The New Cosmos: An Introduction to Astronomy and Astrophysics

ISBN-13: 9783642087462 / Angielski / Miękka / 2010 / 562 str.

Albrecht Unsold;Bodo Baschek

Opis

Astronomy, astrophysics and space research have witnessed an explosive development over the last few decades. The new observational potential offered by space stations and the availability of powerful and highly specialized computers have revealed novel aspects of the fascinating realm of galaxies, quasars, stars and planets. The present completely revised 5th edition of The New Cosmos provides ample evidence of these dramatic developments. In a concise presentation, which assumes only a modest prior knowledge of mathematics and physics, the book gives a coherent introduction to the entire field of astronomy and astrophysics. At the same time it takes into account the art of observation and the fundamental ideas behind their interpretation. Like its predecessors, this edition of The New Cosmos will provide new insight and enjoyment not only to students and researchers in the fields of astronomy, physics and earth sciences, but also to a wide range of interested amateurs.

Recenzje

From the reviews of the fifth edition:

"... The library copies of the earlier editions are well thumbed, which is a good indication of how often they are referenced. I have no doubt that this new edition will prove as popular."
(Journal of the British Astronomical Association)

"The present volume remains, I believe, a valuable contribution to astronomy education, particularly because of its enormous breadth at a level of detail not really found elsewhere. For many an undergraduate course it should provide an ideal text, while for a wide range of other situations ... it will provide an excellent companion; even among the professional community, it will be a handy reference ... . It is nicely produced and at a very reasonable price." (David Stickland, The Observatory, Vol. 122 (1167), 2002)

Spis treści

1. Introduction.- I. Classical Astronomy and the Solar System.- 2. Classical Astronomy.- 3. The Physical Structure of the Objects in the Solar System.- II. Radiation, Instruments, and Observational Techniques.- 4. Radiation and Matter.- 5. Astronomical and Astrophysical Instruments.- III.The Sun and Stars: The Astrophysics of Individual Stars.- 6. The Distances and Fundamental Properties of the Stars.- 7. The Spectra and Atmospheres of Stars.- 8. The Structure and Evolution of Stars.- IV. Stellar Systems. Cosmology and Cosmogony.- 9. Star Clusters.- 10. Interstellar Matter and Star Formation.- 11. The Structure and Dynamics of the Milky Way Galaxy.- 12. Galaxies and Clusters of Galaxies.- 13. Cosmology: the Cosmos as a Whole.- 14. The Cosmogony of the Solar System.- A.1 Units: the International and the Gaussian Unit Systems.- A.2 Names of the Constellations.- Selected Exercises.- Literature and Sources of Data.- Acknowledgements.- Fundamental Physical Constants (Inside back cover).- Astronomical Constants and Units (Inside back cover).

O autorze

Albrecht Unsöld (1905-1995) war Professor und Direktor des Instituts für Theoretische Physik an der Universität Kiel. Er war Autor verschiedener Bücher. Bodo Baschek ist emeritierter Professor des Instituts für Theoretische Astrophysik der Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg.

Blurb

This new edition of the classic textbook The New Cosmos presents a comprehensive introductory survey of the whole field of astronomy and astrophysics.
Among the topics covered are:
- Classical astronomy and the Solar System
- Instruments and observational methods
- The Sun and the stars
- The Milky Way and other galaxies
- Cosmology
- The origin of the Solar System

- The evolution of the Earth and of life
The observational methods and results of astronomical research as well as their theoretical foundations and interrelations are presented in an understandable format. The rapid progress of observational techniques and of theoretical understanding in the past decade are introduced and summarized in this timely and readable volume.

This revised and extended new printing demonstrates the rapid advances in astronomical research and observation in the three years since the appearance of the 5th edition. The most important new results can be found within, providing in particular up-to-date information on our solar system, neutrino radiation from the Sun, the farthest galaxies and quasars and the development of the Universe.