This hyper-textbook is an attempt to use the new technologies of hypertext and computer networks to bridge the gap between the general public and the latest research. Internet allows distribution of this textbook without the overhead associated with printing costs and transport. Errors in the text can be corrected and the latest research can be added instantaneously. It allows for collaborative writing. One thing that the general public often does not realize is how narrowly focused most scientists are.
Hypertext allows different people to write in their field of specialty.
It allows for students to give feedback more easily. The biggest problem with creating a hypertextbook is the newness of the media. Very little is known about how to organizing a hypertextbook to maxmimize its usefulness to readers. In this sense, this hypertextbook represents an exploration of the unknown and an experiment in the possibilities that computer networks bring to science education. If you have any astronomical knowledge, I would welcome contributions to this textbook.