From the Back Cover Nearly every chapter substantially updated with new and late-breaking information, such as: Coverage of the search for extrasolar planets. A discussion of the accelerating universe. Expanded coverage of gamma ray bursts. Continuing coverage of the Galileo mission to Jupiter. New Concept Check discussion questions integrated throughout each chapter These critical thinking questions test conceptual understanding of the material just presented and help place it in a broader context. Answers to Concept Check questions are included in the Appendix to aid self-assessment. A fully integrated media package The media package for Astronomy: A Beginner's Guide to the Universe, Third Edition fully integrates the text and its accompanying multimedia resources. Icons are included throughout to indicate the availability of additional complementary material on the CD-ROM and/or text-specific website. The CD-ROM and website are also hyperlinked where appropriate. The free CD-ROM inside this text includes: An electronic, fully-hyperlinked version of the entire Astronomy: A Beginner's Guide to the Universe, Third Edition text. Cross-links, objectives, glossary terms, and hints to end-of-chapter true/false and fill-in-the-blank self-tests are all linked to the relevant text section. Integrated links to the Chaisson/McMillian website. 56 videos and animations, larger and enhanced, and now featuring narrative voiceovers. About the Author ERIC CHAISSON holds a doctorate in Astrophysics from Harvard University, where he spent ten years on the faculty of Arts and Sciences. For five years, Eric was a Senior Scientist and Director of Educational Programs at the Space Telescope Science Institute and Adjunct Professor of Physics at Johns Hopkins University. He joined Tufts University, where he is now Professor Physics, Professor of Education, and Director of the Wright Center for Innovative Science Education. He has written nine books on astronomy, which have received such literary awards as the Phi Beta Kappa Prize, two American Institute of Physics Awards, and Harvard's Smith Prize for Literary Merit. He has published more than 100 scientific papers in professional journals, and has also received Harvard's Bok Prize for original contributions to astrophysics.STEVE MCMILLAN holds a bachelor's and master's degree in Mathematics from Cambridge University and a doctorate in Astronomy from Harvard University. He held post-doctoral positions at the University of Illinois and Northwestern University, where he continued his research in theoretical astrophysics, star clusters, and numerical modeling. Steve is currently Distinguished Professor of Physics at Drexel University and a frequent visiting researcher at Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study and the University of Tokyo. He has published over 50 scientific papers in professional journals.