Galaxies and stars Books

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewOne of SkyNews Best Astronomy Books of the Year 2013, chosen by SkyNews editor, Terence Dickinson "The Milky Way is a good overview of our knowledge of the Milky Way... [F]or those who want to get up to speed on the Milky Way, or simply refresh their knowledge of it, this book can help the reader become an insider about our galactic home."--Jeff Foust, Space Review "Erudite, yet eminently accessible... [A] joy to read."--Bill Baker, ForeWord "The Milky Way: An Insider's Guide is a very comprehensive and up-to-date survey of its subject. The overall impression it leaves one with is of our galaxy as a very busy place, fizzing with what the author, in a particularly felicitous phrase, calls 'vigorous fecundity.' Our little burg may be a mere speck in the grand scheme of things, but there's a lot going on here."--John Derbyshire, American Spectator "The breadth of material Waller covers is astonishing... As a space journalist, I'll definitely keep this book on my shelf."--Elizabeth Howell, Universe Today "[R]ich with fascinating detail... The author delivers everything we need in a book about our Galaxy, bringing a welcome depth to our appreciation of those clear, dark nights."--Alastair Gunn, BBC Sky at Night "[W]ell-written and accessible... Strongly recommended, as this volume should have a wide readership among student and lay astronomers."--Library Journal "[A] thrilling story of our home galaxy, quite the best I've seen in popular astronomy books."--Simon Mitton, Times Higher Education "The photographs are quite stunning. As new techniques and more elaborate apparatus for exploring the universe are being developed, our knowledge and understanding are increasing exponentially. This excellent and comprehensive guide to the Milky Way may well be the definitive book on the subject for the time being, but it is unlikely to remain so for too long."--Anthony Toole, Shvoong.com "Waller's book provides an excellent starting point, telling the story of the formation and evolution of the Milky Way, and how this hard-won knowledge was obtained--and it does so in an entertaining and not overly detailed fashion. It should be among the first recommendations to new students of the field, as well as to citizen scientists who wish to deepen their understanding of one of the fundamental, as well as fast-advancing, areas of modern astronomy."--Timothy C. Beers, Nature Physics "This clearly written, largely nontechnical book balances the poetic interpretation of the starry realm with the modern scientific nature of the Milky Way galaxy... The book can be used as a textbook or be a good general read."--Choice "[W]aller's goal--fully achieved, in my opinion--is to familiarize readers with the history of the discovery of the Milky Way Galaxy's size, shape, and contents and our place in it. Attention is given to the origin of stars in general and to the nature of specific types of stars and how our galaxy came to be in the first place."--Terence Dickinson, SkyNews "This book is superb: written in an engaging, even folksy, style, it would be the perfect primer for a beginning undergraduate wanting an up-to-date overview of stellar and galactic astronomy."--David Stickland, Journal of Continuity and ChangeTable of ContentsPreface vii Chapter 1: First Impressions 1 Chapter 2: Historic Perceptions 10 Chapter 3: Panchromatic Vistas 53 Chapter 4: Neighbors of the Sun 82 Chapter 5: Beacons from Afar 102 Chapter 6: Star Birth 127 Chapter 7: Lives of the Stars 148 Chapter 8: Stellar Afterlives 171 Chapter 9: The Galactic Garden 194 Chapter 10: Monster in the Core 221 Chapter 11: Tales of Origin 236 Chapter 12: Life in the Milky Way 251 Glossary 277 Notes 295 Selected Readings 303 Index 311

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Book SynopsisThe simplest guide to astronomy and stargazing!Grasping astronomy has never been easier. Your awe of the night sky will soon turn into knowledge of the constellations, planets and astrological phenomena!Bold graphics and easy-to-understand text make this visual guide the perfect introduction to astronomy and stargazing for those who have little time but a big thirst for knowledge. Inside, you’ll find:   • Simple, easy-to-understand graphics that help to explain astronomy, space and the night sky in a clear, visual way.    • The latest astronomical information on black holes, gravitational waves, the origin of the universe and the planets of the Solar System.    • User-friendly star-charts that guide you through the sky using brighter stars as “signposts” to locate harder-to-see objects.    • Essential advice on the

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Book SynopsisThis bookexplores and explains the structural evolution of galaxies, how we measure it,how these measurements change with time, and how observing this revealsimportant information about galaxy formation and evolution. It also explains the future of the field, including through the use of machine learning tools.

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Book SynopsisThe story of the people who see beyond the starsTrade Review‘The awesome endeavours and intellectual adventures in the physical practice and gains in understanding that are the heart and passion of astronomers is gloriously portrayed from the mind of a wonderful practitioner, Emily Levesque. Her range of experiences and insights through the recent period of rapid developments and future planning in this progressive human effort gloriously reach out to everyone.’ -- Professor Alec Boksenberg, former director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory‘The Last Stargazers is perfect for anyone who has ever wondered what it’s like to actually be an astronomer, or who has dreamt of staring up at the stars. Amidst the stories of mishaps and mistakes is a surprisingly romantic view of the glory of exploration, taken one dark night at a time.’ -- Dr Chris Lintott, BBC The Sky at Night‘If you’ve ever wondered what astronomers do—what they really do—and the human journey from the era of eyepieces to gigantic robotic cameras, The Last Stargazers puts you there with compelling honesty, following the scientists and students with hundred-ton telescopes as backdrop.’ -- Erik Asphaug, author of When the Earth Had Two Moons‘Through captivating stories, Levesque gives us both a vivid and accessible inside look at the enigmatic mountain-top astronomers. A unique and engaging read.’ -- Dr Sara Seager, professor of astronomy at MIT‘Emily Levesque is smart and funny, and her insider’s tale of stars and the astronomers who study them bursts with color and energy.’ -- Edward Dolnick, author of The Clockwork Universe‘Emily’s book is a compulsive read. It demonstrates what being an observational astronomer is really like—the highs, the lows, and the unscheduled things that can happen at telescopes around the world! Give this book to every young person (especially the girls!) that you know who likes math and science.’ -- Jocelyn Bell Burnell, astrophysicist at Oxford University‘Astronomy is dangerous. Wild (sometimes venomous) animals, thin air, heavy equipment, hazardous chemicals… Dr. Levesque captures all this with amusement and personal experience, making this a delightful read for everyone.’ -- Phil Plait, astronomer and author of Bad Astronomy‘Emily Levesque depicts the adventurous life of professional hands-on astronomers, from the top of the Andes, Chile through the Arizona cliffs to Big Island, Hawaii, telling stories of the cosmic silence of an observing night. … I have hugely enjoyed this book. It is engaging, humorous, full of quotes and stories of well-reputed colleagues. To be read, before all astronomical observations become fully automatized!’ -- Professor Claudia Maraston, Eddington Medal for Astronomy 2018, University of Portsmouth‘This will particularly appeal to young women interested in science, but any stargazer would enjoy this joyous adventure through modern astronomy.’ -- Publishers Weekly‘It’s like catching a glimpse of the magic behind the curtain galaxies away, and leaves you hanging on every spectacular word. A must read for anyone who has looked up at the sky and felt a sense of wonder, as well as those considering the world of astrophysics and astronomy.’ -- Tamara Robertson, host of Mythbusters: The Search and STEM speaker‘The perfect primer for a future astronomer or an amateur astronomy buff, it captures the highlights, lowlights, and day-to-day life of the professional stargazer.’ -- Zach Weinersmith, author of Soonish and Open Borders‘Childhood stargazers who’ve since become inquisitive adults, and any fans of Sagan’s Cosmos, will devour this book.’ -- Booklist‘Entertaining, ardent tales from an era of stargazing that may not last much longer.’ -- Kirkus Reviews‘Levesque does a wonderful job explaining the science behind astronomy as she conveys the awe and beauty of the universe, the dedication of the people who study it, and the excitement of discovery in this fascinating account that will appeal to fans of narrative nonfiction and fellow stargazers.’ -- Library Journal‘Levesque writes with great energy, bringing the world of the astronomers to life… this book does do what most astronomy books do not. It puts you in the world of practising astronomers and lets you imagine what a career as an observer would be like.’ -- Physics Education‘An insightful view of the daily (and often nightly) regime of the modern observational astronomer. The passion, adventure, challenge, humour and, yes, danger, in the pursuit of knowledge are palpably brought to life… a must-read for the uninitiated, the armchair stargazer, or anyone contemplating a career in astronomical research: a funny, romantic, intriguing real-life adventure.’ -- Dr Alastair Gunn, BBC Sky at Night‘[Levesque] sweeps the reader along with her in this very humorous and accessible book. As I was reading, I kept thinking of how many people I know who would love to read it. A perfect gift for anyone interested in astronomy… From Galileo to gravitational waves, pulsars, or black holes, it’s compulsive reading, written in an easy, chatty style… A beautiful book sharing her love of the wonders of the universe.’ * Astronomy Ireland *‘Astronomer Emily Levesque shares stories of modern-day stargazers in this fascinating new release, profiling people willing to traverse mountaintops and the most remote areas of the world, all in the name of science. There’s something for everyone in here, from the world’s most powerful telescopes to wild bears running loose in an observatory—recommended for anyone who enjoys gazing upward at the night sky.’ -- Reader’s Digest

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Book SynopsisThis textbook for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students in astronomy aims to develop a physical understanding of the fundamental principles that dictate stellar properties. Focusing on key physical processes without going into encyclopedic depth, the authors explain the life cycle of stars in a broad contemporary context.Trade Review'Pinsonneault and Ryden's book is a very welcome addition to the field of stellar evolution at a level appropriate to advanced undergraduate- or graduate-level study, since it manages to provide a clear, comprehensive overview of topics, without being intimidating in size or style. The textbook includes up-to-date results from contemporary missions such as Gaia and Kepler, with the final chapters discussing stellar rotation, pulsations, and binary evolution in depth. Most chapters include a few well-designed exercises, with a research-level reading list provided after the appendix. I would highly recommend it for Master's-level courses on stellar structure and evolution.' Paul Crowther, University of Sheffield'This text is a welcome addition to the pantheon of monographs and textbooks explaining the physical basics of stellar structure and evolution. Aimed primarily at an audience learning the material for the first time, this text explains the phases of the life of a star through a clear application of physical principles. Weaving together classical fluids, quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, and nuclear physics, it enables students and their instructors to gain the physical intuition needed for the study of stars in this time of their observational renaissance.' Lars Bildsten, University of California, Santa Barbara'This is a welcome addition to the literature, providing a comprehensive overview of stellar structure and evolution, and including insights from the latest data, techniques, and results.' William Chaplin, University of BirminghamTable of ContentsPreface; 1. Properties of stars; 2. Equations of stellar structure; 3. Equations of state; 4. Stellar energy transport; 5. Stars as fusion reactors; 6. Main sequence stars; 7. Star formation: before the main sequence; 8. Evolved stars: after the main sequence; 9. Ex-stars; 10. Rotating stars; 11. Pulsating stars; 12. Binary stars; Appendices; Bibliography, references, and figure credits; Index.

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Book SynopsisExperience the drama of the explosive cosmos and the astonishing discoveries being made about the universe's wildest phenomena. The violent birth of the universe was only the first bang of a very bumpy ride. This unfathomably cacophonous beginning has spawned blasts, implosions, cosmic cannibalism, collisions, and countless other fleeting energetic events punctuating the cosmos. Although often brief, these transient phenomena pack a powerful punch. Armed with decades of theoretical progress, unrivaled computing power, and cutting-edge technology, astronomers find themselves at the cusp of understanding not just the events themselves, but also how those events reveal the story of the entire cosmos. In Things That Go Bump in the Universe, astronomer and science writer C. Renée James introduces us to her colleagues around the world, who are using pioneering research techniques to explore everything from the very first explosions in the universe to the dark energy that could destroy it aTrade ReviewLike a pulsar, the book is at times dense, but it also dazzles. It recasts modern astronomy as the search for transient, explosive events, and the messages they contain if only we can decode them.—New York Times Book ReviewTable of ContentsPrologue. Flashes of InsightChapter 1. Catching Cosmic FirefliesChapter 2. Out of the QuestionChapter 3. Putting the "Super" in SupernovaChapter 4. Star-Shattering EnergyChapter 5. The Search for Smoking GunsChapter 6. Detecting Cosmic HeartbeatsChapter 7. Stellar ArrhythmiaChapter 8. (Almost) No Star Is an IslandChapter 9. The Making of a SuperstarChapter 10. Cloudy with a Chance of NeutrinosChapter 11. Not "The End"Chapter 12. Collision CourseChapter 13. Fallen StarsChapter 14. Don't BlinkChapter 15. Point BlankChapter 16. Cats, Rats, and Fantastic Beasts, and How to Tell Them Apart Chapter 17. Cosmic TremorsChapter 18. The Return of the FurbiesChapter 19. LIGO, We Have a ProblemChapter 20. Impeccable TimingChapter 21. All Together NowChapter 22. Multiple Eyewitness AccountsChapter 23. Furbies—A New HopeChapter 24. The First Bumps in the Universe Chapter 25. The Last HurrahEpilogue. EphemeraAcknowledgmentsBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisThis compelling visual journey through our galaxy combines more than 350 photographs, illustrations, and graphics.Trade Review“This a world-expanding book of our universe. If you feel small on the daily, like I do when I consider the vastness of space, this picture book will shrink you even more. It’s hard to put into words how beautiful these pictures are. This is the perfect book to keep in a living area for guests. Would also be amazing in a classroom, possibly inspiring some future astronauts or engineers.” –Amy’s Book-et List “From the first image of two galaxies colliding, I knew this book was going to be amazing…Overall, a remarkable book for any space enthusiast.” –Stephanie’s Book Reviews “Confession: I’ve become addicted to these National Geographic books. The quality is outstanding as we’ve always expected from Nat Geo, and I learn so much from reading them. Visual Galaxy is exactly what you’d expect and more. It’s our beloved Milky Way in pictures, looking at its past, present, and future…it also gives a glimpse into our galaxy’s position within the vast universe.” –Jennifer - Tar Heel Reader “Five words: the perfect coffee table book! “ –Literary Quicksand “Swoon. This is another stunner from National Geographic. As one would expect, the book is full of breathtaking photos that bring you into space. It’s also a great reminder of just how tiny the Earth is when you start to consider the whole of the galaxy…It’s the perfect book to just get lost in. Ha – lost in space.” –Broken Teepee “I was so wrapped up in the facts and pictures that I lost track of time and then I had finished it.” –A Dream Within a Dream “@natgeo continues to publish amazing stories of our world, and beyond! Visual Galaxy was released last month and is full of incredible photos, illustrations, and explanations of the universe. I’ve loved introducing @natgeo to my own kids - a whole new generation of humans thirsty for knowledge and hungry to explore our world.” –Instagram: @theunreadshelf “That's the best part about National Geographic, we all know them and we know that they are the pinnacle of great so if someone sees these books- they are most certainly going to pick them up and get sucked in…Not only did I love this book but my 14 and 11 year-old did as well, and it was fun to have discussions about it.” –Stranded in Chaos “If the information itself wasn’t enough this book is FULL of gorgeous photos and illustrations of things like supernovae, star clusters, solar flares and planets.” –Ms. Nose in a Book “The Foreword from Col. Chris Hadfield is a short love letter to everyone inspired by the sky and what is just past what we can see; I'm a Hadfield fan already but his brief introduction was genuine, awe-filled, and inspiring. This book is perfect for my aspiring astronaut as it has giant, gorgeous photos, artistic renderings, diagrams, and other pictures detailing the huge and little mysteries of space.” –Unabridged Chick

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Book Synopsis'A deft, frequently dramatic tour'Nature'A wonderfully clear and readable book . . . Gives a splendid overview of our Sun's planetary system, including its history and exploration'Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell*We have the impression that the solar system is perfectly regular like a clock, or a planetarium instrument. On a short timescale it is. But, seen in a longer perspective, the planets, and their satellites, have exciting lives, full of events - for example, did you know that Saturn's moon, Titan, boasts lakes which contain liquid methane surrounded by soaring hills and valleys, exactly as the earth did before life evolved on our fragile planet? Or that Mercury is the shyest planet? Or, that Mars' biggest volcano is 100 times the size of Earth's, or that its biggest canyon is 10 times the depth of the Grand Canyon, or that it wasn't always red, but blue? The culmination of a lifetime of astronomy and wonder, Paul Murdin's enchanting new book reveals everything you ever wanted to know about the planets, their satellites, and our place in the solar system.

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Book SynopsisFrom the Big Bang to the Gaia Mission, this is a very personal history of the universe through the author's favourite 100 stars.Astronomer Florian Freistetter has chosen 100 stars that have almost nothing in common. Some are bright and famous, some shine so feebly you need a huge telescope. There are big stars, small stars, nearby stars and faraway stars. Some died a while ago, others have not even yet come into being. Collectively they tell the story of the whole world, according to Freistetter. There is Algol, for example, the Demon Star, whose strange behaviour has long caused people sleepless nights. And Gamma Draconis, from which we know that the earth rotates around its own axis. There is also the star sequence 61 Cygni, which revealed the size of the cosmos to us.Then there are certain stars used by astronomers to search for extra-terrestrial life, to explore interstellar space travel, or to explain why the dinosaurs became extinct.In 100 short, fascinating and entertaining chapters, Freistetter not only reveals the past and future of the cosmos, but also the story of the people who have tried to understand the world in which we live.Trade Review'An ingenious basic course in astronomy' * Die Welt *Delightful ... an excellent diversion for people of all levels of astronomical knowledge * BBC Sky at Night Magazine *Our cosmic narrative is told in a very different, inventive manner by the Austrian writer and astronomer Florian Freistetter, who examines it through the device of providing short portraits of his hundred favourite stars. It's the classic trick of focusing on the particular to tell a wider story, and here it is done beautifully * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisPulsars are stars, a significant part of whose observed energy output is not continuous but is emitted as distinct flashes or pulses of electromagnetic radiation. Many pulsars also emit some radiation weakly and constantly, forming a background for the more intensive pulses. Three distinct classes of pulsars are presently known to astronomers, according to the source of energy that powers the radiation: Rotation-powered pulsars, where the loss of rotational energy of the star powers the radiation X-ray pulsars, where the gravitational potential energy of accreted matter is the energy source, and Magnetars, where the decay of an extremely strong magnetic field powers the radiation. Although all three classes of objects are neutron stars, their observable behaviour and the underlying physics are quite different. There are, however, connections. For example, X-ray pulsars are probably old rotation-powered pulsars that have already lost most of their energy, and have only become visible again after their binary companions expanded and began transferring matter on to the neutron star. The process of accretion can in turn transfer enough angular momentum to the neutron star to "recycle" it as a rotation-powered millisecond pulsar.

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Book SynopsisGalaxies are the basic unit of cosmology. The study of galaxy formation is concerned with the processes that formed a heterogeneous universe from a homogeneous beginning. The physics of galaxy formation is complicated because it deals with the dynamics of stars, thermodynamics of gas and energy production of stars. A black hole is a massive object whose gravitational field is so intense that it prevents any form of matter or radiation to escape. It is hypothesised that the most massive galaxies in the universe -- "elliptical galaxies" -- grow simultaneously with the supermassive black holes at their centres, giving us much stronger evidence that black holes control galaxy formation. This book reviews new evidence in the field.

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Book SynopsisIn this book, the authors present current research in galactic study including its evolution, morphology and dynamics. Topics included in this compilation include the nature of motion in quiet and active galaxies with a satellite companion; empirical age-metallicity relation and empirical metallicity distribution of long-lived stars of different populations; radio quiet AGN properties vs. spin paradigm; and turbulent formation of protogalaxies at the end of the plasma epoch.

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