An introduction to modern astrophysics

An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics is a comprehensive, well-organized and engaging text covering every major area of modern astrophysics, from the solar system and stellar astronomy to galactic and extragalactic astrophysics, and cosmology. Designed to provide students with a working knowledge of modern astrophysics, this textbook is suitable for astronomy and physics majors who have had a first-year introductory physics course with calculus. Featuring a brief summary of the main scientific discoveries that have led to our current understanding of the universe; worked examples to facilitate the understanding of the concepts presented in the book; end-of-chapter problems to practice the skills acquired; and computational exercises to numerically model astronomical systems, the second edition of An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics is the go-to textbook for learning the core astrophysics curriculum as well as the many advances in the field.

Reprint of second edition originally published in 2007.

1. The tools of astronomy. The celestial sphere ; Celestial mechanics ; The continuous spectrum of light ; The theory of special relativity ; The interaction of light and matter ; Telescopes -- 2. The nature of stars. Binary systems and stellar parameters ; The classification of stellar spectra ; Stellar atmospheres ; The interiors of stars ; The sun ; The interstellar medium and star formation ; Main sequence and post-main-sequence stellar evolution ; Stellar pulsation ; The fate of massive stars ; The degenerate remnants of stars ; General relativity and black holes ; Close binary star systems -- 3. The solar system. Physical processes in the solar system ; The terrestrial planets ; The realms of the giant planets ; Minor bodies of the solar system ; Formation of planetary systems -- 4. Galaxies and the universe. The Milky Way galaxy ; The nature of galaxies ; Galactic evolution ; The structure of the universe ; Active galaxies ; Cosmology ; The early universe -- A. Astronomical and physical constants (inside front cover) -- B. Unit conversions (inside back cover) -- C. Solar system data -- D. The constellations -- E. The brightest stars -- F. The nearest stars -- G. Stellar dat…