Meet 12 men and women whose research and work in new technologies brought about a revolution in the understanding of time and space during the 20th century. From Edwin Hubble to George Gamow to Geoffrey Marcy, ""Modern Astronomy"" illuminates the lives and achievements of these innovative scientists. Readers will gain a clear understanding of the common threads that intertwine the astronomers' lives; the political, economic, and social events of their times; people with whom they worked; and the developments that preceded their research. In-text sidebars highlight each subject's work. Chapter chronologies offer suggestions for further reading. The general bibliography includes listings of organizations and Web resources.