ASTRONOMY Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe

This exceptional series of 14 lectures by Dr. James Kaler, of the University of Illinois, reminds us that the universe is an exciting place. Starting with the sun and proceeding to the farthest known reaches of the cosmos, we are reintroduced in a folksy, personal, and enthusiastic manner to the origins of the light that informs our every day. Sunspots, Kuiper belts, black holes, quasars, neutron stars, and more are explained in everyday terms with awe and reverence that will overwhelm the most cynical among us. The production is relatively unadorned, but the brilliance of the speaker is such that a more ornate setting might detract from the force of his ideas. This is the place where rational persons start talking about religious experiences. J.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 05]