The New Cosmos, in this its forth, completely revised edition, provides a lively but rigorous introduction to astronomy and astrophysics. Intended for students, lecturers, researchers and amateur astronomers, it reveals the fascinating world of galaxies and quasars, stars and planets - indeed, the whole universe - simultaneously describing observational techniques and theoretical principles.

Klappentext

Astronomy, astrophysics and space research have developed extensively and rapidly in the last few decades. The new opportunities for observation afforded by space travel, the development of high-sensitivity light detectors and the use of powerful computers have revealed new aspects of the fascinating world of galaxies and quasars, stars and planets. The fourth, completely revised edition of The New Cosmos bears witness to this explosive development. It provides a comprehensive but concise introduction to all of astronomy and astrophysics. It stresses observations and theoretical principles equally, requiring of the reader only basic mathematical and scientific background knowledge. Like its predecessors, this edition of The New Cosmos will be welcomed by students and researchers in the fields of astronomy, physics and earth sciences, as well as by serious amateur astronomers.

Inhalt

1. Introduction.- 2. Classical Astronomy. The Solar System.- 3. Astronomical and Astrophysical Instruments.- 4. The Sun and Stars. Astrophysics of Individual Stars.- 5. Stellar Systems: The Milky Way and Other Galaxies. Cosmogony and Cosmology.- 6. The Origin of the Solar System. The Evolution of the Earth and of Life.- A.1 Various Units in the International System of Units (SI) and the Gaussian System.- A.2 Names of the Constellations.- Figure Acknowledgements.- Selected Exercises.- Fundamental Physical Constants (Inside back cover).- Astronomical Constants and Units (Inside back cover).