A BRIEF HISTORY OF ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS

by Kenneth R Lang

Overview

'Our developing appreciation of the Universe is a triumph of the intelligence, ingenuity and sheer hard work of the many scientists involved in this story. This book gives a clear picture of how this fascinating story has evolved over the last 500 years albeit which many scientifically literature readers will enjoy.'Contemporary PhysicsThis book traces out the unfolding history of important discoveries in astronomy and astrophysics, and anchors our present understanding of the Universe within the findings and personalities of accomplished astronomers. They have used telescopes and instruments to extend our vision to places that cannot be seen with the unaided eye, discovered a host of unanticipated objects, found out how various parts of the night sky are related, and discovered that the Universe is larger, more complex, and older than has been previously thought. This comprehensive historical approach to the present state of astronomy is a unique aspect of the book.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789813233850
Publisher:	World Scientific Publishing Company, Incorporated
Publication date:	07/25/2018
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	340
File size:	7 MB

Table of Contents

Introduction xi

Part I Everything Moves 1

1 The Earth Moves 3

2 Gravity Guides Movement and Bends Space-Time 24

3 Motion within Matter 50

4 How Light Moves Through Space and Interacts with Matter 60

5 The Stars are Moving 81

6 The Universe is Expanding and Breaking Away 101

Part II Nothing Stays the Same 131

7 Natural History of the Stars 133

8 How the Sun and Planets Came into Being 144

9 The Ways Stars Shine 157

10 The Paths of Stellar Life 171

11 The Ways Stars Die 188

12 Darkness Made Visible 207

13 Primordial Light 228

14 The Origin of the Chemical Elements 249

References and Notes 260

Author Index 313

Subject Index 317