Galaxies and stars Books

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Book SynopsisWhat We See in the Stars Kelsey Oseid is a richly illustrated guide to the myths, histories, and science of the celestial bodies of our solar system, with stories and information about constellations, planets, comets, the northern lights, and more. Combining art, mythology, and science, What We See in the Stars is a tour of the night sky through more than a hundred magical pieces of original art, all accompanied by text that weaves related legends and lore with scientific facts. This beautifully packaged book covers the night sky's most brilliant features such as constellations, the moon, the bright stars, and the visible planets, as well as less familiar celestial phenomena like the outer planets, nebulae, and deep space. Adults seeking to recapture the magic of youthful stargazing, younger readers interested in learning about natural history and outer space, and those who appreciate beautiful, hand-painted art will all delight in thiTrade ReviewThis book is a beautiful way to learn about the science and history of the night sky. Kelsey Oseid's beautiful paintings seem to be speckled with starlight and truly bring to life facts about astronomy, astrology, and mythology, from the mechanics of meteor showers to the tools used to map and name ancient constellations. What We See in the Stars is an amazing resource for anyone who ever looks up at the sky in wonderment. -- Rachel Ignotofsky, author of * Women in Science *The prettiest book I have seen in a very long time -- Colin Stuart, author of * Why Space Matters to Me *Beautifully illustrated, its inky pages take you on a journey to swim alongside the stars and celestial bodies throughout our galaxy. Kelsey Oseid makes you aware of your own unique place in spacetime and artfully shows why you should keep looking up. -- Ariel Waldman, author of * What's It Like in Space? *

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisWritten in an informal and engaging style, this volume traces the discoveries that led to our understanding of the size and structure of the Milky Way, and the conclusive evidence for a massive black hole at its center. Robert H. Sanders, an astronomer who witnessed many of these developments, describes how we parted the veil of interstellar dust to probe the strange phenomena within. We now know that the most luminous objects in the Universe - quasars and radio galaxies - are powered by massive black holes at their hearts. But how did black holes emerge from being a mathematical peculiarity, a theoretical consequence of Einstein's theory of gravity, to become part of the modern paradigm that explains active galactic nuclei and galaxy evolution in normal galaxies such as the Milky Way? This story, aimed at non-specialist readers and students and historians of astronomy, will both inform and entertain.Trade Review'In his captivating book Sanders gives an authoritative and entertaining, easy-to-read account of this 'detective story', from the beginnings in the last century to the most recent developments. As he tells his story, [he] conveys to the reader the fascination of research, the often unexpected discoveries, but also the meandering path of the research towards better understanding and knowledge, including the 'human' side of some of the major players in the story. I highly recommend this book to readers who want to understand and get captivated by one of the highlight discoveries of modern astronomy.' Reinhard Genzel, Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics'This book gives a personal enthusiastic and well informed view of the exciting discoveries in astronomy since 1950. Major advances in astronomy are led by technology, but the theme of this engagingly written book is the development of ideas, and how they are tested and refined as new observations become possible. Sanders' central subject is the revelation of the structure of our Milky Way galaxy with its 'rather small' four million solar mass central black hole. However the reader will gain also insight into how astronomy and science develop via world-wide cooperation and debate. It is fun to read!' Donald Lynden-Bell, University of Cambridge'Sanders … [inserts] helpful summaries after particularly dense sections. Those interludes contain charmingly personal reflections on both the practice and development of astronomy and help to ensure that interested readers of all backgrounds can share in the thrill of a wondrous discovery.' Matthew Walker, Physics Today'… even readers familiar with the subject will probably learn something new but at the same time the book is accessible to a general readership … I enjoyed reading the book and recommend it.' The Observatory'Highly recommended.' S.P. Maran, ChoiceTable of Contents1. Introduction: the luminous pathway; 2. The discovery of the Milky Way Galaxy; 3. The new physics; 4. Parting the veil with radio astronomy; 5. The violent Universe; 6. New windows on the Galactic Center; 7. The Milky Way as a barred spiral galaxy; 8. The evolving view of active galactic nuclei; 9. The 'paradox of youth': young stars in the Galactic Center; 10. Stellar orbits in the Galactic Center, QED; 11. Black holes here, black holes there…; 12. Traces of activity: past, present, future; Afterword: progress in astronomy.

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Book SynopsisStar clusters and black holes are moving into the focus of high resolution astrophysics, computationally as well as observationally. For the first time, observations in many regions of the electromagnetic spectrum are converging with theoretical modelling and computer simulations. These cosmological and galaxy formation models reach down to the supermassive black hole level and follow their formation and growth in the centres of galaxies, by gas and star accretion. IAU Symposium 312 brings together experts on high resolution observations as well as theoretical modelling and computational simulations, who present their research on star clusters, black holes and their interrelations, and gravitational wave astrophysics. IAU S312 continues the tradition of IAU symposia on stellar dynamics and related areas, allowing interested graduate students and researchers to access the current state of these fields.Table of ContentsPart I. Black Holes in Galactic Nuclei: 1. Galaxy mergers, AGN feedback, binary black holes, tidal disruption; 2. Dynamics of stars and gas around black holes; 3. Accretion disks around supermassive black holes; Part II. Galactic and Extragalactic Globular Clusters: 4. Extragalactic globular cluster systems; 5. Globular star clusters in the Local Group; 6. Galactic globular clusters; 7. Dwarf galaxies, nuclear star clusters; 8. Nuclear star clusters; Part III. Gravitational Wave Emission, Observations, and the Link to Astrophysics: 9. Gravitational wave emission, space instruments, black holes in galaxies; Author index.

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Book SynopsisThe Galactic Centre represents a unique and extreme environment in the Galaxy. It hosts the Milky Way''s supermassive black hole, its most concentrated dense gas reservoir and its most extreme star-formation environment. The Galactic Centre is therefore our nearest analogue to both an active galactic nucleus (AGN) and a starburst system. IAU Symposium 322 explores the revolution in our understanding of the Galactic Centre, driven by novel instrumentation including NuSTAR, ALMA, EHT and, in the near future, the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA). A number of anomalous, non-thermal signals have recently been discovered emanating from the Inner Galaxy. This volume addresses the question: are these signatures of dark matter or other new physics, or symptoms of the region''s unusual astrophysics? Graduate students and researchers at the interface between astrophysics and particle physics have much to learn from studying this unique region.Table of Contents1. New results of interest; 2. Approaching the Event Horizon; 3. Dense gas in the Galactic Centre and its star formation potential; 4. Positrons; 5. Stellar end products in the Galactic Centre; 6. Dark matter in the Galactic Centre?; 7. X-rays and plasma; 8. Galactic Centre gamma-rays, cosmic rays, magnetic fields; 9. Nuclear clusters, cluster dynamics, close orbits, relation to black hole feeding; 10. Understanding the Galactic Centre in the context of stellar/AGN feedback.

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Book SynopsisAstronomers are at a crucial point in our understanding of the Milky Way. Deciphering the assembly history of our galaxy requires detailed mapping of the structure, dynamics, chemical composition, and age distribution of its stellar populations. In the last decade, astrometric, spectroscopic, photometric, and asteroseismic surveys have started to unveil the inner- and outermost regions of the Milky Way. IAU Symposium 334 explores the still open questions and focusses on the concepts emerging from the analysis of these large, new, and complex datasets. This volume presents a summary of these topics, including the current novel data and the challenges they already pose to modeling, before Gaia end-of-mission, PLATO, and large spectroscopic surveys such as WEAVE and 4MOST are about to start. Graduate students and researchers will learn that, in this golden era of galactic archaeology, we are about to rediscover our galaxy.Table of Contents1. Tracers of the oldest Milky Way fossil records and Halo Assembly; 2. Disentangling mixed populations in the central regions of the Milky Way; 3. Galactic disks – chemodynamical properties and models; 4. Towards ages: Gaia DR1, asteroseismology, and precise abundances; 5. Stellar evolution models and stellar yields; 6. Milky Way potential and disk dynamics; 7. Cosmological simulations of Milky-Way-like galaxies; 8. Challenges in data and modeling; 9. Future outlook.

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Book SynopsisCompiled by a team of experts, this textbook introduces the properties and evolution of the most immediately visible objects in the Universe stars. Designed for elementary university courses in astronomy and astrophysics, it starts with a detailed discussion of our nearest star, the Sun, and describes how solar physicists have come to understand its internal workings. It then considers how we study the basic physical properties and life-cycles of more distant stars, culminating with a discussion of more ''exotic'' objects, such as neutron stars and black holes. This second edition has a greater emphasis on the physical and spectral properties of stars, introducing stellar atmospheres, spectral line formation and the role of binary stars in the formation of compact objects. Avoiding complex mathematics, and generously illustrated in colour throughout, this accessible text is ideal for self-study and will appeal to both amateur astronomers and undergraduate students.Trade Review'An Introduction to the Sun and Stars is a real find for those of us who had previously despaired of finding a way to introduce the magic of 'mere stars' to readers already aware of apparently more exotic phenomena in the Universe. The illustrations are the best I have seen in this level of textbook and have clearly been carefully selected to bring alive the most exciting new discoveries. The accompanying text puts these discoveries in a solid context and explains the associated physics in simple but effective terms. This book will certainly appear on my recommended reading list for introductory astronomy.' Annelia Sargent, California Institute of TechnologyReview of previous edition: 'This up-to-the-minute treatment of the universe of stars is the most enjoyable and informative book at this level that I have read. It combines clear physical arguments with excellent illustrations and diagrams, and keen readers can enhance their depth of understanding through the copious worked examples. Spread throughout, the 'biography boxes' give a refreshing human perspective to the science. Good for coffee table or lecture course!' Peter Brand, University of Edinburgh'Very little prior knowledge is assumed, with necessary physics being introduced in 'boxes' as required, and no calculus; however, the authors integrate the mathematics that they do use into the main text, leaving the reader in no doubt that the maths is essential to the subject – a refreshing change from many American freshman texts. … lavishly illustrated in colour … a book that students will both enjoy and learn from!' Susan Cartwright, The ObservatoryTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Seeing the Sun; 2. The working Sun; 3. Measuring stars; 4. Comparing stars; 5. The formation of stars; 6. The main sequence life of stars; 7. The life of stars beyond the main sequence; 8. The death of stars; 9. The remnants of stars; Conclusion; Answers and comments; Appendices; Glossary; Further reading; Acknowledgements; Figure references; Index.

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Book SynopsisThe Cambridge Double Star Atlas is back! It is the first and only atlas of physical double stars that can be viewed with amateur astronomical instruments. Completely rewritten, this new edition explains the latest research into double stars, and looks at the equipment, techniques and opportunities that will enable you to discover, observe and measure them. The target list has been completely revised and extended to 2500 binary or multiple systems. Each system is described with the most recent and accurate data from the authoritative Washington Double Star Catalog, including the HD and SAO numbers that are most useful in our digital age. Hundreds of remarks explain the attributes of local, rapidly changing, often measured or known orbital systems. The color atlas charts by Wil Tirion have been updated to help you easily find and identify the target systems, as well as other deep-sky objects. This is an essential reference for double star observers.Trade Review'This comprehensive update of a popular star atlas amongst the double star community is to be welcomed. The catalogue has also been extensively and logically revised with more accessibility for the amateur telescope as the guiding theme.' R. W. Argyle, Director, Webb Society Double Star Section, and author of Observing and Measuring Visual Double Stars'The Cambridge Double Star Atlas has long been a valuable resource to double star observers. This second edition has a much more detailed introduction describing binary stars, their orbits and properties, observing tools, and techniques. The double star target list has been expanded to include more information about each double star such as position angle, spectral types, and distances. Even if you already have the first edition, this second edition is a worthwhile upgrade.' R. Kent Clark, Editor, Journal of Double Star ObservationsTable of ContentsPreface; What are double stars?; The binary orbit; Double star dynamics; Stellar mass and the binary life cycle; The double star population; Detecting double stars; Double star catalogs; Telescope optics; Preparing to observe; Helpful accessories; Viewing challenges; Next steps; Appendices: target list; Useful formulas; Double star orbits; Double star catalogs; The Greek alphabet.

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Book SynopsisStars are mostly found in binary and multiple systems, with at least 50% of all solar-like stars having companions; this fraction approaches 100% for the most massive stars. A large proportion of these systems interact and alter the structure and evolution of their components, leading to exotic objects such as Algol variables, blue stragglers and other chemically peculiar stars, but also to phenomena such as non-spherical planetary nebulae, supernovae and gamma-ray bursts. While it is understood that binaries play a critical role in the Initial Mass Function, the interactions among binary systems significantly affect the dynamical evolution of stellar clusters and galaxies. This interdisciplinary volume presents results from state-of-the-art models and observations aimed at studying the impact of binaries on stellar evolution in resolved and unresolved populations. Serving as a bridge between observational and theoretical astronomy, it is a comprehensive review for researchers and advaTrade Review'… the book as a whole is well in line with what one expects from CUP: the texts are well-written, and the illustrations clear. Every department and observatory needs a copy of this book. Every astrophysicist will find something of value.' Elizabeth Griffin, The ObservatoryTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. The zoo of binary stars Henri M. J. Boffin; 2. Statistics of binary and multiple stars M. Moe; 3. Gaia and LSST: their importance in binary star research L. Eyer, Nami Mowlavi, Isabelle Lecoeur-Taibi, Lorenzo Rimoldini, Berry Holl, Marc Audard, Simon Hodgkin, Dafydd W. Evans, Lukasz Wyrzykowsi, George Seabroke, Andrej Prša, and Dimitri Pourbaix; 4. Population synthesis of binary stars R. G. Izzard and G. M. Halabi; 5. Low- and intermediate-mass star evolution: open problems M. Salaris; 6. The symbiotic stars U. Munari; 7. Binary post-AGB stars as tracers of stellar evolution H. van Winckel; 8. The importance of binarity in the formation and evolution of planetary nebulae D. Jones; 9. Massive star evolution: binaries as two single stars C. Georgy and S. Ekström; 10. Binarity at high masses H. Sana; 11. Luminous blue variables: their formation and instability in the context of binary interactions A. Mehner; 12. Type Ia supernovae: where are they coming from and where will they lead us? F. Patat and N. Hallakoun; 13. Binary interactions and gamma-ray bursts N. R. Tanvir; 14. Binaries as sources of gravitational waves G. Nelemans; 15. The impact of binaries on the stellar initial mass function P. Kroupa and T. Jerabkova; 16. The formation of binary stars: insights from theory and observation C. J. Clarke; 17. The Maxwell's demon of star clusters M. Mapelli; 18. Alternative stellar evolution pathways R. D. Mathieu and E. M. Leiner; 19. Clocks and scales: playing with the physics of blue stragglers F. R. Ferraro and B. Lanzoni; 20. Binaries at very low metallicity S. Lucatello; 21. Population and spectral synthesis: it doesn't work without binaries J. J. Eldridge and E. R. Stanway.

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Book SynopsisWhite dwarfs are the most numerous members of the stellar graveyard. More than ninety percent of all stars will end their lives as white dwarfs. Research on these objects is fascinating in its own right, requiring developments in atomic data and the study of properties of matter under extreme conditions. However, these studies also have enormous impact on other areas of astrophysics, including: cosmology, the composition of extrasolar planets and fundamental physics. The proceedings of IAU Symposium 357 bring together experts from different branches of science working on white dwarfs, but also astronomers with expertise in a wide range of relevant disciplines. The resulting papers are organized around several key themes: SN Ia progenitors, debris from extrasolar planetary systems, fundamental physics, precision studies of white dwarf structure and stellar physics and Galactic evolution. They provide a framework for guiding the direction of white dwarf research for the next decade.Table of Contents1. Type Ia Supernova Sub-classes and Progenitor Origin Ashley Ruiter; 2. Convection in Common Envelopes and the Formation of Double White Dwarfs Emily Wilson; 3. Double Degenerate Candidates in the Open Cluster NGC 6633 Joseph Barnett; 4. ANTARES: A Gateway to ZTF and LSST Alerts Chien-Hsiu Lee; 5. Exoplanetary Oxygen Fugacities from Polluted White Dwarf Stars Alexandra Doyle; 6. Near-infrared Observations of Dusty White Dwarfs Laura Rogers; 7. The Search for Planet and Planetesimal Transits of White Dwarfs with the Zwicky Transient Facility Keaton Bell; 8. Searching for Low-mass Companions Around White Dwarfs and Subdwarfs from Kepler Field Jerzy Krzesinski; 9. Variation of Fundamental Constants and White Dwarfs Susana Landau; 10. Clues to the Origin and Properties of Magnetic White Dwarfs Adela Kawka; 11. A New Look at Magnetic White Dwarfs François Hardy; 12. Continuous Gravitational Wave from Magnetized White Dwarfs Surajit Kalita; 13. Laboratory Studies of Vacuum Ultra-Violet (VUV) Emission Spectra of Heavy Element Ions W.-Ü Lydia Tchang-Brillet; 14. Neutral Helium Line Profiles through the Simulation of Local Interactions Patrick Tremblay; 15. White-Dwarf Asteroseismology: An Update Alejandro Hugo Córsico; 16. Variable White Dwarfs: Past Progress, Future Opportunities Harry Shipman; 17. Evolution and Asteroseismology of Ultra-massive DA White Dwarfs Francisco De Gerónimo; 18. Validation of Asteroseismic Fitting with the New White Dwarf Evolution Code Agnes Kim; 19. The Chemical Structure of the Hot Pulsating DB White Dwarf KIC 08626021 from Asteroseismology Stephane Charpinet; 20. Searching for ZZ Ceti White Dwarfs in the Gaia Survey Olivier Vincent; 21. Pulsating White Dwarfs and Convection Judith Provencal; 22. Accreting Pulsating White Dwarfs: Probing Heating and Rotation Paula Szkody; 23. QPOs from Post-shock Accretion Column of Strongly Magnetized Accreting White Dwarfs Prasanta Bera; 24. White Dwarfs as Advanced Physics Laboratories: The Axion Case Jordi Isern; 25. The Real Time Evolution of Post-AGB Stars Marcin Hajduk; 26. (Pre-)White Dwarf Stars as Measuring Tools for Yields of AGB Nucleosynthesis Lisa Löbling; 27. The Spectral Evolution of Hot White Dwarfs Antoine Bédard; 28. The Spectral Evolution of Cool White Dwarfs Simon Blouin; 29. The Completeness of Gaia-Selected Samples of White Dwarfs: Are We There Yet? Terry Oswalt; 30. Two Delays in White Dwarf Evolution Revealed by Gaia Sihao Cheng; 31. Ensemble Evolutionary Studies of White Dwarfs in Open Star Clusters Kurtis Williams; 32. New Population Synthesis Approach: The Golden Path to Constrain Stellar and Galactic Physics Nadege Lagarde; 33. A Catalog of 159,238 White Dwarf Ages Ted von Hippel; 34. A Bayesian Analysis of White Dwarfs in Open Clusters Observed with Gaia Elizabeth Jeffery; 35. Testing White Dwarf Cosmochronology Using Wide Double White Dwarfs Tyler Heintz; 36. Statistics of White Dwarf Properties in Intermediate Polars Valery Suleimanov; 37. Realistic Models of Globular Clusters with White Dwarfs, Neutron Stars and Black Holes Using GPU Supercomputer Bhusan Kayastha; 38. Masses of White Dwarfs in Symbiotic Binaries Kenneth Hinkle; 39. Four New Self-lensing Binaries from Kepler: Radial Velocity Characterization and Astrophysical Implications Kento Masuda; 40. What Can ISM and Non-Photospheric Highly Ionised Lines in White Dwarf Spectra Reveal about the Beta CMa Tunnel? Nicolle Finch; 41. Geometry of Nova Ejecta M. Pavana; 42. Main Conclusions from Symposium Discussions Martin Barstow.

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Book SynopsisModern telescopes of even modest aperture can show thousands of double stars. Many are faint and unremarkable but hundreds are worth searching out. Veteran double-star observer Bob Argyle and his co-authors take a close-up look at their selection of 175 of the night sky''s most interesting double and multiple stars. The history of each system is laid out from the original discovery to what we know at the present time about the stars. Wide-field finder charts are presented for each system along with plots of the apparent orbits and predicted future positions for the orbital systems. Recent measurements of each system are included which will help you to decide whether they can be seen in your telescope, as well as giving advice on the aperture needed. Double star observers of all levels of experience will treasure the level of detail in this guide to these jewels of the night sky.Trade Review'This anthology was prepared by three expert amateur astronomers … The book catalogs 175 double stars suitable for viewing with amateur equipment. For each pair it provides observed, calculated, and inferred properties, catalog number, historical records, modern measurements, observing advice, and more. The introductory chapters include one devoted to biographical profiles of historical and contemporary observers. This work belongs in the library of every high school or college with an astronomy club, or that offers astronomy classes with lab sections. It is a worthy, simpler supplement to lead author Argyle's Observing and Measuring Visual Double Stars.' S. P. Maran, Choice'I very much enjoyed reviewing this book which took me a while as I kept getting side-tracked looking things up that caught my attention! I thoroughly recommend this excellent book and consider it an essential part of the armoury for any serious double star observer. Well done to the authors for producing a work on another level to conventional publications on double stars.' Andrew Robertson, The Deep-Sky Observer'The authors' decades of experience in observing visual double stars and compiling catalogues has led to this wonderful selection of 175 visual binaries from both hemispheres that is a pleasure to thumb through and enjoy … While this is an anthology of visual binaries, the relevant complementary results from techniques like spectroscopy and interferometry as they pertain to multiplicity degree are not overlooked … A particularly appreciated and humanizing aspect of this book is a collection of biographies of classical as well as modern observers-both professionals and amateurs-who have and still are contributing to this venerable subfield of astronomy … This is a book that aficionados of double stars will return to again and again.' Harold A. McAlister, The Observatory'Each double star has its own chapter, and therein is a finder chart, details of the immediate celestial environment, a tabulated summary of the double's physical parameters, a fascinating history and, most importantly, an historical summary of the measurements of the double … Useful chapters are included on 'Double star resources' - detailing websites and catalogues - and 'Observational double star groups' where both existing and new observers can contact others (it is quite probable that the Anthology will inspire more observers to explore these fabulous celestial sights.) For your reviewer though the most fascinating chapter is that giving biographies of well-known current and historical double star observers. This chapter really brings the science to life … I can heartily recommend this volume to amateur observers … If you already have The Cambridge Double Star Atlas, buying the Anthology is a must. If you haven't - buy both!.' John McCue, Journal of the British Astronomical AssociationTable of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Observing double stars; 3. Measurement techniques; 4. Observational double star groups; 5. Double star online resources; 6. Biographies of visual double star observers; 7. Myths, mysteries and one-offs; 8. A selection of double stars; 9. Double star catalogue in constellation order; 10. Introduction to the Catalogue; The Catalogue 1-175; Appendices; References; Index.

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Book Synopsis Jessica Khoury brings her masterful world-building and emotional depth to a brand-new fantasy series. In a world where everyone is born with wings, stone monsters prowl the skies, hunting those who dare to fly too high.In the Clandoms, everyone is born with wings, with tight-knit communities formed around bird types: Jay, Falcon, Crow. Ellie Meadows dreams of growing up to join the Goldwings -- the famed knights who defend all the people of the Clandoms. It was a Goldwing, after all, who saved her life on that terrible day her parents were killed. There''s just one problem: Ellie is a Sparrow, and the Goldwings are almost invariably picked from the higher clans like Eagles and Ospreys. This rigid hierarchy means that Ellie is destined to become a farmer. Determined to honor her parents'' memories and prove herself worthy of the Goldwings, Ellie sets out on her own for the capital. But her journey will be dangerous. Foul creatures called gargols lurk behind every

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Book SynopsisWhy write a book about the stars? Of what use is their study? This book covers this ground with a number of anecdotes arising from the author’s almost 60 years’ experience as a research scientist who has worked with some of the largest telescopes in the world. The text exposes much of what is glossed over in the canned information that the public get and holds nothing back with respect to uncertainties within the subject. People want answers, want somehow to be reassured that someone out there has a handle on things. This book details the basis for our knowledge of the universe, warts and all, and offers important insights as to where the science is going.

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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 SynopsisThis book provides an accessible introduction to the fascinating and topical subject of black holes. It bridges the gap between popular non-mathematical expositions and advanced research texts, using simple undergraduate level calculations and the most basic knowledge of relativity to explain current research. This means the theory can be understood by a wide audience of physicists, including those who are not necessarily interested in learning higher-level mathematical techniques.The third edition links more of the current research trends to fundamental aspects of the physics of black holes. Additionally: This new edition introduces a chapter dedicated to a selection of recent results. Existing chapters have been updated and new explanatory material has been added to aid in the understanding of the physics.This book is recommended reading for advanced undergraduate students and first-year postgraduates who will find it a useful stepping-stone to the advanced literature.Table of ContentsBrief Overview of General Relativity; The Schwarzschild Metric; The Kerr Metric; Black Hole Thermodynamics; The Quantum Properties of Black Holes Without a Full Quantum Field Theory Treatment; Wormholes and Time Travel; Black Holes in Higher Dimensions; The Observational Evidence for Black Holes in Nature; Answers to the Problems;

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Book SynopsisDistant galaxies encapsulate the various stages of galaxy evolution and formation from over 95% of the development of the universe. As early as twenty-five years ago, little was known about them, however since the first systematic survey was completed in the 1990s, increasing amounts of resources have been devoted to their discovery and research. This book summarises for the first time the numerous techniques used for observing, analysing, and understanding the evolution and formation of these distant galaxies.In this rapidly expanding research field, this text is an every-day companion handbook for graduate students and active researchers. It provides guidelines in sample selection, imaging, integrated spectroscopy and 3D spectroscopy, which help to avoid the numerous pitfalls of observational and analysis techniques in use in extragalactic astronomy. It also paves the way for establishing relations between fundamental properties of distant galaxies. At each step, the reader is assisted with numerous practical examples and ready-to-use methodology to help understand and analyse research.François Hammer worked initially in general relativity and made the first modelling of gravitational lenses prior to their spectroscopic confirmation. Following this, he became co-leader of the first complete survey of distant galaxies, the Canada-France-Redshift Survey. This led to the discovery of the strong decrease of the cosmic star formation density measured from UV light as z=1, which, alongside Hector Flores, they confirmed as bolometric and dust independent. With Mathieu Puech, they then pioneered the 3D spectroscopy of distant galaxies, leading to a major increase of understanding of the dynamic state of distant galaxies evidenced by the scatter of the Tully-Fisher relation. This led them to propose, with the addition to the team of Myriam Rodrigues, that galactic disks may survive or be rebuilt in gas-rich mergers, a scenario that is consistent with contemporary cosmological simulations. Besides extensive observational experience, the authors have led, or are leading, several instruments implemented or to be implemented at the largest telescopes, including VLT/Giraffe, VLT/X-shooter, VLT/MOONS and E-ELT/MOSAIC. They have also developed several observational techniques in adaptive optics, and in sky subtraction for integral field units and fibre instruments.

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Book SynopsisDistant galaxies encapsulate the various stages of galaxy evolution and formation from over 95% of the development of the universe. As early as twenty-five years ago, little was known about them, however since the first systematic survey was completed in the 1990s, increasing amounts of resources have been devoted to their discovery and research. This book summarises for the first time the numerous techniques used for observing, analysing, and understanding the evolution and formation of these distant galaxies.In this rapidly expanding research field, this text is an every-day companion handbook for graduate students and active researchers. It provides guidelines in sample selection, imaging, integrated spectroscopy and 3D spectroscopy, which help to avoid the numerous pitfalls of observational and analysis techniques in use in extragalactic astronomy. It also paves the way for establishing relations between fundamental properties of distant galaxies. At each step, the reader is assisted with numerous practical examples and ready-to-use methodology to help understand and analyse research.François Hammer worked initially in general relativity and made the first modelling of gravitational lenses prior to their spectroscopic confirmation. Following this, he became co-leader of the first complete survey of distant galaxies, the Canada-France-Redshift Survey. This led to the discovery of the strong decrease of the cosmic star formation density measured from UV light as z=1, which, alongside Hector Flores, they confirmed as bolometric and dust independent. With Mathieu Puech, they then pioneered the 3D spectroscopy of distant galaxies, leading to a major increase of understanding of the dynamic state of distant galaxies evidenced by the scatter of the Tully-Fisher relation. This led them to propose, with the addition to the team of Myriam Rodrigues, that galactic disks may survive or be rebuilt in gas-rich mergers, a scenario that is consistent with contemporary cosmological simulations. Besides extensive observational experience, the authors have led, or are leading, several instruments implemented or to be implemented at the largest telescopes, including VLT/Giraffe, VLT/X-shooter, VLT/MOONS and E-ELT/MOSAIC. They have also developed several observational techniques in adaptive optics, and in sky subtraction for integral field units and fibre instruments.

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Book SynopsisThe Moon has always been an object of immense fascination for humanity – and not just because of its prominence in the night sky. With its complex orbit, it is far closer to our planet than any other celestial body. Already in ancient Babylon, humans have studied the Moon and its relationship to the planets and constellations. Through incisive texts and illustrations using photos and computer simulations, this book explores the similarities and differences to other planets and their moons, the Moon’s interactions with the Sun and the Earth, and interesting historical associations. In addition to scientifically accurate texts, it contains numerous large-format photographs and graphics that vividly explain the complex phenomenon of the Moon. Richly illustrated, it is designed for anyone interested in astronomy.

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Book SynopsisThis book surveys our understanding of stars which change in brightness because they pulsate. Pulsating variable stars are keys to distance scales inside and beyond the Milky Way galaxy. They test our understanding not only of stellar pulsation theory but also of stellar structure and evolution theory. Moreover, pulsating stars are important probes of the formation and evolution of our own and neighboring galaxies. Our understanding of pulsating stars has greatly increased in recent years as large-scale surveys of pulsating stars in the Milky Way and other Local Group galaxies have provided a wealth of new observations and as space-based instruments have studied particular pulsating stars in unprecedented detail.Table of ContentsPreface XI 1 Historical Overview 1 1.1 Discovery of the First Pulsating Variable Stars 1 1.1.1 Nomenclature 5 1.2 The Recognition of Pulsation as a Cause of Variability 8 2 Fundamentals of Stellar Variability Observations 11 2.1 Definitions 11 2.1.1 Time and Julian Dates 11 2.1.2 Light Curves 14 2.2 Photometric Bandpasses 16 2.3 Period Determination 16 2.4 Common Observational Techniques 20 2.4.1 Visual Methods 20 2.4.2 Photographic Methods 22 2.4.3 Photoelectric Methods 24 2.4.4 CCD Surveys 25 2.5 Space-Based Versus Ground Observations 27 3 Classification of Variable Stars 29 3.1 Regular, Semi-Regular, and Irregular Variables 29 3.2 Variability: Intrinsic and/or Extrinsic 30 3.3 Extrinsic Variables 30 3.3.1 Algol-Type Eclipsing Binaries (EAs) 30 3.3.2 𝛽 Lyrae-Type Eclipsing Binaries (EBs) 32 3.3.3 WUMa-Type Eclipsing Binaries (EWs) 32 3.3.4 R-Type Binaries 32 3.3.5 Planetary Transits and Asteroid Occultations 33 3.4 Intrinsic Variables 34 3.4.1 Rotational Variables 34 3.4.1.1 Ap Stars (𝛼2 CVn Stars) 34 3.4.1.2 SpottedWUMa, 𝛽 Lyr, and Algol Systems 36 3.4.1.3 RS Canum Venaticorum Stars 36 3.4.1.4 BY Dra Stars 37 3.4.1.5 FK Com Stars 38 3.4.1.6 Ellipsoidal Variables 38 3.4.2 Eruptive Variables 39 3.4.2.1 UV Ceti Stars 39 3.4.2.2 FU Orionis (FUor) Stars 39 3.4.2.3 EX Lupi (EXor) Stars 40 3.4.2.4 T Tauri Stars 40 3.4.2.5 Herbig Ae/Be Stars 40 3.4.2.6 Luminous Blue Variables 41 3.4.2.7 Wolf–Rayet Stars 41 3.4.2.8 R Coronae Borealis (R CrB) Variables 42 3.4.2.9 𝛾 Cassiopeiae (Be) Stars 43 3.4.3 Explosive and Novalike Variables 44 3.4.3.1 Cataclysmic Variables 44 3.4.3.2 Symbiotic Stars 47 3.4.3.3 Supernovae 48 3.4.4 Pulsating Variables and the Scope of this Book 50 4 Stellar Structure and Evolution Theory 53 4.1 The Basic Equations of Stellar Structure and Evolution 53 4.2 The Evolution of Low-Mass Stars 57 4.3 The Evolution of Intermediate-Mass Stars 66 4.4 The Evolution of High-Mass Stars 70 5 Stellar Pulsation Theory 73 5.1 Timescales 73 5.2 Ritter’s (Period–Mean Density) Relation 76 5.3 Basic Equations of (Radial) Stellar Pulsation Theory 78 5.3.1 Generalization of the Energy Conservation Equation 78 5.3.2 Summary 81 5.4 Linearization of the Stellar Pulsation Equations 81 5.4.1 PerturbationTheory 82 5.4.2 The Continuity Equation 83 5.4.3 The Conservation of Momentum Equation 84 5.4.4 The Energy Conservation Equation 85 5.4.5 The Energy Transfer Equation 86 5.4.6 Constitutive Equations 86 5.5 Linear Adiabatic Oscillations: The LAWE 87 5.5.1 Justification of the Adiabatic Approximation 88 5.5.2 The LAWE 90 5.5.3 Boundary Conditions 92 5.6 Eigenvalues and Eigenfunctions of the LAWE 95 5.6.1 Examples 98 5.6.1.1 The Homologous Case 99 5.6.1.2 The Polytropic Case 99 5.6.1.3 An Actual RR Lyrae Model 102 5.7 Non-Adiabatic Theory: Conditions for Stability 105 5.8 The Linear Non-Adiabatic Wave Equation 109 5.9 Driving Mechanisms 113 5.9.1 The 𝜖 Mechanism 114 5.9.2 The 𝜅 and 𝛾 Mechanisms 117 5.9.3 The “Opacity Bump” Mechanism 120 5.10 Stability Conditions and Instability Strip Edges 123 5.10.1 Other Instability Mechanisms 124 5.10.1.1 Convective Blocking Mechanism 124 5.10.1.2 Convective Driving (𝛿 Mechanism) 124 5.10.1.3 Stochastically Excited Pulsations 125 5.10.1.4 Tidally Excited Pulsations 129 5.10.1.5 GravitationalWaves 129 5.10.1.6 Stellar Mergers 130 5.10.1.7 Sunquakes and Starquakes: Flare-Driven Oscillations 130 5.11 Non-Radial Pulsations 130 5.11.1 Theoretical Framework; Helio- and Asteroseismological Applications 131 5.12 Nonlinear Effects 153 6 RR Lyrae Stars 157 6.1 RR Lyrae Stars as a Class of Pulsating Variable Star 157 6.2 RR Lyrae Stars as Standard Candles 164 6.3 Evolution of RR Lyrae Stars 167 6.4 Pulsation 168 6.5 The Blazhko Effect 169 6.6 RR Lyrae Stars in Globular Clusters 172 6.7 The Oosterhoff Groups 173 6.8 Period Changes 177 6.9 RR Lyrae Stars beyond the MilkyWay 181 7 Cepheid and Related Variable Stars 183 7.1 Classical Cepheids 183 7.1.1 Cepheid Light Curves 185 7.1.2 The Period Luminosity Relation: Leavitt’s Law 189 7.1.3 Evolution and Period Changes 192 7.1.4 Polaris 195 7.2 Type II Cepheids 196 7.2.1 Light Curves 200 7.2.2 Spectra and Chemical Composition 203 7.2.3 Period–Luminosity Relation 204 7.2.4 Evolution and Period Changes 206 7.3 BL Boo Stars or Anomalous Cepheids 208 7.4 RV Tauri Stars 211 8 Red Variable Stars 215 8.1 Convection and Pulsation 217 8.2 Mira and Related Long-Period Variables 219 8.3 Semi-Regular Variables 229 8.4 Irregular Variables 231 9 Pulsating Stars Close to the Lower Main Sequence in the H-R Diagram 233 9.1 𝛿 Scuti and SX Phoenicis Stars 233 9.2 𝛾 Doradus Stars 240 9.3 roAp Stars 242 10 Pulsating Stars Close to the Upper Main Sequence in the H-R Diagram 245 10.1 𝛽 Cephei Stars 248 10.2 SPB (53 Per) Stars 251 11 Pulsating Supergiant Stars 253 11.1 SPBsg Variables 253 11.2 PV Telescopii, V652 Herculis, and R CrB Stars 256 11.3 𝛼 Cygni, S Dor, and Wolf-Rayet Stars 258 12 Hot Subdwarf Pulsators 263 12.1 EC 14026 (V361 Hya, sdBV, sdBVp, sdBVr) Variables 268 12.2 PG 1716+426 (V1093 Her, “Betsy,” sdBVg, sdBVs) Variables 269 12.3 sdOV (V499 Ser) Variables 270 12.4 He-sdBV Stars 272 13 Pulsating Degenerate Stars 275 13.1 GWVir Stars 285 13.2 DBV (V777 Her) Stars 287 13.3 DQV Stars 290 13.4 DAV Stars 292 13.4.1 ELM-DAV Stars 294 13.4.2 Hot DAV Stars 296 13.5 ELM-HeV Stars 298 13.6 GWLibrae Stars: AccretingWD Pulsators 300 13.7 Pulsations in Neutron Stars and Black Holes 302 Glossary 305 References 311 Index 411

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Book SynopsisA reconstruction of the Chinese sky of two thousand years ago, based on analysis of the first star catalogue in China and other sources. Presented in six well-sized star maps for 100 BC, it is especially important for the history of astronomy. The Han sky, with five times more constellations than Ptolemy knew, reflects diverse human activities. The way in which constellations were grouped discloses a systematic cosmology, uniting universe and the state. The work of the three Han schools is comparable to Ptolemy's Almagest. With three detailed Appendices on the constellations of the three schools, well illustrated to demonstrate the relation between sky and human society, this book is valuable not only for astronomy historians and sinologists, but in general for scholars interested in the ancient cultures of Asia.Trade Review'...excellent book, which provides one of the best accounts of early Chinese work on the sky in any Western language…' Cheng-Yih (Joseph) Chen, ISIS, 2000.

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Book SynopsisThis book is the fruit of the first ever interdisciplinary international scientific conference on Matthew's story of the Star of Bethlehem and the Magi, held in 2014 at the University of Groningen, and attended by world-leading specialists in all relevant fields: modern astronomy, the ancient near-eastern and Greco-Roman worlds, the history of science, and religion. The scholarly discussions and the exchange of the interdisciplinary views proved to be immensely fruitful and resulted in the present book. Its twenty chapters describe the various aspects of The Star: the history of its interpretation, ancient near-eastern astronomy and astrology and the Magi, astrology in the Greco-Roman and the Jewish worlds, and the early Christian world – at a generally accessible level. An epilogue summarizes the fact-fiction balance of the most famous star which has ever shone. Cover illustration: © Michael FarrellTrade Review“The Star of Bethlehem is known to almost everybody, whatever their personal faith - be it through the Nativity story told in Matthew’s Gospel or through art and material culture where the depiction of the Star has played a hugely important role for centuries. Church Fathers and scholars alike have debated the ‘when’ and ‘what’ for almost as long, resulting in very different interpretations. However, what had been missing so far was a multi-disciplinary approach. The Groningen symposium has done just that, for the first time ever asking experts in very different fields to answer the same four questions about the Star, namely ‘What?’, ‘When?’, ‘How?’ and ‘Why?’ The learned, surprising, thought-provoking answers in this fascinating volume are a must-read for anybody interested in a phenomenon that has influenced our culture like few others.” — Silke Ackermann FSA, Director, Museum of the History of Science, University of Oxford “When one considers that the source of the material treated in this book consists of only twelve verses of the Bible (Matthew 2: 1-12), this is a remarkable collection of research papers. Throughout the book there appears a wide range of judgments on the nature and historicity of Matthew’s story, from the claim that it is midrash, a rabbinical commentary which tells a beautiful story to interpret events to gentiles by the use of texts from the Old Testament, to the description of an historical happening. Since Matthew is not here to tell us, the reader will have the interesting task of judging among the expert views.” — George V. Coyne, S.J., Director Emeritus, Vatican Observatory “The nature of the Star of Bethlehem has fascinated our society for many centuries. ‘The Star’ has attracted the attention of artists, astronomers, historians, science fiction writers, theologians and others. This book summarizes the views of world-experts in a variety of fields presented at a multidisciplinary conference in Groningen in 2014. While there is no clear consensus on the nature of ‘The Star’, the twenty chapters provide an intriguing and eminently readable assessment of an enigmatic event that is directly connected to the advent of one of the major religions in our world.” —Tim de Zeeuw, Director General, European Southern Observatory (ESO) "The book raises vital problems of transmission of astral knowledge. (...) Most essays are forceful and will exert influence in their relevant fields of study. The volume itself is a contribution to the advancement of astral science and to the progress of biblical criticism. Altogether it warrants considerable approval. Congratulations to each author for their vigor and industry, and for the stimulus which prompted their incisive analyses and thorough researches." —The Ds Commentary, 2017Table of ContentsPrologue, Peter Barthel and George van Kooten PART I: FROM KEPLER TO MOLNAR – THE HISTORY OF THE INTERPRETATION OF THE STAR 1. Kepler’s De Vero Anno (1614), Owen Gingerich 2. The Historical Basis for the Star of Bethlehem, Michael R. Molnar 3. A Critical Look at the History of Interpreting the Star of Bethlehem in Scientific Literature and Biblical Studies, Aaron Adair 4. An Astronomical and Historical Evaluation of Molnar’s Solution.Bradley E. Schaefer 5. Astronomical Thoughts on the Star of Bethlehem, David W. Hughes 6. De Ster der Wijzen (1920): A Forgotten Early Publication About the Star of Bethlehem, Teije de Jong PART II: THE STAR – WHAT, WHEN, AND HOW 7. What, If Anything?, Peter Barthel 8. The Astronomical Resources for Ancient Astral Prognostications, Alexander Jones PART III: ANCIENT NEAR-EASTERN ASTRONOMY AND THE MAGI 9. Mesopotamian Astrological Geography, John M. Steele 10. The Story of the Magi in the Light of Alexander the Great's Encounters with Chaldeans, Mathieu Ossendrijver 11. Pre-Islamic Iranian Astral Mythology, Astrology, and the Star of Bethlehem, Antonio Panaino PART IV: ASTROLOGY IN THE GRECO-ROMAN WORLD 12. Matthew’s Magi as Experts on Kingship, Albert de Jong 13. Greco-Roman Astrologers, the Magi, and Mithraism, Roger Beck 14.The Star of Bethlehem and Greco-Roman Astrology, Especially Astrological Geography, Stephan Heilen PART V: ASTROLOGY IN THE JEWISH WORLD 15. The World Leader from the Land of the Jews: Josephus, Jewish War 6.300–315; Tacitus, Histories 5.13; and Suetonius, Vespasian 4.5, Jan Willem van Henten 16. Stars and Powers: Astrological Thinking in Imperial Politics from the Hasmoneans to Bar Kokhba, Kocku von Stuckrad 17. Balaam’s ‘Star Oracle’ (Num 24:15–19) in the Dead Sea Scrolls and Bar Kokhba, Helen R. Jacobus PART VI: THE EARLY CHRISTIAN WORLD 18. The Star of the Magi and the Prophecy of Balaam in Earliest Christianity, with Special Attention to the Lost Books of Balaam, Darrell Hannah 19. Matthew’s Star, Luke’s Census, Bethlehem, and the Quest for the Historical Jesus, Annette Merz 20. Matthew, the Parthians, and the Magi: A Contextualization of Matthew’s Gospel in Roman-Parthian Relations of the First Centuries BCE and CE, George van Kooten Epilogue, Peter Barthel and George van Kooten

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Book Synopsis'It is strongly biased towards the author's speciality of galaxy morphology, and particularly to bars and rings. To be fair, these are often given fairly short shrift in other textbooks, so this is a useful source of detail on such topics from an expert. In addition, references to original technical papers are given throughout which makes the book a handy introduction to the literature (which students may well find useful).'The Observatory MagazineThe main goal of the book is to introduce the reader to the world of spiral galaxies, how spirals were discovered, what they represent from a physical point of view, and what people have learned about the universe and the nature of galaxies in general from the study of spirals. Topics include early discoveries of nebulae, the island universe concept, the structure of spirals as seen both visually with telescopes and in images obtained with different filters, the role of spirals in the discovery of interstellar dust and dark matter, the different kinds of spiral galaxies and the importance of bars and rings, how different non-spiral galaxy types such as elliptical galaxies and S0 galaxies connect to spirals, and how spirals have contributed to our understanding of star formation and evolution, galaxy formation and evolution, the cosmological distance scale, and the universal expansion. The Milky Way as a spiral galaxy is also discussed.The book is profusely illustrated and not only a discourse on the spirals, but is also a personal reminiscence based on the author's studies of spiral galaxies over the past 45 years.

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Book Synopsis'It is strongly biased towards the author's speciality of galaxy morphology, and particularly to bars and rings. To be fair, these are often given fairly short shrift in other textbooks, so this is a useful source of detail on such topics from an expert. In addition, references to original technical papers are given throughout which makes the book a handy introduction to the literature (which students may well find useful).'The Observatory MagazineThe main goal of the book is to introduce the reader to the world of spiral galaxies, how spirals were discovered, what they represent from a physical point of view, and what people have learned about the universe and the nature of galaxies in general from the study of spirals. Topics include early discoveries of nebulae, the island universe concept, the structure of spirals as seen both visually with telescopes and in images obtained with different filters, the role of spirals in the discovery of interstellar dust and dark matter, the different kinds of spiral galaxies and the importance of bars and rings, how different non-spiral galaxy types such as elliptical galaxies and S0 galaxies connect to spirals, and how spirals have contributed to our understanding of star formation and evolution, galaxy formation and evolution, the cosmological distance scale, and the universal expansion. The Milky Way as a spiral galaxy is also discussed.The book is profusely illustrated and not only a discourse on the spirals, but is also a personal reminiscence based on the author's studies of spiral galaxies over the past 45 years.

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Book SynopsisThe study of presolar meteoritic grains is a new inter-disciplinary field that brings together topics from nuclear physics to astronomy and chemistry. Traditionally, most of the information about the cosmos has been gathered by observing light through telescopes. However, with the recent discovery that some dust grains extracted from primitive meteorites were produced in stellar environments, we now have the opportunity to gather information about stars and our Galaxy from the laboratory analysis of tiny pieces of stardust. Stellar grains represent a unique and fascinating subject of study. Their analysis is a breakthrough in research on stellar nucleosynthesis and the origin of the elements.While a number of specialized reviews exist on the topic, this book is the first work that brings together in a unified and accessible manner the background knowledge necessary for the study of presolar grains together with up-to-date discoveries in the field.The book includes exercise questions and answers, an extensive glossary for easy reference, and more than 40 figures and tables — from schematic diagrams to electron microscope images and graphs of results from stellar grain measurements and theoretical stellar models.Table of ContentsMeteoritic Presolar Grains and Their Significance; Basics of Stellar Nucleosynthesis; Laboratory Analysis of Presolar Grains; The Origin of Presolar Silicon Carbide Grains; Heavy Elements in Silicon Carbide Grains; Presolar Diamond, Graphite and Oxide Grains.

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Book Synopsis'Krumholz has a strong writing style, didactic to be sure, but also fairly conversational within the limits of the material. While hardly casual reading, this text would be a good resource for a stellar astrophysicist, or any individual seeking to become one.'CHOICEThis book provides a modern introduction to the study of star formation, at a level suitable for graduate students or advanced undergraduates in astrophysics. The first third of the book provides a review of the observational phenomenology and then the basic physical processes that are important for star formation. The remainder then discusses the major observational results and theoretical models for star formation on scales from galactic down to planetary. The book includes recommendations for complementary reading from the research literature, as well as five problem sets with solutions.

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Book SynopsisThe formation of the first supermassive black holes is one of the main open questions in our understanding of high-redshift structure formation. In this book, we aim to provide a summary of state-of-the-art modern research on this topic, exploring the formation of massive black holes from a fluid-dynamical, stellar-dynamical and chemical perspective. The book thus presents a solid theoretical foundation, a comparison with current observations and future observational perspectives with upcoming missions such as the Square Kilometre Array, the European Extremely Large Telescope, the Euclid satellite as well as possible detections via gravitational waves.

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Book SynopsisThis book serves as a good introduction to the physics of pulsars by explaining the subject matter in simple terms which are understandable to both undergraduate physics students and also the general public. On the Pulsar links together ideas about physics, informatics and biology, and contains many original examples, problems and solutions. It starts with simple examples about the regular structures that are possible in strong magnetic fields and the author then suggests that special conditions on the pulsar can result in some forms of self-organization. It will also make a valuable teaching guide.Table of ContentsUnexpected Encounter; What is a Pulsar?; Mischievous Ball; Misha and Sasha; Playing Billiards; Stubborn Fountains; In the Country of Anisotropic Masses; Matter in a Superstrong Magnetic Field; Neutron Star; Physics of the Pulsar; Non-linearity and Self-organization; On the Pulsar.

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