This page intentionally left blank Senior Aquisitions Editor: Anthony Palmiotto Developmental Editor: Valerie Raymond Project Editor: Kerry O’Shaughnessy Media and Supplements Editor: Amy Thorne Media Producer: Keri Fowler Marketing Manager: Alicia Brady Market Development Manager: Kerry Russini Editorial Assistant: Nicholas Ciani Design Manager: Victoria Tomaselli Cover Designer: hothouse.us Interior Designer: Cambraia Fernandes Production Coordinator: Julia De Rosa Illustrations: George Kelvin; Imagineering Media Photo Editor: Bianca Moscatelli Composition: Northeastern Graphic, Inc. Printing and Binding: RR Donnelley Cover photos: (from the top) Klaus Dolag and the VVDS team; Galileo Project/JPL/NASA; NASA/The Hubble Heritage Team (AURA/STScI); STScI/NASA; NASA/ ESA/The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA); STScI/NASA; Klaus Dolag and the VVDS team; © Jay Pasachoff/Science Faction/Corbis; Cassini Imaging Team/SSI/JPL/ESA/NASA. Library of Congress Control Number: 2010939611 ISBN-13: 978-1-4292-1063-8 ISBN-10: 1-4292-1063-X ©2012 by W. H. Freeman and Company All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America First printing W. H. Freeman and Company 41 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10010 Houndmills, Basingstoke RG21 6XS, England www.whfreeman.com University of Wyoming University of California, Santa Barbara W. H. FREEMAN AND COMPANY • New York Timothy F. Slater is the University of Wyo- ming Excellence in Higher Education Endowed Chair for Science Education where he holds faculty appointments in the College of Education, the College of Science, and the School of Energy Resources. Internationally known for his work in the teaching and learning of astronomy, he serves as the Direc- tor of the Cognition in Astronomy & Physics Education Research CAPER Team where his research focuses on uncovering learners’ conceptual models when engaging in science. Prior to becoming a chaired professor at the University of Wyoming, Dr. Slater was a tenured professor in the Astronomy Department at the University of Arizona where he constructed the first Ph.D. program focusing on astronomy education research. Winner of numerous teaching awards, Dr. Slater has been elected to the Council and Board of Directors for the American Astronomical Society, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, the Society of College Science Teachers, the National Science Teachers Association, and serves on the Editorial Board of the Astronomy Education Review. Dr. Slater and his wife spend much of the summer traveling cross country on their motorcycle, hiking in the mountains with their children, and continuing their quest for the perfect location to watch sunsets. Roger A. Freedman is on the faculty of the Department of Physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He grew up in San Diego, California and was an undergraduate at the University of California campuses in San Diego and Los Angeles. He did his doc- toral research in nuclear theory and its astrophysical applications at Stanford University under the direction of Professor J. Dirk Walecka. Dr. Freedman came to UCSB in 1981 after three years of teaching and doing research at the University of Washington. Dr. Freedman holds a commercial pilot’s license, and when not teaching or writing he can frequently be found flying with his wife, Caroline. He has flown across the United States and Canada. vi Tim: To Stephanie Jean Slater, my wife and partner in all things and for my children who I hope never stop wondering about what floats beyond Earth Roger: To my wife Caroline Robillard, for expanding my universe This page intentionally left blank 1 Predicting the Motions of the Stars, 8 Looking for Life Beyond Earth 193 Sun and Moon 1 9 Probing the Dynamic Sun 209 2 Decoding the Hidden Menssages in Starlight 33 10 Observing Properties of Distant Stars 233 Analyzing Scales and Motions of 3 the Universe 65 11 Inferring Patterns in Star Life Cycles 257 Exploring Our Evolving Solar System 89 4 12 Predicting the Violent End of the Largest Stars 287 5 Uncovering Earth’s Systems 1 17 13 Exploring Our Galaxy 311 Exploring Terrestrial Surface 6 Processes 1 41 14 Investigating Other Galaxies 339 7 Observing the Dynamic Giant 15 Observing the Evolution of the Planets 1 69 Universe 371 vii This page intentionally left blank