Description

Foundations of Astrophysics provides a contemporary and complete introduction to astrophysics for astronomy and physics majors. This text is briefer and more accessible than other texts in the market, and is the most up-to-date book available in this fast-changing field. With a logical presentation and conceptual and quantitative end-of-chapter problems, the material is easier-to-grasp for introductory astrophysics students.

Features

• An informal but clear and concise writing style is infused with high interest connections that will engage physical science majors.
• A logical presentation makes the material accessible to students at an introductory level.
• Balanced and thorough discussions of major topics are effective and to-the-point with rigor carefully incorporated as appropriate.
• A strong emphasis is placed on the connections between different fields of astrophysics.

Table of Contents

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

Author

Both Barbara Ryden and Brad Peterson are respected teachers and researchers at Ohio State University. Peterson serves as Department Chair. Ryden wrote  the Chambliss Astronomical Writing Award winner, Introduction to Cosmology, a text for majors published by Addison-Wesley. Peterson wrote a text on Active Galactic Nuclei published by Cambridge University press.