Extrasolar Planets and Astrobiology [Hardcover]

Caleb A. Scharf (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1891389556 | ISBN-13: 978-1891389559 | Publication Date: August 14, 2008

This book offers an advanced introduction to the increasingly robust fields of extrasolar planets and astrobiology. No other text currently available applies this level of mathematics and physics, while also providing an extensive grounding in key issues of chemistry, biology, and geophysics. With extensive references to the literature and chapter-ending exercises, this book can be used as the core text for teaching undergraduate or introductory graduate level courses. The text will also provide astrobiologists with an indispensable "User's Manual" when quick reference to key mathematical and physical techniques is needed. A continually updated online component, fully cross referenced with the text, is also available. Foreword by Geoff Marcy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Scharf's coverage of exoplanets is quite wonderful and will be very valuable for classes. I enjoyed reading this presentation. --Geoff Marcy, University of California, Berkeley

I like this book very much. The writing style is clear and engaging and it provides more physics than most texts on astrobiology. --Debra Fischer, San Francisco State University

About the Author

Caleb Scharf was born and educated in England. He received his B.Sc. in Physics from Durham University, and his PhD in Astronomy from the University of Cambridge. Following postdoctoral work in X-ray astronomy and observational cosmology at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and the Space Telescope Science Institute in Maryland, he has been a research scientist at Columbia University, New York. He is currently Director of the multidisciplinary Columbia Astrobiology Center. His research interests include the study of exoplanets, exomoons, and the nature of environments suitable for life.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 490 pages
• Publisher: University Science Books (August 14, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1891389556
• ISBN-13: 978-1891389559
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #263,255 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Caleb A. Scharf is Director of Astrobiology at Columbia University, and has an international reputation as a research astrophysicist, and as a lecturer to college and public audiences. The UK's Guardian newspaper has listed his blog Life, Unbounded, as one of their "hottest science blogs," while an editor at Seed Magazine called it "phenomenal. Informed, fresh, and thoughtful." Scharf is author and co-author of more than 100 scientific research articles in astronomy and astrophysics. His work has been featured in publications such as New Scientist, Scientific American, Science News, Cosmos Magazine, Physics Today, and National Geographic, as well as online at sites like Space.com and Physorg.com. His textbook for undergraduate and graduate students, Extrasolar Planets and Astrobiology, has been called "the gold standard" for the field. His articles and reviews have appeared in such prestigious publications as Science, Nature, The Astrophysical Journal, and Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Dr. Scharf is a regular keynote speaker at academic meetings, such as for the American Physical Society, museums, and both public and private venues, including the American Museum of Natural History, the Rubin Museum of Art in New York. He has been a guest on Krulwich on Science at NPR, William Shatner's "Weird or What?" and has served as a consultant to editors and producers at National Geographic Magazine, The Science Channel, The Discovery Channel, and The New York Times.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best. Text. Ever., November 24, 2008

By 

AstroBio "AstroBio" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Extrasolar Planets and Astrobiology (Hardcover)

The textbook is well sourced, well written, and incredibly well organized. As a astronomy and biology student wishing to understand the unification of these two rather different approaches to science, this is invaluable and MUCH appreciated.

Students sometimes don't realize that textbooks are not confusing because of their subject material, but usually very opaque because of their ORGANIZATION.

Scharf's organization of the material and presentation is nonpareil, and what's more, this is the only text currently available (I have read every one), that contains a physical, mathematically based derivation and demonstration of the sciences at work.

This is incredibly important as Astrobiology becomes a denser field with more and more concepts piling atop one another. Presenting the grounding of the subject in the basic sciences, not as abstract musings but as truly observationally based science, is perhaps the author's greatest success.

In the world of science textbooks, which I believe is all too often a graveyard where students' love of science goes to die, this text stands amongst the few which will not only encourage your understanding of its chosen topic, but will cause you to want to expand it.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, September 4, 2008

By 

astrograd (NY, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Extrasolar Planets and Astrobiology (Hardcover)

This is far and away the most comprehensive book on the market covering extra-solar planets. It is both rigorous and easy to follow, no small feat for such a new textbook about a young field. I highly recommend it to higher level undergraduates interested in learning more about everything from T Tauri stars and protoplanetary disks to extremeophiles. Keep in mind, this book is written by an astrophysicist, not a biologist.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Resource, September 12, 2008

By 

Astrofiend (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Extrasolar Planets and Astrobiology (Hardcover)

I am an Astrophysics major who had the pleasure of taking the author's course on this subject. You will find this to be a detailed, thorough, and quantitative introduction to the field, as well as engaging and accessible. A must have for any student interested in extrasolar planets or astrobiology.