Details: Secret Wisdom is a profusely illustrated exploration of the Western Mystery tradition and its development through the centuries. Aspects of the tradition can be seen to have influenced the growth of Christianity, the culture of the Renaissance and even the great discoveries of astronomy and experimental science. The book explains this hidden current of knowledge and demonstrates how profoundly important it has been, subtly yet strongly influencing our culture in a variety of ways. Features include: * How the tradition of secret knowledge was founded in ancient Greece, in the rites of Demeter at Eleusis and the Orphic Mysteries. * The rise of the Greek philosophers, who reveal the real meaning of astrology and the purpose of humanity. * What Christ's teachings absorbed from the Mysteries. * How the Persians preserved the tradition, developing sophisticated techniques of alchemy, astrology and magic. * The revelation of the knowledge during the Renaissance, as ancient manuscripts are discovered and translated. * 'Learned magic' and its role in shaping the perceptions of famous scientists and inventors. * The concept of ideal societies, and their reflection of secret understanding. * The relationship between alchemy and experimental science. * The expression of the Mysteries through art and literature. Ideal for: Those seeking more knowledge on the occult societies and arcane through out the ages. This paperback has 208 pages and measures 25.3cm x 21cm x 1.5cm
Mapping the Universe: the Interactive History of Astronomy is the story of man's quest through the ages to unlock the secrets of our universe, understand where we come from and where we are going. Lavishly illustrated throughout, it follows this journey for knowledge from the first musings of Stone Age people on the position of the stars and planets in the sky, to Galileo's first visions of Orion through a telescope, to our first steps on the moon, and right up to the photographs of our magnificent universe which are being sent back from the Plank telescope today. Beautifully reproduced documents make it possible for the reader to experience hands-on, and appreciate at each stage, what over ten thousand years of history astronomers were discovering, and how and why this was significant.
Details: In this beautiful and definitive new book, Professor Brian Cox takes us on an incredible journey to discover how a few fundamental laws gave birth to the most complex, diverse and unique force in the Universe ? life itself. There are thought to be as many as 100 million different species on Earth ? each and every one governed by the same laws. Everything in the Universe, from the smallest microbe to the largest cluster of galaxies, is constructed from the same fundamental building blocks and is subject to the same laws of nature. This is the story of the amazing diversity and adaptability of life told through the fundamental laws that govern it. Through his voyage of discovery, Brian will explain how the astonishing inventiveness of nature came about and uncover the milestones in the epic journey from the origin of life to our own lives. From the vast networks of subterranean freshwater caverns of the Yucatan peninsula to the unique and precious island of Madagascar, Brian will seek out the places where the biggest questions about life may be answered: what is life? Why do we need water and why does life end? Ideal for: An inspiring book for fans of the TV show. This hardback book has 288 pages and measures: 28.5 x 22.5 x 2.4cm.
This best-selling guide describes the wide range of telescopes that are currently available, with examples of objects to observe from both northern and southern hemispheres. It also offers useful advice about suitable accessories, plus suggestions for astrophotography using cameras, CCDs and webcams.
Details: The Hubble Space Telescope circles Earth, free of the distortions caused by our atmosphere, revealing day by day a universe of amazing complexity, mystery and staggering beauty. This revised edition of "Hubble: The Mirror on the Universe" features 300 stunning images, including more than 80 new full-color photographs that reveal astonishing and previously unseen details of what once appeared only as gray blurs or dots on a star map. The images show, in unprecedented detail, stars being born and in their final death throes, evidence of awesome black holes and galactic collisions, and new solar systems in the making. An expert and lively commentary by two leading popular astronomy writers complements the stunning images, making this book the essential package for anyone who wants to understand how the universe looks and works. Ideal for: A breathtaking book for those with a passion for astronomy. This paperback book has 224 pages and measures: 27.8 x 23 x 1.4cm.
Details: Shortly before his death in December 2012, Sir Patrick Moore began the annual task of planning the fifty-second consecutive Yearbook of Astronomy with his friend and colleague Dr John Mason. This special 2014 edition therefore serves as a fitting tribute to the life and work of a man who worked on this unique reference book for over half a century. The 2014 Yearbook contains all of the usual articles that no stargazer should be without: an authoritative collection of charts and astronomical data, articles by some of the worlds leading astronomers, and a month-by-month guide of events to look out for over the coming year ? from planets and eclipses, to comets, meteors, nebulae and phases of the Moon. It also includes a special section of articles devoted to the memory of Sir Patrick himself. Written by notable contributors and Yearbook authors past and present, these articles recall Sir Patricks many contributions to astronomy, as well as anecdotes and personal memories of this remarkable man. Ideal for: A must have for fans of astronomy and the great Patrick Moore. This hardback book has 424 pages and measures: 22.2 x 14 x 3.8cm.
This is a one-stop introduction to how to do astronomy in the digital age. Thanks to modern technology, there is no longer a daunting boundary for those of us who wish to experience what it is like to actually do astronomy. Starting with simple camera and laptop it is possible to create beautiful images of the stars and the Moon, and perhaps, with a larger lens, to capture the rings of Saturn or the Moons of Jupiter. Add a modern telescope with superb optics and computer control, and many amateur astronomers are now producing breathtaking images of planets and remote galaxies that only a decade ago were the exclusive province of astronomers with access to professional telescopes. "The 21st Century Astronomer" explains the principles of astronomy as well as the practical techniques to provide both beginners and more experienced observers with all the information they need to understand and enjoy the wonders of the night sky - and to capture and share the resulting images.
Professor Brian Cox is back with another insightful and mind-blowing exploration of space. This time he shows us our universe as we've never seen it before. 13.7 billion years old. 93 billion light years wide. It contains over 100 billion galaxies, each containing hundreds of billions of stars. This infinite, vast and complex Universe has been the subject of human fascination and scientific exploration for thousands of years. The wonders of the Universe might seem alien to us and impossible to understand, but away from the telescopes, the labs and the white coats, Professor Brian Cox uses the evidence found in the natural world around us to explain its simple truths. The same laws of light, gravity, time, matter and energy that govern us here on Earth are the same as those applied in the Universe. Using 3D CGI imagery, his expert knowledge and his infectious enthusiasm, Professor Cox shows us that if we can understand the impact of these governing laws on Earth it will bring us a step closer to an understanding of our Universe.
Details: See the night sky like you have never seen it before with this all-encompassing guide to astronomy. Learn all there is to know about the layout of the skies, the positions of the main constellations and the names of the brightest stars, so you can become a backyard astronomer in no time at all. With easy-to-use star charts, photographs and observational drawings of objects visible from both hemispheres, The Star Book will take your understanding and enjoyment of stargazing to the next level. Whether you use binoculars or a telescope, or even if you have no optical aid at all, there are enough celestial sights to keep anyone enthralled for a lifetime. The Star Book provides a quick and simple reference to the major stars and constellations, with easy-to-use star charts, finder charts, high-quality images and observational drawings covering the key stars viewable from all over the world. Author Peter Grego, also includes a brief introduction to the history of astronomy, an easy-to-follow explanation of the life-cycle of stars, from ignition to collapse, and information about deep sky objects such as nebulae and globular clusters. This fascinating, attractive and accessible book will become a trusted resource to make sense of the night skies. Ideal for: A wonderful gift for anyone with even a passing interest in astronomy. This paperback book has 159 pages and measures: 16.5 x 24.5 x 1.1cm
The 21st Century Astronomer explains the principles of astronomy as well as the practical techniques to provide you with all the information you need to understand and enjoy the wonders of the night sky, and then take and share images. Starting with a simple digital camera and laptop it is possible to create incredible images of the stars and the Moon, and perhaps, with a larger lens, to document the rings of Saturn or the Moons of Jupiter. Add a modern telescope with superb optics and computer control, and many amateur astronomers are now producing breathtaking images of planets and remote galaxies that only a decade ago were the exclusive province of astronomers with access to professional telescopes. Includes: Removable map of the Moon by Patrick Moore, a full star atlas, 250 colour photographs and helpful advice.
Details: A comprehensive month by month handbook to the stars and constellations visible from Britain and Ireland in 2014. Content includes: ? Advice on where to start looking ? Easy-to-use star maps for each month with descriptions of what to see ? Positions of the moon and visible planets ? Details of objects and events you might see in 2014 Ideal for: This practical guidebook is both an easy introduction to astronomy and a useful reference for seasoned stargazers. This paperback book has 96 pages and measures: 21 x 15 x 0.5cm.
Astro-Pack contains all the information needed to start the fascinating hobby of astronomy. "The Night Sky through your Telescope" shows how to set up and use any telescope, how to use a planisphere and star charts, what to see, how to photograph the heavens, and a guide to useful accessories. "Star Finder" shows the planets, stars, and constellations in the northern hemisphere visible month-by-month. The planisphere is a practical hour-by-hour tracker of the constellations in a format big enough to use anywhere in the United States. The 3-map large-scale Star Chart and over 1400 photographs and drawings gives maximum detail on what is observable and can be used anywhere in the world.
Details: As troubling as we pattern-seeking humans may find it, modern science has repeatedly shown us that randomness is the underlying heartbeat of nature. In Dice World, acclaimed science writer Brian Clegg takes readers on an incredible trip around our random universe, uncovering the truths and lies behind probability and statistics, explaining how chaotic intervention is behind every great success in business, and demonstrating the possibilities quantum mechanics has given us for creating unbreakable ciphers and undergoing teleportation. He explores how the 'clockwork universe' imagined by Newton, in which everything could be predicted given enough data, was disproved bit by bit, to be supplanted by chaos theory and quantum physics. Clegg reveals a world in which not only is accurate forecasting often impossible but probability is the only way for us to understand the fundamental nature of things. Forget the clockwork universe. Welcome to Dice World, a unique portrait of a startlingly complex cosmos, from the bizarre microscopic world of the quantum to the unfathomable mechanics of planetary movements, where very little is as it seems... Ideal for: People with an interest the astrology and the universe. This paperback book has 274 pages and measures: 21.5 x 13.5 x 2.2cm
Details: There a few subjects more fascinating than cosmology: the study of our universe. Although we are yet to explore our deep oceans, and a few small outposts on land remain beyond the reach of our most intrepid adventurers, we have not even scratched the surface when it comes to understanding the seemingly infinite space around us. That space contains all the planets, stars, galaxies and energy that exist. This book attempts to answer the difficult questions about where we came from, and where we're going. It looks at the often misunderstood dark energy and dark matter theories and poses more questions about the future of our universe. Ideal for: Those interested in the Universe, popular science and cosmology. A thrilling read for all! This hardback book has 128 pages and measures approximately: 15.8 x 15.6 x 1.4cm.
This is an invaluable, user-friendly guide to discovering and navigating the night sky every month. "The Night Sky Month by Month" offers charts for observing stars and constellations in both the northern and southern hemispheres at any time of the year. Positions of stars and planet locations for each month are included, plus get tips on what equipment to use and how. Packed with specially-commissioned artworks and photography with illustrated overviews introducing each month with a guide to the main attractions, such as bright stars and prominent constellations, this will inspire both beginners to star-gazing as well as amateur astronomers.
Details: This beautiful gift set contains a great insight into Rainbow Stargazers. This book and 4 DVD set contains a documentary on the British rock band, Rainbow, led by former Deep Purple guitarist, Ritchie Blackmore. The programme looks at the band's career in the British music scene, during the 1970s and 1980s, and features exclusive interviews with Ritchie Blackmore and the late Ronnie James Dio, as well as important members Graham Bonnet, Bobby Rondinelli, Joe Lynn Turner and more. Ideal For: Would make an ideal gift for Rainbow Stargazers fans.