Sunquakes : Probing the Interior of the Sun
Editorial Reviews
Review
"In his rich and enjoyable book, Jack Zirker presents the history of helioseismology, from the work of Leighton and Evans to current detailed investigations of the Sun's internal structure and dynamics... Zirker's excellent book combines the development of helio- and asteroseismology with a lucid and detailed overview of modern solar physics. The text is at a level that is accessible to the interested layperson, with more technical aspects discussed in the substantial set of notes... The book is wholeheartedly recommended." -- Jørgen Christensen-Dalsgaard, Nature
"The whole riveting story of helioseismology is now told by J. B. Zirker in Sunquakes. Science books often fall between two stools. Scientists know their stuff but are rarely good storytellers whereas good storytellers rarely possess the necessary sweeping command of a scientific discipline. Zirker is that rare animal who can both communicate the most demanding technical detail and make it accessible. For years, solar astronomy has been the poor relation, overshadowed by such headline-grabbers as pulsars, gamma-ray bursters and supermassive black holes. After reading Zirker's breezy page-turner, you will wonder why." -- New Scientist
"Sunquakes provides an excellent, comprehensive overview of the history of [helioseismology], from the early discoveries of the 1960s through the establishment of current Earth-based and space-based helioseismology programs. Lucid discussions of the scientific principles and challenges of the quest to understand solar oscillations are interspersed with anecdotes revealing the personalities involved... Sunquakes is a remarkable book that conveys a true sense of the excitement involved in the development of a new scientific discipline." -- Steve Kawaler, American Scientist
"A very thorough account of helioseismology... Writing in an easy-to-read manner, he conveys the complexity and beauty of the interior structure of the sun and explains how and why solar astronomers came to their conclusions... This good, self-contained book is enjoyable and interesting." -- Choice
"This book is a rigorous yet approachable treatment of one of the newer branches of astronomy, helioseismology... [and] will be an important addition to a school or classroom astronomy library." -- Cary Seidman, Science Teacher
"The book is written in an accessible and readable style, is well illustrated, and I can thoroughly recommend it. " -- C.R. Kitchen, Astronomy Now
Review
" These pages bring to life the work of helioseismologists during the last century. Zirker makes understanding the many esoteric physical laws and concepts involved in this field intuitive for the lay reader." -- Edward Rhodes, University of Southern California
"Jack Zirker uses his deep understanding of solar astronomy to explain how scientists have done something long thought impossible -- to see deep inside the Sun. Though it is hidden below hundreds of thousands of miles of opaque gas, the solar core has recently revealed its secrets through studies of changing ripples on the Sun's surface and through study of a tiny fraction of mysterious particles generated as part of making the Sun shine. Zirker carefully and clearly explains these exciting topics to the general reader." -- Jay M. Pasachoff, Williams College
"A great read! Zirker has done a masterful job in conveying the science and telling the exciting story behind the discovery that we can 'see' beneath the opaque surface of the Sun. Having made fundamental contributions to the field himself, he is very well placed to synthesize the science and the essential, human side of the story right up to the present. His very accessible style will lead the reader to understand what a generation ago was unimaginable -- daily CT scans of this prototype of all stars and the source of our life and environment." -- John Leibacher, National Optical Astronomy Observatory
Sunquakes : Probing the Interior of the Sun
Sunquakes: Probing the Interior of the Sun,J. B. Zirker,The Johns Hopkins University Press,080187419X,Astronomy - General,Astronomy - Solar System,Astrophysics & Space Science,Convection (Astrophysics),Helioseismology,Science,Science/Mathematics,Literary Criticism & Collections / European
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