The Three Big Bangs: Comet Crashes, Exploding Stars, and the Creation of the Universe
by Philip M. Dauber and Richard A. Muller
Addison-Wesley (Helix Books), 1996
softcover, 208pp., illus.
ISBN 0-201-15495-1
US$13/C$17.95

Although many ancient civilizations viewed the universe as a timeless, unchanging place, modern science has come to realize that the universe is very dynamic with the creation -- and destruction -- of planets, stars, and even whole galaxies. The universe itself was born of an unimaginable titanic explosion, according to the Big Bang theory. While we view these events as destructive, without them we would not be here today, a viewpoint scientists Philip Dauber and Richard Muller bring home in The Three Big Bangs
     The "Big Bangs" of the title are not just the Big Bang event that created the universe, but big bangs that have shaped our portion of the galaxy and our world itself. The first big bang events are comet and asteroid impacts which have shaped our world throughout its history, with an emphasis on the Chicxulub impact 65 million years ago that wiped out the dinosaurs and other a multitude of other species. Without that event, they argue, evolution on Earth would have taken a sharply different path, and we would likely not be here today.
     The second big bang events are supernovae explosions. Such explosions destroy the star (and presumably wipe out its solar system as well), but in the process generate and disperse heavy elements (anything heavier than helium is a heavy element in a cosmic sense). Without these explosions we would lack the elements essential to the formation of our world and the evolution of life on it.
     The third big bang is the Big Bang itself. It goes without saying that it was essential to the formation of our solar system and life! The authors do provide a good introduction to the history of our understanding of the Big Bang theory, and the possible fates for our universe in the far future.
     A typical SpaceViews reader will already be acquainted with the topics discussed in the book, although Dauber and Muller do a good job stringing together what appear to be three discrete topics into a single thesis. For anyone interested in refreshing their background in the subject, or for anyone who wants to see how "big bangs" of various sizes play a critical role in determining our place in the universe, The Three Big Bangs will serve as an excellent introduction.

Cosmic Clouds: Birth, Death, and Recycling in the Galaxy
by James B. Kaler
Scientific American Library, 1997
hardcover, 253pp., illus.
ISBN 0-7167-5075-9
US$32.95

The universe is more than just planets orbiting stars found in galaxies and star clusters. Much of the mass of the universe is contained in clouds of gas and dust that pervade the interstellar medium and come together in nebulae. These clouds are an essential part of the universe, as they recycle the remains of dead stars into a new generation of star systems. Astronomer James Kaler explores these "Cosmic Clouds" in his new book.
     Kaler starts with an introduction to dust and gas in the universe, with an emphasis on how it has been detected over the years by astronomers using increasingly-sophisticated instruments to resolve the clouds and spectroscopically determine their compositions. From there he explores how these clouds play a key role in the life cycle of the universe, serving as stellar "nurseries" for new stars (and any planets which form around them) and how new clouds are created from the remnants of supernova explosions.
     The book is lavishly illustrated in full color throughout, including many images of stars and nebulae. These illustrations are important because at times the text can get dense with discussions of stellar physics and spectroscopy which can wear down the layperson. The book is not meant for everyone, but it will be a goods read for those interested in stellar evolution who can hack through some of the harder parts of the text.

Outer Space: Problems of Law and Policy (2nd ed.)
by Glenn H. Reynolds and Robert P. Merges
Westview Press, 1997
hardcover, 446 pp.
ISBN 0-8133-1802-5
US$50.00

Space law, the authors remind us early in this book, is not the province of science fiction but a real part of legal work which engages lawyers and government officials on a daily basis. As launch costs decline and more private companies get involved with space development, we can assume that space law will play a larger role in the future. Two experts in space law, Glenn Reynolds and Robert Merges, provide a detailed review of the history of space law to the present day in Outer Space: Problems of Law and Policy
     This book is aimed and lawyers and law students taking a course in space law. It begins with a summary of space exploration efforts to day, and then looks at some of the treaties dealing with space, including the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 and the infamous Moon Treaty. The book then delves into case law, looking at a number of cases related to trade and commercial use of space, and also look at future space law issues.
     Because this book is aimed at legal professionals and students, it is dense in legal jargon and usage that may be unfamiliar to the general public. Skimming through the summaries, though, may provide some understanding on the subject. This book will likely prove to be an excellent resource for the legal world when dealing with space law. What would be useful, though, is a book that simplifies some of the space law issues for the general public and space enthusiasts, who may be interested in the field and have a stake in wanting to learn more, but don't want to cope with legal jargon.

Basic Astronomy Labs
by Jay S. Huebner, Michael D. Reynolds, Terry L. Smith
Prentice Hall, 1996
softcover, illus.
ISBN 0-13-376336-6

In many parts of the world, fall heralds the start of a new school year. With the successful landing this summer of the Mars Pathfinder mission, there is likely to be a renewed interest in astronomy and related subjects among students and teachers. To help show that astronomy is more than just peering through telescopes and looking at "pretty pictures" of planets and galaxies, Basic Astronomy Labs provides a series of exercises to teach students about all aspects of astronomy.
     The book contains more than three dozen lab exercises that have evolved over the last several years in a basic astronomy class at the University of North Florida. The exercises range from understanding coordinate systems to performing observations to trips to planetaria and observatories. The exercises are well thought-out and cover many fields of astronomy. Basic Astronomy Labs will serve as good companion for an astronomy course for college or eve high school students.