The Exploding Suns: The Secrets of the Supernovas

324 Pages·021.941 MB·English

by  Isaac Asimov

THE EXPLODING SUNS
THE SECRETS OF THE SUPERNOVAS
UPDATED EDITION • WITH A NEW CHAPTER BY DR. WILLIAM A. GUTSCH, JR.
Digitized by the Internet Archive
2010
in
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"Asimov's flair for popularizing the most arcane scientific
concepts is once again right on the mark in this highly
readable book. He makes subjects such as the big bang,
the formation of matter, star classification and behavior,
genetics, and evolution accessibl—e to readers."
School Library Journal
—
"One of Asimov's best science books fascinating in its
ranging subject matter as it explores both celestial
mysteries and the awe in which we hold those enigmas
we cannot understand. Asimov is the most widely read
science writer in the world today,—and deservedly so."
Nashville Tennessean
"A masterpiece. You have to be an exile from all
. . .
scientific thought not to have read one of his many
extremely popular writings. . . . His special talent is a
combination of an amazing overall grasp and, more
important, an inimitable articulation that reduces the
most complex concept to a level anyone can comprehend.
Read this fabulous work." —
Lewiston Sentinel
"An Asimov adventure worth reading and rereading.
. . .
This Exploding Asimov may be the capstone of an
incomparable writer's career." —
Winston-Salem Journal
ISAAC ASIMOVs science books have sold in the millions
and are read in many high school and college classrooms.
He died in 1992, at age 72, after having published more
than 475 books.
DR. WILLIAM A. GUTSCH, JR., was, for many years,
chairman and associate astronomer of the American
Museum-Hayden Planetarium. He has also been a physics
professor, a science reporter for TV, and a special science
correspondent for Good Morning America. Dr. Gutsch is
now an international consultant for science museums,
television, and the multimedia industry. He lives in
New
Kinnelon, Jersey.
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JTJ TRUMAN TALLEY BOOKS PLUME NEW YORK
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With A New Chapter by Dr. William A. Gutsch, Jr.
TRUMAN TALLEY BOOKS/PLUME
Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Books USA Inc., 375 Hudson Street,
New York, New York 10014, U.S.A.
Penguin Books Ltd, 27 Wrights Lane,
London W8 5TZ, England
Penguin Books Australia Ltd, Ringwood,
Victoria, Australia
Penguin Books Canada Ltd, 10 Alcorn Avenue,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4V 3B2
Penguin Books (N.Z.) Ltd, 182-190 Wairau Road,
Auckland 10, New Zealand
Penguin Books Ltd, Registered Offices:
Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England
Published by Plume, an imprint ofDutton Signet, a division of
Penguin Books USA Inc. Previously published in a Truman Talley/
Dutton edition.
First9Pl8um7e P6rin5ting4, A3ugu2st1, 1996
10
Copyright © Nightfall, Inc., 1985
Epilogue © William A. Gutsch, Jr., 1996
Illustrations copyright © D. F. Bach, 1985
All rights reserved
The Library ofCongress has catalogued the Truman Talley/Dutton
edition as follows:
Asimov, Isaac
The exploding suns.
"Truman—Talley Books." —
1. Stars Popular wo—rks. 2. Supernovae Popular
works. 3. Cosmology Popular works. I. Title.
QB801.6.A85 1985 523.1 84-21077
ISBN: 0-525-24323-2 (he.)
ISBN: 0-452-27660-8 (pbk.)
Designed by Mark O'Connor
Printed in the United States ofAmerica
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part
ofthis publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a
retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means
(electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise),
without the prior written permission ofboth the copyright owner and
the above publisher ofthis book.
BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE AT QUANTITY DISCOUNTS WHEN USED TO
PROMOTE PRODUCTS OR SERVICES. FOR INFORMATION PLEASE WRITE
TO PREMIUM MARKETING DIVISION, PENGUIN BOOKS USA INC., 375
HUDSON STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10014.
Dedicated to
the memory of
Marvin Grosswirth
(1932-1984)

DNTENin
CHAPTER ONE
NEW STARS
The Unchanging Sky 1
Change Among the Stars • 7
China's "Guest Stars" 14
The First Nova • 19
More Novas • 24
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Contents
CHAPTER TWO
CHANGING STARS
Seeing the Invisible 27
Movement and Distance 34
Modern Novas " 38
How Luminous? How Common? • 44
CHAPTER THREE
LARGE AND SMALL STARS
Solar Energy 49
White Dwarfs ' 57
Red Giants • 63
Binaries and Collapse 68
CHAPTER FOUR
BIGGER EXPLOSIONS
Beyond the Galaxy? • 76
S Andromedae " 84
The Andromeda Galaxy 88
Supernovas * 94
CHAPTER FIVE
SMALLER DWARFS
The Crab Nebula 99
'
Neutron Stars • 105
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