July 8, 2016

Jay Pasachoff’s Publications

COSMOS: The Art and Science of the Universe (ISBN-13: 9781789140545)

By: Roberta J.M. Olson and Jay M. Pasachoff

UK site at Reaktion Books
US site at University of Chicago Press
 
Metascience review (2021)
 

Cosmos: The Art and Science of the Universe charts the human love affair with the heavens in art and astronomy, based on sound science and accurate art and cultural history. While its illustrations are thrilling and seductive, the book also recounts the fascinating story about the quest to discover the mysteries of the universe in ten lively chapters. Embellished with new information, interpretations, and amusing anecdotes, the authors weave a rich tapestry about the interconnections in the cosmos and the efforts to understand them.

 

 

 

 


The Cosmos, 5th ed. (ISBN-13: 9781108431385)

By: Jay M. Pasachoff and Alex Filippenko

An exciting introduction to astronomy, the fifth edition of this book (2019) uses recent discoveries and stunning photography to inspire non-science majors about the universe and science. It is usable for one-semester or two-semester introductory astronomy courses. Exciting information about studies and discoveries about exoplanets and about the discovery of gravitational waves from merging black holes and merging neutron stars by the Laser-Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) is included. Written by two highly experienced and engaging instructors, each chapter has been fully updated, with hundreds of new images throughout, including recent images from space missions and the world’s best observatories. The text is organized as a series of stories, each presenting the history of the field, the observations made and how they fit within the process of science, our current understanding, and what future observations are planned. Math is provided in boxes and easily read around, making the book suitable for courses taking either mathematical or qualitative approaches. New discussion questions encourage students to think widely about astronomy and the role science plays in our everyday lives and podcasts for each chapter aid studying and comprehension.


The Sun

By: Leon Golub and Jay M. Pasachoff

screen-shot-2016-09-08-at-3-32-42-pm

Leon Golub and Jay M. Pasachoff’s popular book about the Sun for the Science Museum of London was published in spring 2017.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


A Field Guide to the Stars and Planets

By: Jay M. Pasachoff 

HarperCollins Publishers

The fourth edition of this best-selling field guide was revised and updated, and each printing brings further updates with the latest information. Twenty-four color Monthly Sky Maps show exactly what you’ll see when facing north or south in the night sky. Fifty-two color Atlas Charts cover the entire sky, including close-ups of areas of special interest, such as the Pleiades and the Orion Nebula. Images are included from the August 21, 2017, total solar eclipse, whose path crossed the continental United States, with maps of the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse whose totality path comes from the Mexican Pacific Coast across Texas, the Middle West, and upstate New York and New England, and other aspects of recent and future solar eclipses.  As of the 16th and 17th printings (2018 and 2019), some of the time-sensitive material has been updated for the next decade. A cloudiness-statistic map for the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse across Mexico and the Continental United States is included. The 17th printing, the latest so far, has many tables that have now expired, and an update was approved in August 2022 for probable release in fall 2023, with the delay largely a result of the merger of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and HarperCollins.  The delay will allow the inclusion of James Webb Space Telescope images and updates through 2030 of many tables, graphs, and images.
 
 

Peterson Field Guide to Weather

By Jay Anderson, Jay M. Pasachoff, and John A. Day 

Meteorologist Jay Anderson joined astronomer Jay Pasachoff to take over “Cloudman” John Day’s place in the Peterson Field Guide Series, when Day died. Vincent Schaefer and John Day had written the Peterson Field Guide to the Atmosphere. The official publication date of this new book was August 24, 2021.

 

 

 

 

 


Nearest Star

By: Leon Golub and Jay M. Pasachoff

nearest starHow did the Sun evolve, and what will it become? What is the origin of its light and heat? How does solar activity affect the atmospheric conditions that make life on Earth possible? These are the questions at the heart of solar physics, and at the core of this book. The Sun is the only star near enough to study in sufficient detail to provide rigorous tests of our theories and to help us understand the more distant and exotic objects throughout the cosmos. Having observed the Sun using both ground-based and spaceborne instruments, the authors bring their extensive personal experience to this story revealing what we have discovered about phenomena from eclipses to neutrinos, space weather, and global warming. This Second Edition (2014) is updated throughout, and features results from the current spacecraft that are aloft, especially NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, for which one of the authors designed some the telescopes.


The Solar Corona

By: Leon Golub and Jay M. Pasachoff

the solar corona

Intended for graduate students and astronomers seeking an introduction to coronal physics, this textbook strikes a balance between the observational and theoretical aspects of the subject. This second edition takes into account the major observational and theoretical developments of recent years to provide an up-to-date treatment of our understanding of the solar corona. After reviewing the latest observations of the solar corona, the authors explain how the studies have advanced and shaped our understanding of coronal physics. The textbook introduces a wide variety of exciting physics, including dynamo theory and magnetohydrodynamics, and shows how the transient effects of the solar cycle affect space weather. Each subject area is introduced using basic physics, and refers readers to fundamental papers on the topic, key new studies in each area, and extensive discussions in recent review articles.

 


The Cosmos, 4th ed.

By: Jay M. Pasachoff and Alex Filippenko

publisher's website for the cosmosAn exciting introduction to astronomy, the fourth edition of this book uses recent discoveries and stunning photography to inspire non-science majors about the universe and science. Written by two highly experienced and engaging instructors, each chapter has been fully updated, with more than 200 new images throughout, including recent images from space missions and the world’s best observatories. Redesigned, streamlined pages highlight the breathtaking imagery. The text is organized as a series of stories, each presenting the history of the field, the observations made and how they fit within the process of science, our current understanding, and what future observations are planned. Math is provided in boxes and easily read around, making the book suitable for courses taking either mathematical or qualitative approaches. New discussion questions encourage students to think widely about astronomy and the role science plays in our everyday lives and podcasts for each chapter aid studying and comprehension.


Innovation in Astronomy Education

By: Jay M. Pasachoff, Rosa M. Ros and Naomi Pasachoff

innovation in astronomy educationAstronomy leads to an understanding of the history and nature of science, and attracts many young people to education in science and technology. But while in many countries astronomy is not part of the standard curriculum, many scientific and educational societies and government agencies have produced materials and educational resources in astronomy for all educational levels. This volume highlights the general strategies for effective teaching and introduces innovative points of view regarding methods of teaching and learning, particularly those using new technologies. Technology is used in astronomy both for obtaining observations and for teaching. The book also presents ideas for how astronomy can be connected to environmental issues and other topics of public interest. This valuable overview is based on papers and posters presented by many of the world’s leading astronomy educators at a Special Session of the International Astronomical Union General Assembly in Prague in 2006.


Colors and Motions of the Sun

colors and motions of the sunCreated by Jay M. Pasachoff, Field Memorial Professor of Astronomy at Williams College, Williamstown, MA. Produced by his students and the Office of Information Technology. A good introduction to the nature of solar science, spectroscopy, solar telescopes and spacecraft. Designed for grades 9-12. Can be supplemented with the Colors of the Sun video introduction to spectroscopy and solar science produced by Stanford.

 

 


Teaching and Learning Astronomy

By: Jay M. Pasachoff and John Percy

teaching and learning in astronomy

Based on papers and posters presented by experts at a Special Session of the International Astronomical Union, this volume highlights the many places for astronomy in the curriculum. It covers relevant education research and “best practice”; strategies for pre-service and in-service teacher education; the use of the Internet and other technologies; and the role that planetariums, observatories, science centers, and organizations can play. It concludes by addressing how the teaching and learning of astronomy can be improved worldwide.

 

 


Science Explorer: Astronomy (9th grade level)

science explorer astronomyCovers the following topics: Earth, Moon, and Sun; Exploring Space; the Solar System; Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe.

 

 

 

 


Fire in the Sky

By: Roberta J.M. Olson and Jay M. Pasachoff

fire in the skyFire in the Sky collects many representations of comets and meteors in Britain during the eighteen and nineteenth century when a large number of works inspired by these celestial objects were produced. Over 100 photographs–and two sections of luscious color plates–beautifully portray the inspired output of some of the world’s most talented artists, fully capturing the phenomenon that obsessed not only a nation but an era as well. Olson and Pasachoff reveal the many different ways that comets and meteors have appeared in paintings and literature and link these works to the achievements of British science in the wake of Newton and Halley. They also examine the different symbolism that writers and artists have attached to these spectacular objects. Throughout, Fire in the Sky conveys how the development of new technologies, and the burgeoning interest of the general public in science and art, dovetailed with an interest in nature and a strong literary tradition of comet and meteor symbolism. Beautifully illustrated and packed with engaging stories, this book will delight anyone with an interest in the art and astronomy of comets.


Peterson First Guide to Astronomy, Second Edition

By: Jay M. Pasachoff

9780544165625 2The second edition of the Peterson First Guide to Astronomy provides an up-to-date introduction to astronomy for beginners, featuring all-new photographs of recent events — such as one taken from the MESSENGER spacecraft, which launched in 2004 and entered its orbit around Mercury in 2011 — and predictions for future events through 2019, including meteor showers, comets, and eclipses. The book encourages readers to go out into the field, using the maps that show the positions of the stars throughout the year as a guide. This new edition maintains the easy-to-use condensed format of the original, and makes it easy to proceed to the full-fledged Peterson Field Guide to Stars and Planets for more in-depth information.

 

 

 


Spanish Edition, updated for 2016 – 2026

By: Jay M. Pasachoff

Translation and updating from David Galadí-Enriquez (German-Spanish Astronomical Center/Calar Alto Observatory), courtesy of Omega Editions, Barcelona