The Cosmic Perspective Fundamentals is the briefest introduction to astronomy in the Bennett series. It is designed to engage students and motivate them to learn about astronomy and scientific inquiry. Topical Coverage is focused on topics that students are curious about and that are most requested by faculty, such as extrasolar planets, the search for life in the universe, black holes, and dark matter and energy. The Process of Science is emphasized throughout the text,and each chapter has a full section devoted to exploring a case study on how the process of science has helped astronomers learn more about the topics in a given chapter.
