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This book focuses on the formulation of mathematical models for the light curves of eclipsing binary stars, and on the algorithms for generating such models. Since information gained from binary systems provides much of what we know of the masses, luminosities, and radii of stars, such models are acquiring increasing importance in studies of stellar structure and evolution. As in other areas of science, the computer revolution has given many astronomers tools that previously only specialists could use; anyone with access to a set of data can now expect to be able to model it. This book will provide astronomers, both amateur and professional, with a guide for specifying an astrophysical model for a set of observations, selecting an algorithm to determine the parameters of the model and estimating the errors of the parameters. It is written for readers with knowledge of basic calculus and linear algebra; appendices cover mathematical details on such matters as optimization, coordinate systems, and specific models. While emphasizing the physical and mathematical framework, the discussion remains close to the problems if actual implementation. It begins with an overview of the problem and a discussion of the observational data that form the basis of any model. The treatment then turns to the direct problem (computing the light curve and other observables from the a given set of parameters) and then to the indirect problem (determining a best-fit set of parameters from the data). The book concludes with chapters on specific models and approaches and the authors’ views on the structure of future light-curve programs.

The second edition consists of corrections of errors. There a is new physics in light curve models mentioned. Inclusive are distance fitting and implications on T1. Other improvements within the 2E: third stars - dynamical effects, spot variation over various epochs and simultaneous fitting, new features in the WD program, new applications in astronomy and astrophysics, transits in extra solar planetary systems, planetary simulation work, GAIA project - analyzing huge amounts of data, light curve analysis for non-eclipsing binary star people, new interesting literature cases, Milone’s papers, other interesting papers, new (software) developments in the eclipsing binary community, PHOEBE, Binary Maker 3.0 and finally ephemerides from whole light and velocity curves.

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The Hubble Space Telescope is the largest, most complex, and most powerful observatory ever deployed in space, designed to allow astronomers to look far back into our own cosmic past with unprecedented clarity. Yet from its launch in 1990, when it was discovered that a flawed mirror was causing severe "myopia" and sending fuzzy images back to Earth, the HST has been at the center of a controversy over who was at fault for the flaw and how it should be fixed. Now Chaisson, a former senior scientist on the HST project, tells the inside story of the much heralded mission to fix the telescope. Drawing on his journals, Chaisson recreates the day-to-day struggles of scientists, politicians, and publicists to fix the telescope and control the political spin. Illustrated with "before and after" full-color pictures from the telescope and updated with a new preface, The Hubble Wars tells an engaging tale of scientific comedy and error.

In this new edition, coming at the half-way point in the HST's planned mission of fifteen years, Chaisson has brought the Hubble story up-to-date by sorting out the spectacular from the mundane contributions the HST has made to our knowledge of the Solar System, the Milky Way Galaxy, and the distant galaxies of deep space.

Customer Reviews (7)

Good background read on HST
Frankly, I enjoyed the atsropolitics perspective of the Hubble Space Telescope [HST] but several people that were associated with the project I have spoken dispute elements of the book on a factual basis. Nonetheless, I see facts as being taken from where one stands especially in political science and the art of spin. For anyone doing an overview study of the Hubble Space Telescope, this book should be among those to be read for insight to the early development issues associated with a 'Big Science' project. The HST has, fortunately, been a significant instrument in astronomy the past decade or so. Hopefully the 2008 service mission will extend its life several more years leaving more to the HST story to be told with many more pictures and words to be written as to its astronomical observations.

20-20 Vision
Chaisson has effectively been made a nonperson at NASA (one scientist tangentially involved in the Hubble program told me that he "believed" that Chaisson had been a "janitor or maintenance man"), which implies that he's on to something.

Reading this book will teach you something essential about organizational politics, something that is often revealed, but never corrected, and so must always be relearned. It will also make it clear why -- assorted automated go-carts to the contrary -- we're not going to Mars or anywhere else in the near future, at least not with this outfit.

A Great Novel
``Hubble Wars'' is a great exciting read, but unfortunately it has little to do with anything that really happened.Chaisson's tone reads like that of a classic self-serving political memior, ``I was there. I saw everything.It's a shame that the fools didn't listen to me, because I alone knew what to do.''In truth, Chaisson gets the details completely wrong in many places, fails to understand what people were really doing to save the mission, and represents a privileged vantage point that he in fact did not have.I have yet to meet anyone who had anything to do with the Hubble who considers this book to be a fair or accurate history.Chaisson's tone is vividly clear in the summary chapter in which he judges the profoundly successful 1993 repair mission to having fallen far short.There is a great history of the Hubble to be written, but this is not it.

A great read!
An excellent book!It really shows what goes on down in the bowels of another government agency.Really well done.It's really amazing how the press can be lead on by the PR machine and how the PR machine doesn't evenknow what it's doing in a field a s specific as astrophysics and astronomy. It's really a wonder how hubble even got off the ground, let alone, work. Now, it is finally giving us some really good science and will hopefullycontinue to do so until the end of its operational life.

Great reading for anyone interested in astronomy
If you've ever wondered what went wrong, and more importantly, what went right with the Hubble Space Telescope, this is a book for you. The author describes many of his personal experiences and gives us folks on theoutside a peek at how professional astronomers work. Also, he corrects someof the errors that were made by the newsmedia in the early days of theproject ... Read more

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The recent research domain of asteroseismology studies the internal structure of stars, which is not directly observable, through the interpretation of the frequency spectra of stellar oscillations. The basic principles of asteroseismology are very similar to those developed by earth seismologists. Stellar interiors can be probed from oscillations because different oscillation modes penetrate to different depths inside the star. Asteroseismology is the only available method to derive the internal structure of the stars with high precision.

This book – the first on asteroseismology – offers a practical guide for graduate students and scientists working in stellar astrophysics. It provides a general introduction to asteroseismology and comprehensive coverage of all its aspects: fundamental theory, observations and observational techniques, methodology of data analysis and seismic interpretations of various classes of multi-periodic pulsating stars.

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This second volume of a comprehensive three-volume work on theoretical astrophysics deals with stellar physics. After reviewing the key observational results and nomenclature used in stellar astronomy, the book develops a solid understanding of central concepts including stellar structure and evolution, the physics of stellar remnants, pulsars, binary stars, the sun and planetary systems, interstellar medium and globular clusters. Throughout, the reader's comprehension is developed and tested with more than seventy-five exercises.This indispensable volume will allow graduate students to master the material sufficiently to read and engage in research with heightened understanding.It can be used alone or in conjunction with Volume 1, which covers a wide range of astrophysical processes, and the forthcoming Volume 3, on galaxies and cosmology. ... Read more

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Globular clusters are roughly spherical, densely packed groups of stars found around galaxies. Most globular clusters probably formed at the same time as their host galaxies. Therefore they provide a unique fossil record of the conditions during the formation and early evolution of galaxies. This volume presents a comprehensive review of globular cluster systems. It summarizes their observed properties and shows how these constrain models of the structure of stars, the formation and evolution of galaxies and globular clusters, and the age of the Universe. For graduate students and researchers, this timely volume provides the definitive reference on globular cluster systems. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Globulars are everywhere
I have found this peice to be very enlightining. It is fairly comprehensive and is well written. It delves in depth into one of the most amazing facets of the universe. Globulars are not only beautiful and amazing to behold but are probaply one of the most curious objects in the universe. This work explores most of the recient research on globulars and tries to make sence of it all. I would recommend it to any one interested in this aspect of Astronomy.It is fairly technical and does require background in stastics and at least be an intermediate astronomer. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (5)

The "bible" of Galactic Dynamics
No review is really necessary. This book is *the* definitive reference for Galactic Dynamics.

You'll find it on the bookshelf of every astronomer alive (and I'm only marginally exaggerating here!). Five stars - there is no better Galactic Dynamics text.

Note, however, that this is *not* an introductory-level book, and is intended for graduate level astronomers and higher.

Galactic Dynamics
Not for the faint of heart.Well written, but very technical.Needs good math and physics background.

THE Definitive Work on Galaxies
Binney has cleary established Galactic Dynamics and its companion volume Galactic Astronomy as the definitive works on the subject. The NASA Astronomy Abstract Service lists 3411 citations for this book as of 12/2006 so it is clearly an important part of the literature of astrophysics.

This book is written at the graduate or researcher level. As it deals with the behavior of galaxies, potential theory, energy distribution, angular momentium and dark matter so the mathematics employed are quite powerful.

Please create an audio adaptation ...
To the publisher I would appreciate it if the publisher could produce an audio adaptation of this book. I would love to listen to this while I drive to work and to let my 16 month old son listen to it as a bedtime story.Arnold D Veness

The "Bible" of Galactic Dynamics
This book is a very well-known and widely used reference for students in extragalactic astrophysics and stellar dynamics. A solution manual for the problems would be highly welcomed. ... Read more

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G. Beutler's Methods of Celestical Mechanics is a coherent textbook for students as well as an excellent reference for practitioners. The first volume gives a thorough treatment of celestial mechanics and presents all the necessary mathematical details that a professional would need. The reader will appreciate the well-written chapters on numerical solution techniques for ordinary differential equations, as well as that on orbit determination. In the second volume applications to the rotation of earth and moon, to artificial earth satellites and to the planetary system are presented. The author addresses all aspects that are of importance in high-tech applications, such as the detailed gravitational fields of all planets and the earth, the oblateness of the earth, the radiation pressure and the atmospheric drag. The concluding part of this monumental treatise explains and details state-of-the-art professional and thoroughly-tested software for celestial mechanics. The accompanying CD-ROM enables readers to employ this software themselves and also serves as to illustrate and reinforce the related theoretical concepts.

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The study of cataclysmic variables - interacting binary stars containing a white dwarf accreting from an orbiting companion - is undergoing an exciting renaissance, as it embraces observations at all wavelengths. Cataclysmic variables allow, in particular, the direct and detailed study of equilibrium and non-equilibrium accretion discs; in turn these developments also help in our understanding of X-ray binaries, black holes and active galactic nuclei. This timely volume provides the first comprehensive survey of cataclysmic variable stars, integrating theory and observation into a single, synthesised text. An introductory chapter gives the historical background of studies of cataclysmic variables. The author then goes on to give an up-to-date review of both the observations (at all wavelengths, and over all time-scales), the theories, the models of the structures and accretion processes believed to be involved. A very detailed bibliography is also provided to guide the reader to pertinent primary literature. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Nice Book, Shame about the Price
This is the definitive work on CVs and a great reference work even 7 years after its publication. However, after that time the price is still so high as put it beyond all but the most dedicated of textbook collectors. Get the library to buy a copy if it doesnt already have one and borrow it immediately.

Great Overview
This book is an absolute must if you are to be studying Cataclymsic Variable Stars.If you need to find equations on mass-radius relations or just find basic background information on close binaries, cataclysmicvariable, SU UMa's, outbursts, superoutbursts, and superhumps from birth todeath then this is your book.It has great cross references.This is thebook of books on CV's. ... Read more

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This book is a comprehensive guide to the physics and observations of Radio Recombination Lines from astronomical sources, written for astronomers, physicists, and graduate students. It is suitable for a graduate-level textbook. It includes the history of RRL detections, the astrophysics underlying their intensities and line shapes including topics like departures from LTE and Stark broadening, the maximum possible size of an atom, as well as detailed descriptions of the astronomical topics for which RRLs have proved to be effective tools.

The text includes more than 250 equations and 110 illustrations. It also contains hundreds of specific references to the astronomical literature to enable readers to explore additional details. The appendix includes supplementary information such as the detailed physics underlying the Bohr atomic model, tables of RRL frequencies including fine structure components, techniques for calculating hydrogenic oscillator strengths, FORTRAN code for calculating departure coefficients, and a discussion with formulas for converting observational (telescope) intensity units to astrophysical ones.

"We now have a splendid book written by two of the pioneers, M.A. Gordon of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Tucson and R.L. Sorochenko of the Lebedev Institute. In their Preface the authors say that the book was written by exchanging email. They give a fascinating account of the history of the subject, a detailed discussion of the atomic physics required for the interpretation of the observations, and describe astronomical results obtained using RRL observations for a wide range of astronomical objects." Mike Seaton, Former President, Royal Astronomical Society, 1979-1981

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Astronomers and astrophysicists are making revolutionary advances in our understanding of planets, stars, galaxies, and even the structure of the universe itself. "The Decade of Discovery presents a survey" of this exciting field of science and offers a prioritized agenda for space- and ground-based research into the twenty-first century. The book presents specific recommendations, programs, and expenditure levels to meet the needs of the astronomy and astrophysics communities. Accessible to the interested lay reader, the book explores: the technological investments needed for instruments that will be built in the next century; the importance of the computer revolution to all aspects of astronomical research; the potential usefulness of the moon as an observatory site; and policy issues relevant to the funding of astronomy and the execution of astronomical projects. "The Decade of Discovery" will prove valuable to science policymakers, research administrators, scientists, and students in the physical sciences, and interested lay readers. ... Read more

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This book assembles for the first time in a single text the full range of astronomical and engineering principles used in the design and construction of large telescopes. It aims to cover all aspects of the field, from the fundamentals of astronomical observation to optics, control systems, and structural, mechanical, and thermal engineering, as well as such specialized topics as site selection and program management. The book is the result of the collaboration of many leading astronomers, engineers, and project managers. Their contributions have been edited to provide a consistent approach and treatment: for example, ground- and space-based telescopes are treated from a common perspective.
Topics covered include:
- Design Methods and Project Management
- Telescope Optics
- Stray Light Control
- Structure and Mechanisms
- Pointing and Control
- Active and Adaptive Optics
- Thermal Control
- Integration and Verification
- Observatory Enclosure and Siting ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent book on large telescopes
Since I work for a privately held observatory engaged in the construction of a new telescope and facility, this book is extremely useful.I have found its treatment of all the subjects related to large telescopes very helpful and just the right level of depth for my situation. ... Read more

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This volume is concerned essentially with the modern developments in reflecting telescope optics. In the last twenty years, modern technology has revolutionized not only manufacturing and test procedures but also the whole area of quality specification with the introduction of active control into the functioning telescope. Other subjects covered here are alignment of telescope optics, atmospheric optics, including adaptive optics, reflecting coatings and ancillary equipment (adapters and baffles). Although an independent work, Vol. II is heavily cross-referenced with Vol. I. It is richly illustrated and gives, together with Vol. I, the most complete list of references available; it can also therefore be regarded as a source book. ... Read more

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This introductory account provides the physical background to an understanding of interacting binary stars. These are star systems in which the pair of members is close enough to each other to cause interactions. Several such systems are strong sources of stellar x-rays. The contributions, all by active researchers, concentrate on three areas of current interest which serve to illustrate the problems encountered generally in these binary systems. The topics covered are: binary star evolution, contact binary stars, and cataclysmic variable stars. The book brings a graduate student to the point of being able to start independent research. ... Read more

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The highly acclaimed first edition of High Energy Astrophysics instantly established itself as a classic in the teaching of contemporary astronomy. Reflecting the immense interest and developments in the subject, Professor Longair has developed the second edition into three texts; in this second volume he provides a comprehensive discussion of the high energy astrophysics of stars, the Galaxy and the interstellar medium. He develops an understanding for the essential physics with an elegance and infectious enthusiasm for which his teaching is internationally renowned, illustrating the issues throughout with results from the forefront of research. This book takes the student with an undergraduate background inphysics and mathematics--but not necessarily with training in astronomy--to the point where current astrophysical research can be understood. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good book, but outdated 14 years later
We used this book for a graduate course on High Energy Astrophysics.As I recall, there were a fair number of mistakes (like "Fermi's Exclusion Principle"), but overall I found it quite informative.However, modern astrophysics is rapidly changing, and you should not spend money on a book that is so out dated on many topics.Buy something new and borrow this one from the library if you get the urge.

One of the best books about Cosmic Rays Astrophysics
The two volumes of "High Energy Astrophysics" by M.S. Longair are amongst my favourite books: I read them several times and every time I found interesting hints for my work.I'm waiting for the third volume for 3 years, but it's still missing from the bookshelf...
The first volume ("Particles, Photons and Their Detection") focuses on the interactions between high energy particles and matter, in order to help the reader to understand how detectors work.The theoretical approach is deep enough not to hide the "dirty" steps of the calculations, and some subsection requires good mathematical skills (well, not as much as for Russian books ;-).
The second volume ("Stars, the Galaxy and Interstellar Medium") focuses on the Physics of cosmic rays (CR) while they run through the Galaxy.The author takes the occasion to explain several very exciting items, from the proposed mechanisms of CR acceleration and high energy photons emission, to the diffusion through the interstellar medium and the Solar wind, untill the CR reach the Earth.Special emphasis is given to open problems -- only very few of them were solved in the meantime (Nov. 2001).
The 2 volumes are well suited for advanced students in Physics or Astronomy, and are a good reference for researchers. ... Read more

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Dynamical systems theory is especially well-suited for determining the possible asymptotic states (at both early and late times) of cosmological models, particularly when the governing equations are a finite system of autonomous ordinary differential equations.
In this book we discuss cosmological models as dynamical systems, with particular emphasis on applications in the early Universe. We point out the important role of self-similar models. We review the asymptotic properties of spatially homogeneous perfect fluid models in general relativity. We then discuss results concerning scalar field models with an exponential potential (both with and without barotropic matter). Finally, we discuss the dynamical properties of cosmological models derived from the string effective action.
This book is a valuable source for all graduate students and professional astronomers who are interested in modern developments in cosmology. ... Read more

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This volume provides a thorough discussion of the evolution ofelemental abundances in the Galaxy taking into account both spatialand temporal variations. For the first time, and in much greaterdetail, the observed chemical abundances are interpreted in terms offormation and evolution of the Galaxy. Observational constraints likethe gas and star formation rate distribution are guiding thisinterpretation. Readers will find this monograph to be a unique research tool forexpert scientists, graduate students, and everyone else who wants toget a deeper understanding of the chemical evolution of the Milky Wayand galaxies in general. ... Read more

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A unified and systematic treatment of the main results and techniques of relativistic fluid dynamics with an emphasis on waves and shock waves. The first four chapters provide an introduction to the fundamental principles of relativistic fluid dynamics and magneto-fluids.The remaining chapters present specific topics, including non-linear electromagnetic waves in relativistic cold plasmas, relativistic asymptotic waves, and relativistic shock waves.Examples of the applications of the theory to plasma physics, nuclear physics and astrophysics are presented. ... Read more

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This is the first comprehensive treatment of active galactic nuclei--the cosmic powerhouses at the core of many distant galaxies. The term active galactic nuclei refers to quasars, radio galaxies, Seyfert galaxies, blazars, and related objects, all of which are believed to share a similar central engine--a supermassive black hole many times the mass of the Sun. Astrophysicists have studied these phenomena for the past several decades and have begun to develop a consensus about many of their properties and internal mechanisms. Julian Krolik, one of the world's leading authorities on the subject, sums up leading ideas from across the entire range of research, making this book an invaluable resource for astronomers, physicists interested in applications of the theory of gravitation, and graduate students.

Krolik begins by addressing basic questions about active galactic nuclei: What are they? How can they be found? How do they evolve? He assesses the evidence for massive black holes and considers how they generate power by accretion. He discusses X-ray and g-ray emission, radio emission and jets, emission and absorption lines, anisotropic appearance, and the relationship between an active nucleus and its host galaxy. He explores the mysteries of what ignites, fuels, and extinguishes active galactic nuclei, and concludes with a general review of where the field now stands. The book is unique in paying careful attention to relevant physics as well as astronomy, reflecting in part the importance of general relativity to understanding active galactic nuclei. Clear, authoritative, and detailed, this is crucial reading for anyone interested in one of the most dynamic areas of astrophysics today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

MUCH better books available
I think the other reviewers must have confused this textbook with another one.This book sucks.They must have been enrolled in Krolik's class on AGN and were brown-nosing to get better grades.This textbook is overdense and you will find yourself reading pages and pages, but learning little about the physics of active galactic nuclei.At times, the work reads more like a philosophical treatise on observing methodology than a textbook to explain the observations and science behind active galactic nuclei.The material is outdated and some of the conclusions found within have since been disproven.The textbook does not discuss the current observations and controversies involved in the study of active galactic nuclei.Typically, when authors use graphics (pictures, plots, etc) they serve to illuminate the material and make it more understandable.Not so with this textbook, it is better to skip the graphics altogether because they do not help in the least.The mathematical proofs are not well-developed here and do not aid in the understanding of the physics.

I highly recommend Bradley Peterson's "An Introduction to Active Galactic Nuclei" over this textbook.Peterson's book might be thinner (because he sticks to the material and does not digress), but it is much better.It is more up to date and clearly explains observations of AGN and then develops the science behind their operation.The mathematics in this textbook are started at a more fundamental level, but are better developed to allow for a clearer understanding of the physics.

If you read Krolik's tome, you will walk away with a a great dislike of AGN.I was required to buy this book for the course Krolik was teaching at Hopkins.My greatest regret was that I was unable to sell this textbook back to the bookstore.

Complete coverage of a fascinating topic
This book provides an amazing amount of depth on the exciting topic of AGNs.Although a bit heavy on theory at times (which is to be expected from Krolik), the book covers every topic imaginable, from black holephysics to accretion disk structure.If you work in the field of AGNs, oryou want to learn more about the subject, this book is a MUST READ. However, I would only recommend it for advanced undergrads or above.

Great astrophysics by Krolik
Prof. Julian Krolik has done it again!His new book "Active Galactic Nuclei: From the Central Black Hole to the Glactic Environment" is a great reference source for astrophyisics, especially in Active GalacticNuclei.While the reading can be a bit dense and convoluded, the topic isso involving that I couldn't put the book down.If you, like me, loveActive Galactic Nuclei, then this is a MUST BUY book.Also, if you aretaking one of Prof. Krolik's graduate classes at Hopkins, then I stronglysuggest that you read up on his favorite topic.Anyone who buy's the bookwill NOT be dissapointed with it!!! ... Read more

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Towards the second half of this decade several major telescope facilities operating in the infrared submillimeter and millimeter wave bands will become operational. These missions are expected to throw much light on our understanding of the the star formation phenomenon, which is addressed as one of the primary science goals in these wave bands. This book is the proceedings of the "Cores to Clusters" workshop held at Centro de Astrofisica da Universidade do Porto during 7 - 9 October, 2004 to discuss current and future issues in star formation physics in the light of these Next Generation Telescopes.