Read The Milky Way and Beyond Online
Authors: Britannica Educational Publishing
The Milky Way and Beyond
THE MILKY WAY AND BEYOND
S
TARS
, N
EBULAE, AND
O
THER
G
ALAXIES
A
N
E
XPLORER'S
G
UIDE TO THE
U
NIVERSE
MILKY WAY
AND BEYOND
S
TARS
, N
EBULAE, AND
O
THER
G
ALAXIES
E
DITED BY
E
RIK
G
REGERSEN
, A
SSOCIATE
E
DITOR
, A
STRONOMY AND
S
PACE
E
XPLORATION
Published in 2010 by Britannica Educational Publishing
(a trademark of Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.)
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First Edition
Britannica Educational Publishing
Michael I. Levy: Executive Editor
Marilyn L. Barton: Senior Coordinator, Production Control
Steven Bosco: Director, Editorial Technologies
Lisa S. Braucher: Senior Producer and Data Editor
Yvette Charboneau: Senior Copy Editor
Kathy Nakamura: Manager, Media Acquisition
Erik Gregersen: Associate Editor, Astronomy and Space Exploration
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Introduction by Greg Roza
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
The Milky Way and beyond / edited by Erik Gregersen.â1st ed.
    p. cm.â(An explorer's guide to the universe)
“In association with Britannica Educational Publishing, Rosen Educational Services.”
Includes index.
ISBN 978-1-61530-053-2 (eBook)
1. Milky WayâPopular works. 2. GalaxiesâPopular works. I. Gregersen, Erik.
QB857.7.M55 2010
523.1'13âdc22
2009037980
On the cover:
Thousands of sparkling young stars are nestled within the giant nebula NGC 3603, one of the most massive young star clusters in the Milky Way Galaxy.
NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration
The Structure and Dynamics of the Milky Way Galaxy
Structure of the Spiral System
The Stellar Luminosity Function
Density Distribution of Various Types of Stars
Variations in the Stellar Density
Variation of Star Density with
z
Distances
Solar Motion Calculations from Radial Velocities
Solar Motion Calculations from Proper Motions
Solar Motion Calculations from Space Motions
Stellar Activity and Mass Loss
Classification of Spectral Types
Binaries and Extrasolar Planetary Systems
Numbers of Stars Versus Luminosity