Astronomy 101

 Bite-Size Astronomy for Lay Readers

Astronomy has long been one of the mainstays of the programs we produce and distribute at Loch Ness Productions. That’s because we find astronomy fascinating, and have done so since childhood. I grew up reading about the stars and planets, and I wanted to be an astronaut. Both times I was in college I took astronomy classes and also found my way to the university’s planetarium, which kindled the career I’ve carved out for myself: one of astronomy popularizer.

I began writing about astronomy long before I went to graduate school to study the makings of planets, stars, and galaxies, however. My first show was about the concept of light travel time and light-years, and you all know it as Light Years from Andromeda. Since that time I’ve written dozens of astronomy scripts. But, I’ve also been writing many articles and books as well (you can see my full bibliography here), including the best-selling Hubble Vision and Visions of the Cosmos books through Cambridge University Press.

Well, I’m proud to say that I’ve done it again: published another book. It’s called Astronomy 101: From the Sun and Moon to Wormholes and Warp Drive, Key Theories, Discoveries, and Facts about the Universe (ISBN-13: 978-1440563591) published by Adams Media.

The publishers came to me last year asking if I’d like to write a book of astronomy topics, each about a thousand words long. They wanted me to distill the essence of an astronomy topic for lay readers who are interested in astronomy but hadn’t had a chance to take an astronomy class in high school or college. Astronomy 101 is the result. Want to know more about how the Sun formed? What black holes are? Answer questions from your friends, family, and audience members about warp drive or famous astronomers? The book covers those subjects and much more.

Just as with any Loch Ness Productions show script, I relied on a number of my colleagues in astronomy and the science writing community as background readers and consultants. They were essential for my research as well as the fact-checking process, and the book is much stronger as a result of their help.

If you’re looking for a handy reference book, additional reading for your classes, or something to recommend to a planetarium audience member, I hope you’ll think of Astronomy 101. Like my shows, articles, other publications, and online offerings, it was written for everybody to learn from and enjoy!