Heavenly errors : misconceptions about the real nature of the universe / Neil F. Comins.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Comins, Neil F., 1951-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Astronomy.

Common fallacies.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (182 p.)

Place of Publication:

New York : Columbia University Press, 2001.

Language Note:

English

System Details:

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Summary:

One of the great paradoxes of modern times is that the more scientists understand the natural world, the more we discover that our everyday beliefs about it are wrong. Astronomy, in particular, is one of the most misunderstood scientific disciplines. With the participation of thousands of undergraduate students, Neil F. Comins has identified and classified, by origin and topic, over 1,700 commonly held misconceptions. Heavenly Errors provides access to all of them and explores many, including: Black holes suck in everything around them. The Sun shines by burning gas.• Comets have tails trailing behind them. The Moon alone causes tides. Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun, is the hottest planet. In the course of correcting these errors, he explains that some occur through the prevalence of pseudosciences such as astrology and UFO-logy and some enter the public conscience through the "bad astronomy" of Star Trek, Star Wars, and other science-fiction movies.. Perhaps most important, Professor Comins presents the reader with the methods for identifying and replacing incorrect ideas-tools with which to probe erroneous notions so that we can begin to question for ourselves... and to think more like scientists.

Contents:

Front matter

Contents

Preface

Introduction

1. Fun in the Sun

2. Blame It on Someone Else

3. Creating Your Own Private Cosmos

4. Survival in a Misperceived World

5. Breaking Up Is Hard to Do

6. The Sage on the Stage or the Guide by Your Side

7. Let the Buyer Beware

8. Conflicts and Dangers

Epilogue

Selected Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9786613008275

9781283008273

1283008270

9780231502528

0231502524

OCLC:

819607600