Product Description

This textbook provides a comprehensive and lucid modern introduction to galaxies for advanced undergraduate students in astronomy and physics. Basic astrophysics, multiwavelength observations and theoretical concepts are carefully combined to develop a thorough and integrated understanding. All the necessary background astronomy is included and mathematics has been kept to the minimum required to enable the student to grasp the essence of a calculation, or the basis for a method. Techniques for observation and measurement are clearly explained, with a critical review of their limits and accuracy. Exciting topics such as gravitational lensing, dark matter and galactic collisions and mergers are also covered. The clear and friendly style of the text, thorough coverage of fundamentals, extensive use of up-to-date observations, and helpful problems make this an ideal introduction to galaxies and an excellent preparation for more advanced texts and the research literature.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #818343 in Books
• Published on: 2000-08-21
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 416 pages

Review
‘The clear and friendly style of the text … make this an ideal introduction to galaxies and an excellent preparation for more advanced text and the research literature.’ Europe & Astronomy

‘Galaxies in the Universe: An Introduction is a well-thought-out and easy-to-read text … This book is reasonably priced, and well-suited to its readership. I strongly recommend it to those working on, and teaching about, galaxies. there is certainly enough material here for several courses.’ Paul O’Brien, The Observatory

‘The clear and friendly style of the text, thorough coverage of fundamentals, extensive use of up-to-date observations, and helpful problems make this an ideal introduction to galaxies and an excellent preparation for more advanced texts and the research literature. It makes this book accessible for advanced amateurs, as well.’ Orion (Société Astronomique de Suisse)

Customer Reviews

Rigorous yet accessible introductory textbook
A fine academic introduction to the subject. It does assume some first-year undergraduate physics and maths, although the trickier bits can be skipped and returned to later. It is definitely a book to be studied rather than bed time reading. Good further reading suggestions and bibliography are provided, although these days a websearch would yield plenty more material. Illustrations are mostly graphs and the like, and a few black and white photos, but don't look for pretty full colour pictures. The writing is business-like but flows well on the whole. Each chapter provides some test-yourself problems, although only some of them have answers (or rather hints) included at the back of the book. There is a comprehensive index.

So highly recommended for students of astronomy and astrophysics.

Good start
This book is all that is needed for an undergraduate student interested in galaxies. The book gives a wonderful and very easy to understand explanation about galaxies, their components, motion, etc. It is full of useful information, balanced throughout chapters. Most of the book is not demanding in mathematics, with illustrative problems. A slightly hard material is given in the part about galaxy dynamics, but still inside the sphere of undergraduate-level knowledge. It is also good for graduate research students, with major in astronomy or physics, full of references, so I certainly recommend this book to anyone who wants to start with galaxy astrophysics.