Simple Astronomy

by Jon Bell

Nearly everyone knows something about astronomy - the phases of the moon, or how to find the constellation Orion in the sky, or some of the bizarre phenomena that accompany black holes.  But a lot of basic astronomy is simply not taught in most high schools; then, when students sign up for a college introductory course on the subject, they're immediately overwhelmed by a lot of terms and concepts they'd never heard of.   In Simple Astonomy , these new ideas are explained in basic, conversational English, with a view toward understanding how we have come to know as much as we do about the Universe, and our place among the stars.

Misc. Supplies

Published August 10, 2017

About the author

An outdoor enthusiast and wordsmith, Jon Bell has been writing from his home base in the Portland, Oregon, area since the late 1990s. After growing up in Mansfield, Ohio, Jon got a bachelor's degree in history from Michigan State University, then traveled extensively across the American West before landing in Portland. His first published pieces were about some of his backpacking and climbing excursions in the Northwest, including countless weekends on Mount Hood. His work has appeared in Backpacker, The Oregonian, The Rowing News, Oregon Coast, and many other publications. He is also co-author of the climbing guidebook, Ozone, and a former president of the Ptarmigans Mountaineering Club. He lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon, with his wife, two kids, and a black Lab.