1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910157472803321

Autore

Beech Martin

Titolo

The Pillars of Creation : Giant Molecular Clouds, Star Formation, and Cosmic Recycling / / by Martin Beech

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cham : , : Springer International Publishing : , : Imprint : Springer, , 2017

ISBN

3-319-48775-2

Edizione

[1st ed. 2017.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (XII, 272 p. 125 illus., 109 illus. in color.)

Collana

Popular Astronomy, , 2626-8760

Disciplina

520

Soggetti

Astronomy

Cosmology

Organic chemistry

Astrobiology

Popular Science in Astronomy

Organic Chemistry

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references at the end of each chapters and index.

Nota di contenuto

Preface -- Chapter 1- Reading the Sky -- Chapter 2 - In the Eye of the Beholder -- Chapter 3: The Dark Clouds Revealed -- Chapter 4 – The Hyperfine Split and Atomic Jitters -- Chapter 5 – In the Grip of Gravity -- Chapter 6 - It's a Far Flung Life -- Appendix - Notes and References -- Index.

Sommario/riassunto

This book explores the mechanics of star formation, the process by which matter pulls together and creates new structures. Written for science enthusiasts, the author presents an accessible explanation of how stars are born from the interstellar medium and giant molecular clouds. Stars produce the chemicals that lead to life, and it is they that have enabled the conditions for planets to form and life to emerge. Although the Big Bang provided the spark of initiation, the primordial universe that it sired was born hopelessly sterile. It is only through the continued recycling of the interstellar medium, star formation, and stellar evolution that the universe has been animated beyond a chaotic mess of elementary atomic particles, radiation, dark matter, dark



energy, and expanding spacetime. Using the Milky Way and the Eagle Nebula in particular as case studies, Beech follows every step of this amazing process. .