Astronomy: Journey to the Cosmic Frontier, 6th edition, provides enough content and background in astronomy so the student will be able to follow current developments in astronomy years after they complete the course. The historical development of astronomy is emphasized to show that astronomy, like other sciences, advances through the efforts of many scientists, and to show how present ideas have been developed.

Author Biography

John D. Fix is a professor of physics and dean of the College of Science at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Before joining UAH, he was a professor of astronomy at the University of Iowa, where he was a member of the faculty from 1969 to 1999. He studied physics as an undergraduate at Purdue University, and then went on to earn a Ph.D. in astrophysics at Indiana University. He has played an active role in the academic affairs of the university, serving as President of the University of Iowa Faculty Senate in 1991-92 and Associate Dean for Research and Development of the College of Liberal Arts from 1992 to 1998. During his career as an astronomer, Jack has taught a variety of courses, including general education courses in astronomy, introductory and upper level undergraduate courses for astronomy and physics majors, and graduate courses in theoretical astrophysics. Recently, his research activity has focused on the structure and evolution of the extended atmospheres of red giant stars and the properties of interstellar and interplanetary dust particles. He has received many grants from the National Science Foundation and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and has written more than 60 scientific papers for the Astrophysical Journal, the Astronomical Journal, and other professional journals. The second edition of his introductory astronomy textbook, "Astronomy: Journey to the Cosmic Frontier" was published by WCB/McGraw-Hill in 1998. Jack also finds time to review scientific papers for professional journals and scientific proposals for the National Science Foundation and NASA. He is a member of several professional societies including the International Astronomical Union and the American Astronomical Society, for which he serves as a Harlow Shapley Lecturer, traveling to college and university campuses on behalf of the society.