Lost Galaxies


Book Description

At fourteen, he was curious, yet quiet and shy. His biggest fear would have to be math quizzes, and he knew that Bill would always be his best friend. To him: Diane was the most beautiful woman in the universe. He could not imagine loving anyone else. Three things he knew would last forever were those. While remembering long ago, thoughts of one day getting married to Diane, having children, cooking out in the street on Sundays for the whole block to attend. In his youth, this is how he saw his life play out. That was until he met his worst fear face to face. General Loat would then spend the rest of his life running from that nightmare all the while throughout the universe his name would stand alone as the most wanted man alive. Treachery lies and murder were the main course, but those three were not his favorite things. Yet the Universal Judgment Committee hunted him by forcing themselves upon him in such a horrific way as though one had just eaten a fowl meal that would eventually leave a bad taste in his mouth all the while with him sitting in the middle of this precipice knowing he only had one option. Stay alive. No matter what he tried, no matter how hard he fought nothing would help to remove the stain tattooed upon his taste buds. This was not what he wanted. This was not what he deserved. This is what he was thrown into, this is what he was forced to do and he knew that in order for the universe to see peace once more, one of two things had to happen.




Parallel Galactic Memory


Book Description

The human curiosity about the cosmos has historically inspired countless discoveries and innovations. This book, "Parallel Galactic Memory: The Layers of Time in the Universe and Cosmic Archives," represents an extension of this eternal quest to understand the universe's secrets and its enigmatic aspects. It aims to offer a comprehensive exploration of the intricate relationship between time, galactic memory, and cosmic consciousness. Our understanding of the universe's origins and the birth of time is in constant evolution. From the fundamental theories about the Big Bang to the role of time layers in the cosmos, the topics discussed here illuminate some of the most profound and exciting questions in science. This book goes beyond theoretical and scientific debates to offer insights into the future role of cosmic memory and the shaping of galactic libraries. Each chapter can be seen as a thought experiment designed to push the boundaries of our understanding of the universe's complexity. Themes such as the relationship between knowledge and consciousness, time travel, and galactic memory not only delve into scientific discovery but also explore philosophical and ethical questions. The book aims to guide readers on a daring journey to explore cosmic knowledge. In this journey, we pause at the intersections of the past, present, and future, contemplating a broad spectrum of ideas—from the information-gathering processes of galaxies to the traces of lost civilizations. Questions such as whether the universe itself possesses a form of consciousness and the ways conscious minds might access galactic memory are central to our exploration. In writing this book, I have endeavored to integrate information from a variety of sources and disciplines. Each chapter is supported by scientific data and in-depth analysis, offering readers a new perspective on the universe and conscious cosmos. This comprehensive work is intended to inspire and inform those seeking to understand the deep layers of cosmic knowledge. I hope this book serves as both an inspiring and informative resource for anyone dedicated to uncovering the mysteries of the cosmos. As we embark on this journey together, I look forward to the possibility of this work being the beginning of many discoveries yet to come. Thank you for joining me on this exploration. There are many more secrets to be uncovered in the depths of the cosmos, and I hope this book marks the start of that journey.




Physics of Nearby Galaxies


Book Description




The Harlow-Shapley Symposium on Globular Cluster Systems in Galaxies


Book Description

In the centennial year, 1985-86, of Harlow Shapley's birth, the study of globular clusters was no less important to the development of astronomy than in 1915, when Shapley first noted their concentration on the sky. By 1917 Shapley had used the properties of the system of globular clusters to complete the Copernican revolution and locate the solar system, and its Earth-bound observers, far from the center of the Galaxy and the globular cluster distribution. Seven decades later, in the year of these proceedings, globular cluster research and the study of the system of globular clusters in our own and distant galaxies is undergoing a renaissance of activity. The introduction of new observational tools, particularly CCD imagers and digital spectrographs, as well as powerful theoretical methods have transformed the study of globular clusters into one of the main line areas of modern astrophysics. Thus it seemed particularly appropriate to one of us, when considering how the Harvard College Observatory might mark the Shapley centennial, to propose and plan for an IAU Symposium on Globular Cluster Systems in Galaxies. Planning for the Shapley Symposium, as it came to be called, was even more drawn out than the preparation of this volume. The Symposium was originally proposed to the IAU Secretariat in time for it to be held in August, 1985, so that it might occur in the centennial (calendar) year.




The Interstellar Medium in Galaxies


Book Description

This book contains the proceedings of the sixth Eurographics Workshop on Vir tual Environments. The event took place from June 1 to June 2, 2000, in Am sterdam. We hope that readers will find these proceedings to be valuable, not only for virtual environment researchers, but also for practitioners developing or using virtual environment applications. We are glad to report that visibility of the workshop continues to expand and that virtual environment researchers and practitioners from allover the world are submitting papers. This year, 40 papers and case studies were submitted of which 20 were accepted. In addition, we are glad to see that the focus of the workshop is also expanding. We accepted 6 research papers on evaluation of virtual environments and there was a broad sampling of other topics. We would like to thank all those involved in organizing the symposium. In particular, thanks go to Mieke Brune who was in charge of the local organization. In addition, we want to thank the international program committee for their excellent, yet laborious, job in reviewing all submitted papers. The quality of the workshop is a reflection of the quality of the submitted papers and the quality of the reviewing process.




Luminous Stars in Nearby Galaxies


Book Description

Studies on the populations of luminous stars in nearby resolved galaxies have revealed a complex distribution in the luminosity–temperature plane (the HR diagram). The fundamentals of massive star evolution are mostly understood, but the roles of mass loss, episodic mass loss, rotation, and binarity are still in question. Moreover, the final stages of these stars of different masses and their possible relation to each other are not understood. The purpose of this volume is to provide a current review of the different populations of evolved massive stars. The emphasis is on massive stars in the Local Group, the Magellanic Clouds, and the nearby spirals M31 and M33.




Contacting Aliens


Book Description

The award-winning Uplift novels comprise one of the greatest achievements in science fiction history. Dramatic, thought-provoking, and inventive, these books describe a fully realized world rich in character, detail, and ideas. Now Uplift author David Brin collaborates with acclaimed artist Kevin Lenagh to compile the definitive guide to the species, societies, and technology of one of the greatest feats of literary world-building ever accomplished. CONTACTING ALIENS Here in the form of a handbook for Terran field agents is a detailed look at Uplift’s many alien races--from the friendly Tymbrimi to the warlike Tandu, from the wise and enigmatic Kanten to the fiercely reptilian Soro, from the bureaucratic Hoon to the manipulative Thennanin--their physiology, psychology, history; their clans and alliances; and their shifting attitudes toward Earth and its representatives. Here, too, is a history of Earth’s contact and challenging interactions with the mysterious and powerful Civilization of Five Galaxies, a look at its institutions, languages, and customs, plus a time line of momentous events going back 3 billion years. For the millions of fans of the Uplift novels, this long-awaited guide will be an essential reference work, filled with vital information and never-before-seen illustrations that reveal, for the first time in one volume, the keys to the ambitious vision and bold speculation of the Uplift universe.




Hot Interstellar Matter in Elliptical Galaxies


Book Description

Based on a number of new discoveries resulting from 10 years of Chandra and XMM-Newton observations and corresponding theoretical works, this is the first book to address significant progress in the research of the Hot Interstellar Matter in Elliptical Galaxies. A fundamental understanding of the physical properties of the hot ISM in elliptical galaxies is critical, because they are directly related to the formation and evolution of elliptical galaxies via star formation episodes, environmental effects such as stripping, infall, and mergers, and the growth of super-massive black holes. Thanks to the outstanding spatial resolution of Chandra and the large collecting area of XMM-Newton, various fine structures of the hot gas have been imaged in detail and key physical quantities have been accurately measured, allowing theoretical interpretations/predictions to be compared and tested against observational results. This book will bring all readers up-to-date on this essential field of research.




An Atlas of Local Group Galaxies


Book Description

This Atlas provides a complete set of images of Local Group Galaxies (excluding the three for which identification atlases are already in print) and shows the most important objects, including many thousands of individual stars and interstellar objects. It is unique in its coverage and format and provides a source of these fundamental data that will be used for many years. Researchers, students and even amateur astronomers will be able to use the Atlas to identify and study the various components of the nearly 30 important galaxies covered by the Atlas. The objects identified on the more than 200 charts include variable stars, globular star clusters, open star clusters, stellar associations, emission regions, supernova remnants, planetary nebulae and dust clouds. Each galaxy is accompanied by an extensive bibliography.