Description
"Astronomy: The Essentials Made Simple" is a reference guide for anyone wishing to discover and understand the wonders of the universe. Whether you are a beginner or an enthusiast, this book takes you on a fascinating journey through the cosmos.
Richly illustrated and written in accessible language, this work covers the basics of modern astronomy: planets, stars, galaxies and cosmic phenomena. It also gives special attention to major discoveries, including that of pulsars by Jocelyn Bell Burnell, and highlights the scientific contributions that have changed our understanding of the universe.
Book Excerpt
Chapter 4: Pulsars — Cosmic Beacons
"In 1967, a young doctoral student named Jocelyn Bell Burnell made a discovery that would revolutionize our understanding of the universe. While analyzing data from a radio telescope, she detected a strange signal: regular pulsations coming from space, repeating every 1.33 seconds. This signal, with such perfect regularity that it was initially nicknamed 'Little Green Men', turned out to be the first pulsar ever observed. These extraordinary objects are rapidly rotating neutron stars, remnants of massive stars that have exploded as supernovae. A teaspoon of pulsar matter would weigh as much as a mountain on Earth. Their discovery opened new horizons in astrophysics and continues to enrich our knowledge of the cosmos..."
Consult the glossary