Foundations of Astrophysics

A contemporary and complete introduction to astrophysics for astronomy and physics majors taking a two-semester survey course.

Barbara Ryden (Author), Bradley M. Peterson (Author)

9781108831956, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 27 August 2020

610 pages, 16 colour illus.
25.2 x 19.6 x 3.2 cm, 1.49 kg

Foundations of Astrophysics provides a contemporary and complete introduction to astrophysics for astronomy and physics majors. With a logical presentation and conceptual and quantitative end-of-chapter problems, the material is accessible to introductory astrophysics students taking a two-semester survey course. Starting with the motions of the solar system and a discussion of the interaction of matter and light, the authors explore the physical nature of objects in the solar system, and the exciting new field of exoplanets. The second half of their text covers stellar, galactic, and extragalactic astronomy, followed by a brief discussion of cosmology. This is a reissue of the original 2010 edition, which has established itself as one of the market-leading astrophysics texts, well known for its clarity and simplicity. It has introduced thousands of physical science students to the breadth of astronomy, and helped prepare them for more advanced studies.

Preface
1. Early astronomy
2. Emergence of modern astronomy
3. Orbital mechanics
4. The Earth–Moon system
5. Interaction of radiation and matter
6. Astronomical detection of light
7. The Sun
8. Overview of the solar system
9. Earth and Moon
10. The planets
11. Small bodies in the solar system
12. The solar system in perspective
13. Properties of stars
14. Stellar atmospheres
15. Stellar interiors
16. The interstellar medium
17. Formation and evolution of stars
18. Stellar remnants
19. Our galaxy
20. Galaxies
21. Active galaxies
22. Clusters and superclusters
23. Cosmology
24. History of the universe.

Subject Areas: Astrophysics [PHVB], Galaxies & stars [PGM], Cosmology & the universe [PGK], Astronomy, space & time [PG]