A Visual Guide to the Universe with the Smithsonian

by David M. Meyer

Designed for astronomy novices and practiced observers alike, A Visual Guide to the Universe covers a wide range of telling phenomena that have made our era a golden age of astronomical discovery. In selecting the images, Professor Meyer has aimed for variety and scientific significance, while also focusing on key concepts in astronomy, making this course an ideal visual tour through today’s thrilling science of the universe.

As Professor Meyer discusses different images, you learn background ideas such as the electromagnetic spectrum and the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram for charting stellar evolution. You also hear about techniques for finding extrasolar planets in the glare of faraway stars and the breakthroughs that make today’s cutting-edge space probes and observatories possible.

Genres: Science, Planetary Science

132 pages, Audiobook

Published September 11, 2014

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Great Courses was so cool. It went from images of bodies closer to Earth in our Solar System to the furthest reaches of the universe. I learned a lot about the universe from these false-color images of stars and nebulae and galaxies. Although the Great Course was made before James Webb and so is not cutting-edge, it was perfect for me when I watched it.