Introduction to Stellar Astrophysics: Volume 1, Basic Stellar Observations and Data

By Erika Böhm-Vitense

Book Overview

This textbook introduces basic elements of fundamental astronomy and astrophysics which serve as a foundation for understanding the structure, evolution, and observed properties of stars. The first half of the book explains how stellar motions, distances, luminosities, colours, radii, masses and temperatures are measured or derived. The author then shows how data of these sorts can be arranged to classify stars through their spectra. Stellar rotation and stellar magnetic fields are introduced. Stars with peculiar spectra and pulsating stars also merit special attention. The endpoints of stellar volutions are briefly described. There is a separate chapter on the Sun and a final one on interstellar absorption. The usefulness of this text is enhanced by the inclusion of problems for students, tables of astronomical constants, and a selective bibliography.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B007SRZ4W2
• ISBN13: 9780521348690
• Release Date: August 2008
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.8" x 9.7"

Customer Reviews

Good good

The condition of the book is very good. I would like to buy from this seller again. Thanks

Introduction to Stellar Astrophysics Vol 1

This is an excellent series Vol 1 thur 3 for the person wishing to review the basics of stellar astrophysics. I stress the words review for the author assumes at least a basic level of knowledge on how astronomical data is measured. The reader is cautioned to be versed in basic mathematical skills up to the beginning calculus level as detailed worked out examples are not provided in the text. At the conclusion of this and Volumes 2 and 3 are a series of chapter review problems for which there are no answers provided. Volume 2 and 3 deal with stellar atmospheres and interiors. This is a good set of volumes and worth having if you are knowledgeable in the subject. It is not a self teaching set but a sound set to be used for classroom work at the intermediate level. My only real complaint was that the author did not provide worked out answers to the problem sets at the end of each book.

Excellent book for teaching

I used this book for teaching the undergraduates. Although some chapters were not directly useful, the major part of it was very good. Some more illustrative examples would make it still more easy to grasp.