Astronomy, Astrophysics and related resources.: Books

Derived from the world-renowned McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, Sixth Edition, this vital reference offers a wealth of essential information in a portable, convenient, quick-find format. Whether you're a professional, a student, a writer, or a general reader with an interest in science, there is no better or more authoritative way to stay up-to-speed with the current language of astronomy or gain an understanding of its key ideas and concepts.

Ideal as a supplement or recommended reading for students with little or no science background, this inviting text generates enthusiasm for astronomy in the fashion of the books of the late Carl Sagan. Written by a highly renowned educator and science writer, On the Cosmic Horizon highlights ten of the most important astronomical mysteries that will dominate the newspaper headlines over the next decades-and could be solved in our lifetime. The mysteries are presented in a countdown approach, with Mystery #1 appearing in the final chapter. The author also introduces a few fundamental astronomical concepts in each chapter, allowing students to gradually build their understanding. Sure to capture students' attention and imagination, On the Cosmic Horizon is a perfect primer for readers who want to explore and understand what is happening on the frontiers of astronomy.

Perkins (particle and astrophysics, Oxford University) provides background on particle physics and the astrophysics of the early universe in this text for advanced undergraduates and graduate students. Introductory chapters cover the interactions of elementary particles and their role in the expanding universe. Cosmological asymmetries, dark matter, and dark energy are examined, and final chapters turn to the growth of cosmic structure in high energy cosmic rays and the particle processes in stars. Worked examples, problems, and solutions are included. Some knowledge of quantum mechanics and special relativity is assumed. Annotation © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Giaconni recounts the ways in which the management methods and scientific methodology behind successful astronomy projects came to set the standards of operations for all subsequent space- and Earth-based observatories. Along the way he spares no criticism and holds back no praise, detailing individual as well as institutional failures and successes, reflecting upon how far astronomy has come and how far it has yet to go.

Chow introduces the mathematical methods essential to understanding and applying general relativity--tensor calculus, some differential geometry, etc. The book employs standard tensor analysis and resists the temptation to adopt more powerful mathematical formalisms (like exterior calculus and differential forms) used by researchers in the field. The book also offers comprehensive discussion of the physics of black holes.

"Space and Astronomy: Decade by Decade" reveals how the astronomers unravel the mysteries of how the Sun shines, how stars collapse into black holes, and how the universe expands. It is the story of dreamers who designed rockets to bring back knowledge of other worlds and other galaxies. This volume of the "Twentieth-Century Science" set describes the progress of astronomy and the development of spaceflight from 1901 to 2000.

This text takes a close look at the radiation and particles that we receive from astronomical objects, providing a thorough understanding of what this tells us, drawing the information together using examples to illustrate the process of astrophysics. Chapters dedicated to objects showing complex processes are written in an accessible manner and pull relevant background information together to put the subject firmly into context.

This book covers the uses of modern astrophysics - from stars to cosmology - emphasizing the common, familiar physical principles that govern astronomical phenomena, and the interplay between theory and observation.