Introduction to Stellar Astrophysics: Volume 1, Basic Stellar Observations and Data

ISBN-13: 9780521348690 / Angielski / Miękka / 1989 / 256 str.

Erika Bohm-Vitense

Opis

This textbook introduction to the basic elements of fundamental astronomy and astrophysics serves as a foundation for understanding the structure, evolution, and observed properties of stars. The first half of the book explains how stellar motions, distances, luminosities, colors, radii, masses and temperatures are measured or derived. The author then shows how data of these sorts can be arranged to classify stars through their spectra. Stellar rotation and stellar magnetic fields are introduced. Stars with peculiar spectra and pulsating stars also merit special attention. The endpoints of stellar evolutions are briefly described. There is a separate chapter on the Sun and a final one on interstellar absorption. The usefulness of this text is enhanced by the inclusion of problems for students, tables of astronomical constants, and a selective bibliography. This is an excellent textbook for undergraduate and beginning graduate students studying astronomy and astrophysics.

Recenzje

"Strong points are the reproduction of many basic observations and the emphasis that is placed on how these observations lead to data and conclusions. In this way, the student not only learns about astronomy, but also about the way astronomers work." A. Schadee, Space Science Reviews

Spis treści

Preface; 1. Positions of stars; 2. Proper motions of stars; 3. Distances of nearby stars; 4. The brightnesses of the stars; 5. Color magnitude diagrams; 6. The luminosites of the stars; 7. Angular radii of stars; 8. Effective temperatures of stars; 9. Masses and radii of stars; 10. Spectral classification; 11. Understanding stellar spectra; 12. Population II stars; 13. Stellar rotation; 14. Stellar magnetic fields; 15. Stars with peculiar spectra; 16. Pulsating stars; 17. Explosive stars; 18. Our sun; 19. Interstellar absorption; Appendixes; References; Index.