Authors:
- Explains each step of how stars are formed within molecular clouds in the interstellar medium
- Illuminates the key role of molecular clouds in the existence of life on Earth
- Covers the full sweep of the Universe's evolution, from the Big Bang to the later production of organic chemicals in stars
- Uses non-technical language suitable for non-scientists
Part of the book series: Springer Praxis Books (PRAXIS)
Part of the book sub series: Popular Astronomy (POPULAR)
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Table of contents (6 chapters)
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Front Matter
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Back Matter
About this book
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.
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Authors and Affiliations
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Campion College, At The University of Regina, Regina, Canada
Martin Beech
About the author
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: The Pillars of Creation
Book Subtitle: Giant Molecular Clouds, Star Formation, and Cosmic Recycling
Authors: Martin Beech
Series Title: Springer Praxis Books
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48775-5
Publisher: Springer Cham
eBook Packages: Physics and Astronomy, Physics and Astronomy (R0)
Copyright Information: Springer International Publishing AG 2017
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-319-48774-8Published: 06 January 2017
eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-48775-5Published: 28 December 2016
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XII, 269
Number of Illustrations: 16 b/w illustrations, 109 illustrations in colour
Topics: Popular Science in Astronomy, Cosmology, Organic Chemistry, Astrobiology