This unique and informative text describes how stars are classified according to their spectral qualities and temperature. James Kaler explains the alphabet of stellar astronomy, running from cool M stars to hot O stars, and tells the story of their evolution. Before embarking on a voyage of cosmic discovery, the author discusses the fundamental properties of stars, their atomic structure and the formation of spectra. Then, Kaler considers each star type individually and explores its spectra in detail. A review of unusual, hard-to-classify stars, and a discussion of data related to the birth, life and death of stars round out the text. This book is an important resource for all amateur astronomers and students of astronomy. Professionals will find it a refreshing read as well.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"I'm delighted to see this book in paperback finally...[T]he book is so well written that it remains an excellent book even as it was written ten years ago...This informative book is an excellent read, bridging the gap between purely popular-level entertainment and dense professional texts." The Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
"This unique and authoritative overview of the properties of stars belongs in every astronomy collection." Choice
"Potential readers need to know, however, that Kaler assumes a level of expertise somewhat higher than some might be used to. If readers stick with it however, they will be pleasantly surprised with a new level of knowledge about stars and how we have come to know what we know." Popular Astronomy Club
"...inspiring to all who are interested in astronomy." Sky and Telescope
"RStars and Their SpectraI by James B. Kaler provides a thorough and up-to-date survey of their spectral and photometric properties, structure, and evolution and how we find out about all this. The book includes discussions about planetary nebulae, novae, and other 'nonstellar' phenomenon related to stars." Brian Skiff, Sky and Telescope (The Stranded Astronomer's Library)
"Stars and their Spectraby James B. Kaler provides a thorough and up to date survey of their spectral and photometric properties, structure and evolution, and how we find out about all this. The book includes discussions about planetary nublae, novae, and other "nonstellar" phenomena related to stars." Brian Skiff, Sky and Telescope
"...a well-written and illustrated introduction for the novice..." Claud H. Sandberg Lacy
"One of Kaler's fortes is the clear explanation of astrophysics in plain English. If you have an interest in stellar spectroscopy, definitely get this book. You will get your money's worth, because you will read it at least twice." --Review from the Online Bookstore of the American Association of Variable Star Observers
"This unique and authoritative overview of the properties of stars belongs in every astronomy collection." Choice
"Potential readers need to know, however, that Kaler assumes a level of expertise somewhat higher than some might be used to. If readers stick with it however, they will be pleasantly surprised with a new level of knowledge about stars and how we have come to know what we know." Popular Astronomy Club
"...inspiring to all who are interested in astronomy." Sky and Telescope
"RStars and Their SpectraI by James B. Kaler provides a thorough and up-to-date survey of their spectral and photometric properties, structure, and evolution and how we find out about all this. The book includes discussions about planetary nebulae, novae, and other 'nonstellar' phenomenon related to stars." Brian Skiff, Sky and Telescope (The Stranded Astronomer's Library)
"Stars and their Spectraby James B. Kaler provides a thorough and up to date survey of their spectral and photometric properties, structure and evolution, and how we find out about all this. The book includes discussions about planetary nublae, novae, and other "nonstellar" phenomena related to stars." Brian Skiff, Sky and Telescope
"...a well-written and illustrated introduction for the novice..." Claud H. Sandberg Lacy
"One of Kaler's fortes is the clear explanation of astrophysics in plain English. If you have an interest in stellar spectroscopy, definitely get this book. You will get your money's worth, because you will read it at least twice." --Review from the Online Bookstore of the American Association of Variable Star Observers
Book Description
James Kaler explains the alphabet of stellar astronomy - from the cool M stars to hot O stars - and tells the story of their evolution and their place in the Universe. An invaluable introduction for observers and students.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent introduction to the spectral sequence.,
This review is from: Stars and their Spectra: An Introduction to the Spectral Sequence (Hardcover)
I have found this book an excellent introduction to the study of stars and in my opinion it can be addressed to a very wide audience including non-expert. The reasons are the following: 1-) It keeps a very basic level in its explanations and throughout the whole book. 2)- It starts of with basic nevertheless fundamental definitions to the understanding of the development of the subject. 3)-It focuses on CONCEPTS which I find essencial in any first encounter with a new subject specially in scientific fields. This is unfortunatelly rarely found within the literature in the field of Physics. 4)- It provides plenny examples to ilustrate the explanations provided and then compares them with available experimental observations. 5)- It is one of the few books which has been able to succesfully avoid the overwhelming ussage of formulae while still addressing the subject in full extent at its introductory level. This is very encouraging for the beguiner as well as for the general audience since it brings closer a field which it has always been basicaly restricted to the expert, thus hindering the spread of scientific knowledge.I would definetely make use of it in an introductory stellar course, as a base for an undergraduate level course inside or out the field of physics.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book with terribly reproduced graphic images - buy the earlier edition,
By
This review is from: Stars and their Spectra: An Introduction to the Spectral Sequence (Paperback)
As others have indicated in their reviews, this is an excellent book. I do have a complaint with
the paperback reissue however - the images are very poorly reproduced from the earlier edition. I have seen the earlier edition where the images are clear, and unfortunately, many of the reproductions of spectra in the later edition are so poor that it is impossible to see the features discussed in the text. The paperback edition is an embarassment to the Cambridge University Press which usually produces very high quality books. If you can, you should obtain the earlier edition instead of purchasing the reissued paperback edition.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superbly done,
By
This review is from: Stars and their Spectra: An Introduction to the Spectral Sequence (Paperback)
As an amateur astronomer I simply cannot beleive I have gone so long enjoying astronomy without coming to grips with spectra. While the concepts are generally known this book takes the general reader step by step through probably the most important pillar of modern astronomy, analyses of light.The book requires no advanced mathematics (if it had I wouldnt have understood it) and sticks to good solid concepts. While it is accessible to the general reader Kaler pulls no punches even when you wish he had, insisting on parsecs instead of lightyears for example. However the joy of him pulling no punches is you are left with a good grounding with which to move onto other works or even do some spectroscopy yourself as I did. I would commend other astronomy enthusiasts or lovers of space science to get to grips with how we determine the make up of stars and other objects, this is the book to do it.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
Anyone who studies astronomy must soon encounter the ubiquitous and seemingly mystical series of letters that divides the stars into their seven groups, OBAFGKM. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
planetary nuclei, white dwarf limit, dispersion spectrogram, representative stellar spectra, more luminous stars, coolest stars, luminosity effect, instability strip, bolometric corrections, luminosity classes, carbon stars, upper main sequence, absolute visual magnitude, hydrogen lines, diffuse nebulae, stellar spectrum, spectral class, planetary nebulae, metallic lines, nuclear burning, evolutionary tracks, slit spectrograph, stellar rotation, first magnitude stars, main sequence stars Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, National Optical Astronomy Observatories, University of Chicago Press, Orion Nebula, Large Magellanic Cloud, Carnegie Institution of Washington, California Institute of Technology, Henry Draper, Lowell Observatory, University of Michigan, Miss Maury, Canis Majoris, Coronae Borealis, John Wiley, Lick Observatory, University of Tokyo Press, Big Dipper, International Ultraviolet Explorer, Magellanic Clouds, Tarantula Nebula, University of Illinois Prairie Observatory, Canes Venatici, Dover Publications, Infrared Astronomical Satellite, Miss Cannon New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Anyone who studies astronomy must soon encounter the ubiquitous and seemingly mystical series of letters that divides the stars into their seven groups, OBAFGKM. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
planetary nuclei, white dwarf limit, dispersion spectrogram, representative stellar spectra, more luminous stars, coolest stars, luminosity effect, instability strip, bolometric corrections, luminosity classes, carbon stars, upper main sequence, absolute visual magnitude, hydrogen lines, diffuse nebulae, stellar spectrum, spectral class, planetary nebulae, metallic lines, nuclear burning, evolutionary tracks, slit spectrograph, stellar rotation, first magnitude stars, main sequence stars Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, National Optical Astronomy Observatories, University of Chicago Press, Orion Nebula, Large Magellanic Cloud, Carnegie Institution of Washington, California Institute of Technology, Henry Draper, Lowell Observatory, University of Michigan, Miss Maury, Canis Majoris, Coronae Borealis, John Wiley, Lick Observatory, University of Tokyo Press, Big Dipper, International Ultraviolet Explorer, Magellanic Clouds, Tarantula Nebula, University of Illinois Prairie Observatory, Canes Venatici, Dover Publications, Infrared Astronomical Satellite, Miss Cannon 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 7
books:
See all 7 books this book cites
2
books
cite this book:
- Stellar Atmospheres by Jesse L. Greenstein on page 173, page 236, and page 244
- Principles of Astronomy by Stanley P. Wyatt on page 27, and page 120
- The Bright Star Catalogue by Dorrit Hoffleit on page 257
- Planetary Nebulae: A Study of Late Stages of Stellar Evolution (Astrophysics and Space Science Library) by Stuart R. Pottasch on page 233
- Astrophysical Quantities by Arthur N. Cox on page 257
See all 7 books this book cites
- Extreme Stars: At the Edge of Creation by James B. Kaler in Front Matter
- A Concise Dictionary of Astronomy by Jacqueline Mitton in Back Matter
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