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Stars Above, Earth Below

A Guide to Astronomy in the National Parks

  • Book
  • © 2010

Overview

Authors:
  1. Tyler Nordgren

    1. University of Redlands Astronomer, Redlands, USA

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  • The first book to make direct connections between astronomy and the landscapes, processes and cultures one experiences in the US National Parks
  • Links the geological features readers can see in the National Parks to the very latest NASA spacecraft discoveries on other planets and their moons
  • Forms a connection between what the reader sees on the ground and in the sky (using photographs and sky charts) to the deeper scientific meaning behind these sights

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 (11 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xii
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  2. Come see the Milky Way

    Pages 1-34

  3. Black hole Sun

    Pages 35-68

  4. Tides on a cosmic shore

    Pages 69-104

  5. Worlds of fire and ice

    Pages 105-146

  6. Red rock planet

    Pages 147-186

  7. Glaciers and Goldilocks: a tale of three planets

    Pages 187-226

  8. Autumn Moon

    Pages 227-270

  9. Our cosmic connection

    Pages 271-316

  10. Worlds without number

    Pages 317-356

  11. Far away and long ago: the Universe before you

    Pages 357-396

  12. Starry sky national park

    Pages 397-436

  13. Back Matter

    Pages 437-444
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Keywords

About this book

Stars Above, Earth Below uses photographs and sky charts to form a connection between what is seen on the ground and in the sky, and looks at the deeper scientific meaning behind these sights.  Nordgren describes other objects in the Solar System with features similar to those on Earth and links the geological features seen in the national parks to the very latest NASA spacecraft discoveries on other planets and their moons.  Additionally, historical context is discussed to show why we humans (who have lived in and around our national parts for tens of thousands of years) have always been astronomers.

  • The first book to make direct connections between astronomy and the landscapes, processes and cultures one experiences in the US National Parks
  • Each chapter ties a specific astronomical phenomenon to a particular National Park or type of park and concludes with a “See for yourself” section that shows you how to see the planets, stars, nebulae, moons, etc. that are described within that chapter
  • A personal guide showing the reader the astronomical phenomena that you can see for yourself when visiting the U.S. National Parks

Reviews

From the reviews:

“A photo essay on a years-long journey to see the natural wonders of dark skies over America’s most beautiful landscapes … and visions of future exploration of the planets -- Stars Above, Earth Below is all of these. … Nordgren’s text is accompanied by a truly exorbitant number of photos and diagrams … . The book will delight space fans, but I think that it will do a greater public service by exposing those people who already love … places seen throughout the Space Age.” (Emily Lakdawalla, The Planetary Society Blog, December, 2010)

“There are numerous field books on astronomy on the market, but this new book stands out. Astronomer Nordgren … spent 14 months traveling across the US, visiting 12 national parks and contributing to their nighttime public outreach programs. The result is this beautiful diary of the author’s experiences and account of the unique aspects of the night sky at each site. … Most chapters are illustrated with beautiful color photos, many of them taken by Nordgren. … Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries.” (T. D. Oswalt, Choice, Vol. 48 (3), November, 2010)

“Appeal to readers with a wider interest in wild landscapes. … the book is an excellent example of the growing global trend of developing partnerships between astronomers and environmental managers. … includes a good number of eye-catching images and illustrations to draw the reader into its themes. As a general introduction to astronomy the style is individual and idiosyncratic. The approach weaves together, for example, personal anecdotes, philosophical observations, and practical seasonal star-charts.” (Dan Hillier, The Observatory, Vol. 131 (1222), June, 2011)

Authors and Affiliations

  • University of Redlands Astronomer, Redlands, USA

    Tyler Nordgren

About the author

Dr. Nordgren is an Associate Professor of Physics at the University of Redlands. As an observational astronomer he has written over two dozen peer-reviewed papers on pulsars, the interstellar medium, star formation in galaxies, the distribution of dark matter in galaxies, and the atmospheres and pulsation of red giant stars. In addition, he has professional interests in archaeoastronomy, light pollution and science education. These interests were developed during positions held as an astronomer at the U.S. Naval Observatory and then Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff Arizona. Both institutions have worked diligently and successfully with local governments to establish light pollution ordinances. Dr. Nordgren has designed and built sundials, including a two-story dial at the University of Redlands, and is one of seven scientists and artists that turned the NASA Mars Exploration Rover camera calibration targets into working Martian sundials. These Marsdials have become the most photographed objects of the Spirit and Opportunity Rover mission. In addition, while at the U.S. Naval Observatory and later University of Redlands, he worked with NPS park managers at Wupatki National Monument and Chaco Culture National Historic Park to photograph alignments of ancestral Puebloan kivas with respect to the North Star. In 2005 Dr. Nordgren began working with Chad Moore, leader of the National Park Service Night Sky Team who has developed a method of quantifying the amount of light pollution in the skies above the national parks. With his support, Dr. Nordgren is working with the U.S. National Park Service to spend his sabbatical during the 2007-2008 academic school year in the national parks writing the remainder of the book.

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