Molecules are found in a large variety of astronomical environments, ranging from comets in the solar system to galaxies at high redshift. This book brings together astronomers, physicists and chemists to discuss the use of molecules as probes of astrophysical parameters, explore their role in the evolution of astronomical objects, and study the basic chemical processes that occur in space. The enormous progress in observational techniques is illustrated by studies of the physics and chemistry on scales comparable to the protosolar nebulae around high- and low-mass forming stars and planetary...

Molecules are found in a large variety of astronomical environments, ranging from comets in the solar system to galaxies at high redshift. This book brings together astronomers, physicists and chemists to discuss the use of molecules as probes of astrophysical parameters, explore their role in the evolution of astronomical objects, and study the basic chemical processes that occur in space. The enormous progress in observational techniques is illustrated by studies of the physics and chemistry on scales comparable to the protosolar nebulae around high- and low-mass forming stars and planetary...