Combining a critical account of observational methods (telescopes and instrumentation) with a lucid description of the Universe, including stars, galaxies and cosmology, Smith provides a comprehensive introduction to the whole of modern astrophysics beyond the solar system. The first half describes the techniques used by astronomers to observe the Universe: optical telescopes and instruments are discussed in detail, but observations at all wavelengths are covered, from radio to gamma-rays. After a short interlude describing the appearance of the sky at all wavelengths, the role of positional astronomy is highlighted. In the second half, a clear description is given of the contents of the Universe, including accounts of stellar evolution and cosmological models. Fully illustrated throughout, with exercises given in each chapter, this textbook provides a thorough introduction to astrophysics for all physics undergraduates, and a valuable background for physics graduates turning to research in astronomy.
FREE Two-Day Shipping for students on millions of items. Learn more |
| |||||||||||||||
Book Description
Special Offers and Product Promotions
- Buy $50 in qualifying physical textbooks, get $5 in Amazon MP3 Credit. Here's how (restrictions apply)
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A little something for everyone,
By Winston Stairs (Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Observational Astrophysics (Paperback)
Very broad in its scope with enough depth to deal with the fundamentals while pointing the reader in the right direction for a more detailed treatment of the subject matter. Could be used as a text or reference book, or simply read as I chose, to broaden ones knowledge. Contains a good overview of the tools and techniques of radio astronomy. A fair bit of math employed, but not overwhelming to the educated reader. Reading level is geared toward a 3rd or 4th year undergrad in physics/astronomy but would also be useful as a primer for graduate level students or the serious amateur. Good book at a good price!
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An amazing introduction for the serious astronomy student,
By Serious Inquirer (Jacksonville, AL USA) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Observational Astrophysics (Paperback)
This book is the perfect first text for astronomy students that are just getting beyond descriptive astronomy and are venturing into more mmathematically rigorous depths. From the first chapter to the last what has often been accepted in descriptive courses is now plumbed with the tools of basic calculus and statistics.
Students are given the opportunity to see how the various formulas used in observational astronomy are derived, leading to a greater understanding when these formulas are applied in daily use. The mathematics is of little difficulty to anyone with a basic knowledge of calculus and many of the problems presented would serve as exceptional real-world problems for sophomore level mathematics courses. The text is best suited to advanced undergraduate students and may be adapted for use in introductory graduate courses. The problems and ideas presented have immediate applications in the observatory and transition from lecture to lab is remarkably easy. This book truly is a gem!
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Inside This Book
(learn more)
First Sentence:
What is the farthest you can see with the naked eye? Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
initial gas cloud, warm intercloud medium, seeing disc, thermal timescale, disc galaxies, central galaxy, local sidereal time, stellar interferometer, eruptive variables, compact remnant, neutral clouds, transferring mass, declination axis, intensity interferometer, instability strip, giant region, single telescope, zenith distance, absolute visual magnitude, peculiar galaxies, pulsating variables, radial velocity curve, galactic disc, giant branch, hour angle Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Galactic Centre, Milky Way, Big Bang, Magellanic Clouds, Hale Observatories, Large Magellanic Cloud, Local Group, Royal Astronomical Society, Annual Reviews Inc, Hanbury Brown, Royal Greenwich Observatory, Anglo-Australian Observatory, Einstein Observatory, Goddard Space Flight Center, Hubble Space Telescope, Jodrell Bank, Sir William Herschel, The Astrophysical Journal, William Herschel Telescope, Full Moon, Isaac Newton Telescope, Local Supercluster, New Mexico, Puerto Rico New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
What is the farthest you can see with the naked eye? Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
initial gas cloud, warm intercloud medium, seeing disc, thermal timescale, disc galaxies, central galaxy, local sidereal time, stellar interferometer, eruptive variables, compact remnant, neutral clouds, transferring mass, declination axis, intensity interferometer, instability strip, giant region, single telescope, zenith distance, absolute visual magnitude, peculiar galaxies, pulsating variables, radial velocity curve, galactic disc, giant branch, hour angle Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Galactic Centre, Milky Way, Big Bang, Magellanic Clouds, Hale Observatories, Large Magellanic Cloud, Local Group, Royal Astronomical Society, Annual Reviews Inc, Hanbury Brown, Royal Greenwich Observatory, Anglo-Australian Observatory, Einstein Observatory, Goddard Space Flight Center, Hubble Space Telescope, Jodrell Bank, Sir William Herschel, The Astrophysical Journal, William Herschel Telescope, Full Moon, Isaac Newton Telescope, Local Supercluster, New Mexico, Puerto Rico New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 95
books:
See all 95 books this book cites
2
books
cite this book:
- The New Cosmos: An Introduction to Astronomy and Astrophysics by Albrecht Unsöld in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Galaxies: Structure and Evolution by Roger John Tayler in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Basic Astronomical Data by K.A. Strand in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Hubble Atlas of Galaxies by Allan Sandage in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Astrophysical Techniques, Fourth Edition by C.R. Kitchin in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
See all 95 books this book cites
Books on Related Topics
(learn more)
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
So You'd Like to...
Look for Similar Items by Category
- Books > New & Used Textbooks > Science & Mathematics > Astronomy & Astrophysics
- Books > Science & Math > Astronomy & Space Science > Astronomy
- Books > Science & Math > Astronomy & Space Science > Astrophysics & Space Science
- Books > Science & Math > Astronomy & Space Science > Cosmology
- Books > Science & Math > Physics
