toward those who are fascinated by climate and weather, and who are open-minded when considering Earth's climate, what drives it, and what are the causes of climate change. The author, David A. J. Seargent, presents the facts with a balanced and scientific approach. Weird Weather: Tales of Astronomical and Atmospheric Anomalies is about strange, unusual, and apparently inexplicable observations of the air and sky. Primarily these are in the Earth's atmosphere, but there are corresponding phenomena in the atmospheres of other planets of the Solar System - lightning on Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn, whirlwinds and dust storms of Mars, and auroras on Jupiter. Topics include anomalous lights, anomalous sounds, spectacular effects of cloud illumination by the Sun or Moon, lightning phenomena, electrophonic sounds of lightning, aurora and meteors, tornado and whirlwind phenomena on Earth and Mars, usual atmospheric effects, mirages, and the possible astronomical influences on cloud and climate.

In a series of fun and involving hands-on astronomy experiments, kids learn how distance from the sun affects atmospheric temperature, why the Earth is called the “Blue Planet,” why Jupiter’s ring shines, and how to reproduce Mars’ red soil and Jupiter’s stormy red spot. They will also determine why radio wave receivers are curved, how radio waves are sent around the Earth via satellite, how satellites enter into orbit, and how rockets achieve escape velocity. Featuring color illustrations and safe, simple step-by-step instructions, Janice VanCleave again shows just how much fun science can be.

In a series of fun and involving hands-on astronomy experiments, kids learn how the Sun's rays affect the visibility of Venus, determine the difference between local sun time and clock time, and observe and chart the phases of the Moon. They will also demonstrate why only one side of the Moon is visible from the Earth, make a model of the celestial sphere, and create a model of a multistage rocket. Featuring color illustrations and safe, simple step-by-step instructions, Janice VanCleave shows just how much fun science can be.

In a series of fun and involving hands-on astronomy experiments, kids learn how gravity affects the movement of celestial bodies, why and how a satellite stays in orbit, how the Earth is protected from solar winds, why the stars seem to move in circles in the night sky, and how to safely observe the image of the Sun. They will also determine and demonstrate why the Sun�s center is more dense than its outer edge, why charged particles are attracted near the Earth�s poles, and how planetariums produce images of the night sky. Featuring color illustrations and safe, simple step-by-step instructions, Janice VanCleave again shows just how much fun science can be.