Rebel Star: Our Quest to Solve the Great Mysteries of the Sun

Author:   Colin Stuart
Publisher:   Michael O'Mara Books Ltd
ISBN:  

9781789290431


Pages:   288
Publication Date:   03 October 2019
Format:   Hardback
Availability:   Out of stock   Availability explained
The supplier is temporarily out of stock of this item. It will be ordered for you on backorder and shipped when it becomes available.

Our Price $39.99 Quantity:  
Add to Cart

Share |

Rebel Star: Our Quest to Solve the Great Mysteries of the Sun


Add your own review!

Overview

A fascinating and comprehensive guide to the sun – our home star – which remains the greatest mystery in the solar system, and why understanding it is pivotal to our future existence here on Earth. In 1869, a great mystery was born. As astronomers observed a total solar eclipse, for the first time they saw the faint glow of the solar corona, the sun’s outer atmosphere. Measurements of a previously unknown wavelength that made up this solar light sparked hot debate among scientists, but it was another sixty years before they discovered that this wavelength was in fact iron being burned at a staggering 3 million degrees Celsius. With the sun’s surface only 6,000 degrees, this shouldn’t be possible. What we knew about the sun appeared to defy the laws of physics – and nature. But as well as being shrouded in intriguing mystery, the unpredictable nature of the sun’s corona poses a serious threat to our life here on earth – the destructive potential of solar storms, caused by solar material travelling out into space at around 1 million miles an hour, is huge. Remaining beyond our reach until now, a new generation of ambitious solar missions are currently travelling closer to the sun than any previous spacecraft in history. As we enter this unprecedented era of heliophysics, there has never been a better time to get to grips with the workings of our home star. Rebel Star is a timely and essential guide, examining our long-held fascination with the sun, from ancient beliefs, to early scientific studies, and an up-to-date look at what we know – and still don’t know – taking us on a thrilling journey to the centre of our solar system.

Full Product Details

Author:   Colin Stuart
Publisher:   Michael O'Mara Books Ltd
Imprint:   Michael O'Mara Books Ltd
Dimensions:   Width: 13.50cm , Height: 2.60cm , Length: 21.60cm
ISBN:  

9781789290431


ISBN 10:   1789290430
Pages:   288
Publication Date:   03 October 2019
Audience:   General/trade ,  College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  General ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Out of stock   Availability explained
The supplier is temporarily out of stock of this item. It will be ordered for you on backorder and shipped when it becomes available.

Table of Contents

Reviews

An exceptionally clear and comprehensive account of how science has unpicked the manifold secrets of the sun. --Dr Paul Parsons, author, 30-Second Theories Surprisingly, considering its fundamental importance to life on Earth, the sun has been the Cinderella of astronomical popular science. In this fascinating and in-depth exploration of our friendly neighbourhood star, Colin Stuart makes sure that Cinderella gets to the ball. --Brian Clegg, author, 30-Second Quantum Theory Rebel Star is a highly readable and highly topical account of the life and times of our neighbourhood nuclear furnace, on which all life on Earth depends--the sun. Colin Stuart pulls together an amazing amount of physics in an enjoyable narrative which conveys information painlessly. --John Gribbin, author, In Search of Schroedinger's Cat Rebel Star provides a deep-dive into what we currently know about the workings of our sun, and some of the big questions that remain unanswered. A thorough, fact-filled look at the science, history and current studies of the sun. Indispensable for solar enthusiasts, this book is all you ever wanted to know about the sun and the work of scientists to unravel its deepest mysteries. --Dr. Melanie Windridge, author, Aurora: In Search of the Northern Lights A thrilling story of not only the sun's inner workings and how it affects the Earth, but how we've come to understand the raw power of our local star. Beautifully written--Colin Stuart explains these mind-expanding details with crystal clarity. --Lewis Dartnell, author, Origins: How the Earth Made Us


Rebel Star provides a deep-dive into what we currently know about the workings of our sun, and some of the big questions that remain unanswered. A thorough, fact-filled look at the science, history and current studies of the sun. Indispensable for solar enthusiasts, this book is all you ever wanted to know about the sun and the work of scientists to unravel its deepest mysteries. --Dr. Melanie Windridge, author, Aurora: In Search of the Northern Lights Rebel Star is a highly readable and highly topical account of the life and times of our neighbourhood nuclear furnace, on which all life on Earth depends--the sun. Colin Stuart pulls together an amazing amount of physics in an enjoyable narrative which conveys information painlessly. --John Gribbin, author, In Search of Schroedinger's Cat A thrilling story of not only the sun's inner workings and how it affects the Earth, but how we've come to understand the raw power of our local star. Beautifully written--Colin Stuart explains these mind-expanding details with crystal clarity. --Lewis Dartnell, author, Origins: How the Earth Made Us


Author Information

Colin Stuart is an astronomy journalist, author and science communicator, talking to thousands of people a year about the universe, from schools and the public, to conferences and businesses. He has written twelve science books to date, which have been translated into seventeen languages, as well as articles for the Guardian, European Space Agency and New Scientist, among others. He is a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, and has had an asteroid named after him in recognition of his efforts to popularise astronomy. He has talked about the universe on Sky News, BBC News and Radio 5Live. He is the author of 13 Journeys Through Space and Time: Christmas Lectures From the Royal Institution and The Universe in Bite-sized Chunks, also published by Michael O’Mara Books.

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

No review item found!

Add your own review!

Countries Available

All regions
Latest Reading Guide

wl

Shopping Cart
Your cart is empty
Shopping cart
Mailing List