Infrared Astronomy

An excellent introduction and thorough review of developments in this wide-ranging field of research.

A. Mampaso (Edited by), M. Prieto (Edited by), F. Sánchez (Edited by)

9780521548106, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 22 January 2004

428 pages
24.7 x 18.9 x 2.3 cm, 0.778 kg

What do we understand of the birth and death of stars? What is the nature of the tiny dust grains that permeate our Galaxy and other galaxies? And how likely is the existence of brown dwarfs, extrasolar planets or other sub-stellar mass objects? These are just a few of the questions that can now be addressed in a new era of infrared observations. IR astronomy has been revolutionised over the past few years by the widespread availability of large, very sensitive IR arrays and the success of IR satellites (IRAS in particular). Several IR space missions due for launch over the next few years promise an exciting future too. For these reasons, the IV Canary Islands Winter School of Astrophysics was dedicated to this burgeoning field. Its primary goal was to introduce graduate students and researchers from other areas to the important new observations and physical ideas that are emerging in this wide-ranging field of research. Lectures from nine leading researchers, renowned for their teaching abilities, are gathered in this volume. These nine chapters provide an excellent introduction as well as a thorough and up-to-date review of developments - essential reading for graduate students entering IR astronomy, and professionals from other areas who realise the importance that IR astronomy may have on their research.

List of participants
Preface
1. Star formation Francesco Palla
2. Last stages of stellar evolution Stuart R. Pottasch
3. The Milky Way galaxy and the galactic centre Gerard Gilmore
4. Galaxies in the infrared Charles M. Telesco
5. Cosmology Robert D. Joseph
6. G25.2+0.2, a new ring nebula around a luminous blue star: case study for the importance of IR observations Eric E. Becklin
7. Two colloquia on cosmic dust N. Chandra Wickramasingle
8. Infrared instrumentation Ian S. McLean
9. Infrared astronomy with satellites Thijs de Graauw.

Subject Areas: Astrophysics [PHVB]