Since humans first looked up at the stars, astronomy has had a particular ability to stir the imagination and challenge the thinking of scientists and non-scientists alike. Astronomy: The Human Quest for Understanding is an introductory astronomy textbook specifically designed to relate to non-science majors across a wide variety of disciplines, nurture their curiosity, and develop vital science-based critical-thinking skills. This textbook provides an introduction to how science operates in practice and what makes it so successful in uncovering nature's secrets. Given that the study of astronomy dates back thousands of years, it is the ideal subject for tracing the development of the physical sciences and how our evolving understanding of nature has influenced, and been influenced by, mathematics, philosophy, religion, geography, politics, and more. This historical approach also illustrates how wrong turns have been taken, and how the inherent self-correcting nature of science through constant verification and the falsifiability of truly scientific theories ultimately leads us back to a more productive path in our quest for understanding. This approach also points out why, as a broadly educated citizenry, students of all disciplines must understand how scientists arrive at conclusions, and how science and technology have become central features of modern society. In discussing this fascinating and beautiful universe of which we are a part, it is necessary to illustrate the fundamental role that mathematics plays in decoding nature's mysteries. Unlike other similar textbooks, some basic mathematics is integrated naturally into the text, together with interpretive language, and supplemented with numerous examples; additional tutorials are provided on the book's companion website. Astronomy: The Human Quest for Understanding leads the reader down the path to our present-day understanding of our Solar System, stars, galaxies, and the beginning and evolution of our universe, along with profound questions still to be answered in this ancient, yet rapidly changing field.

About the Author
Professor Ostlie earned his BA degree from St. Olaf College in 1977 and his PhD in theoretical astrophysics from Iowa State University in 1982. Following a two-year position at Bates College, Ostlie went to Weber State University in 1984, where he remained until his retirement in 2014. Along with teaching astronomy, physics, and mathematics courses, Ostlie conducted research in stellar pulsation theory, served as Chair of the Physics Department and Dean of the College of Science. Ostlie also co-authored a highly successful introductory astrophysics textbook with WSU colleague, Bradley W. Carroll. Ostlie continues an active career in textbook writing today.

Reviews
This hefty volume includes standard textbook-type supplements-such as problem sets with some of the answers provided in an appendix but could also serve as a mini-reference book or self-study guide for a wide range of astronomical topics...The writing style is fresh and approachable, encouraging an understanding of the nature of science as something that people do when curious about how nature works. * Choice *
The writing style is fresh and approachable, encouraging an understanding of the nature of science as something that people do when curious about how nature works. The level of mathematics is low, but math is used extensively. This well-illustratedbook includes a nice glossary and an index. An accompanying website offers tutorials and further examples as well as updates, such as discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), that came in after thebook was printed. * M.-K. Hemenway, formerly, University of Texas at Austin, CHOICE connect *
Dale Ostlie has wonderfully redefined what knowledge of the physical universe an introductory textbook on astronomy should convey. * Simon Mitton, St Edmund's College Cambridge *
Ostlie presents an interesting approach to introductory astronomy and one that will help students better learn and understand not just astronomy, but how science in general works as well. * Aaron Grocholski, American University, Washington DC *



Book Information
ISBN 9780198825838
Author Dale A. Ostlie
Format Paperback
Page Count 912
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 2g
Dimensions(mm) 246mm * 190mm * 42mm