Fundamental Astronomy
Now in its sixth edition this successful undergraduate textbook gives a well-balanced and comprehensive introduction to the topics of classical and modern astronomy. While emphasizing both the astronomical concepts and the underlying physical principles, the text provides a sound basis for more profound studies in the astronomical sciences.
The chapters on galactic and extragalactic astronomy as well as cosmology were extensively modernized in the previous edition. In this new edition they have been further revised to include more recent results. The long chapter on the solar system has been split into two parts: the first one deals with the general properties, and the other one describes individual objects. A new chapter on exoplanets has been added to the end of the book next to the chapter on astrobiology.
In response to the fact that astronomy has evolved enormously over the last few years, only a few chapters of this book have been left unmodified.
Long considered a standard text for physical science majors, Fundamental Astronomy is also an excellent reference and entrée for dedicated amateur astronomers. For their benefit the introductory chapter has been extended to give a brief summary of the different types of celestial objects.
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Summary
1 Introduction
1.1 Celestial Objects
1.2 The Role of Astronomy
1.3 Astronomical Objects of Research
1.4 The Scale of the Universe
2 Spherical Astronomy
2.1 Spherical Trigonometry
2.2 The Earth
2.3 The Celestial Sphere
2.4 The Horizontal System
2.5 The Equatorial System
2.6 Rising and Setting Times
2.7 The Ecliptic System
2.8 The Galactic Coordinates
2.9 Perturbations of Coordinates
2.10 Positional Astronomy
2.11 Constellations
2.12 Star Catalogues and Maps
2.13 Sidereal and Solar Time
2.14 Astronomical Time Systems
2.15 Calendars
2.16 Examples
2.17 Exercises
3 Observations and Instruments
3.1 Observing Through the Atmosphere
3.2 Optical Telescopes
3.3 Detectors and Instruments
3.4 Radio Telescopes
3.5 Other Wavelength Regions
3.6 Other Forms of Energy
3.7 Examples
3.8 Exercises
4 Photometric Concepts and Magnitudes
4.1 Intensity, Flux Density and Luminosity
4.2 Apparent Magnitudes
4.3 Magnitude Systems
4.4 Absolute Magnitudes
4.5 Extinction and Optical Thickness
4.6 Examples
4.7 Exercises
5 Radiation Mechanisms
5.1 Radiation of Atoms and Molecules
5.2 The Hydrogen Atom
5.3 Line Profiles
5.4 Quantum Numbers, Selection Rules, Population Numbers
5.5 Molecular Spectra
5.6 Continuous Spectra
5.7 Blackbody Radiation
5.8 Temperatures
5.9 Other Radiation Mechanisms
5.10 Radiative Transfer
5.11 Examples
5.12 Exercises
6 Celestial Mechanics
6.1 Equations of Motion
6.2 Solution of the Equation of Motion
6.3 Equation of the Orbit and Kepler’s First Law
6.4 Orbital Elements
6.5 Kepler’s Second and Third Law
6.6 Systems of Several Bodies
6.7 Orbit Determination
6.8 Position in the Orbit
6.9 Escape Velocity
6.10 Virial Theorem
6.11 The Jeans Limit
6.12 Examples
6.13 Exercises
7 The Solar System
7.1 Classification of Objects
7.2 Planetary Configurations
7.3 Orbit of the Earth and Visibility of the Sun
7.4 The Orbit of the Moon
7.5 Eclipses and Occultations
7.6 The Structure and Surfaces of Planets
7.7 Atmospheres and Magnetospheres
7.8 Albedos
7.9 Photometry, Polarimetry and Spectroscopy
7.10 Thermal Radiation of the Planets
7.11 Origin of the Solar System
7.12 Nice Models
7.13 Examples
7.14 Exercises
8 Objects of the Solar System
8.1 Mercury
8.2 Venus
8.3 The Earth and the Moon
8.4 Mars
8.5 Jupiter
8.6 Saturn
8.7 Uranus
8.8 Neptune
8.9 Dwarf Planets
8.10 Minor Bodies
8.11 Asteroids
8.12 Comets
8.13 Meteoroids
8.14 Interplanetary Dust and Other Particles
8.15 Examples
8.16 Exercises
9 Stellar Spectra
9.1 Measuring Spectra
9.2 The Harvard Spectral Classification
9.3 The Yerkes Spectral Classification
9.4 Peculiar Spectra
9.5 The Hertzsprung–Russell Diagram
9.6 Model Atmospheres
9.7 What Do the Observations Tell Us?
9.8 Exercise
10 Binary Stars and Stellar Masses
10.1 Visual Binaries
10.2 Astrometric Binary Stars
10.3 Spectroscopic Binaries
10.4 Photometric Binary Stars
10.5 Examples
10.6 Exercises
11 Stellar Structure
11.1 Internal Equilibrium Conditions
11.2 Physical State of the Gas
11.3 Stellar Energy Sources
11.4 Stellar Models
11.5 Examples
11.6 Exercises
12 Stellar Evolution
12.1 Evolutionary Time Scales
12.2 The Contraction of Stars Towards the Main Sequence
12.3 The Main Sequence Phase
12.4 The Giant Phase
12.5 The Final Stages of Evolution
12.6 The Evolution of Close Binary Stars
12.7 Comparison with Observations
12.8 The Origin of the Elements
12.9 Example
12.10 Exercises
13 The Sun
13.1 Internal Structure
13.2 The Atmosphere
13.3 Solar Activity
13.4 Solar Wind and Space Weather
13.5 Example
13.6 Exercises
14 Variable Stars
14.1 Classification
14.2 Pulsating Variables
14.3 Eruptive Variables
14.4 Supernovae
14.5 Examples
14.6 Exercises
15 Compact Stars
15.1 White Dwarfs
15.2 Neutron Stars
15.3 Black Holes
15.4 X-ray Binaries
15.5 Examples
15.6 Exercises
16 The Interstellar Medium
16.1 Interstellar Dust
16.2 Interstellar Gas
16.3 Interstellar Molecules
16.4 The Formation of Protostars
16.5 Planetary Nebulae
16.6 Supernova Remnants
16.7 The Hot Corona of the Milky Way
16.8 Cosmic Rays and the Interstellar Magnetic Field
16.9 Examples
16.10 Exercises
17 Star Clusters and Associations
17.1 Associations
17.2 Open Star Clusters
17.3 Globular Star Clusters
17.4 Example
17.5 Exercises
18 The Milky Way
18.1 Methods of Distance Measurement
18.2 Stellar Statistics
18.3 The Rotation of the Milky Way
18.4 Structural Components of the Milky Way
18.5 The Formation and Evolution of the Milky Way
18.6 Examples
18.7 Exercises
19 Galaxies
19.1 The Classification of Galaxies
19.2 Luminosities and Masses
19.3 Galactic Structures
19.4 Dynamics of Galaxies
19.5 Stellar Ages and Element Abundances in Galaxies
19.6 Systems of Galaxies
19.7 Active Galaxies and Quasars
19.8 The Origin and Evolution of Galaxies
19.9 Exercises
20 Cosmology
20.1 Cosmological Observations
20.2 The Cosmological Principle
20.3 Homogeneous and Isotropic Universes
20.4 The Friedmann Models
20.5 Cosmological Tests
20.6 History of the Universe
20.7 The Formation of Structure
20.8 The Future of the Universe
20.9 Examples
20.10 Exercises
21 Astrobiology
21.1 What Is Life?
21.2 Chemistry of Life
21.3 Prerequisites of Life
21.4 Hazards
21.5 Origin of Life
21.6 Are We Martians?
21.7 Life in the Solar System
21.8 Detecting Life
21.9 SETI—Detecting Intelligent Life
21.10 Number of Civilisations
21.11 Exercises
22 Exoplanets
22.1 Other Planetary Systems
22.2 Observational Methods
22.3 Properties of Exoplanets
22.4 Exercises
Editors: Hannu Karttunen, Pekka Kroger, Heikki Oja, Markku Poutanen, Karl Johan Donner
