Digital sky surveys, high-precision astrometry from satellite data, deep-space data from orbiting telescopes, and the like have all increased the quantity and quality of astronomical data by orders of magnitude per year for several years. Making sense of this wealth of data requires sophisticated statistical techniques. Fortunately, statistical methodologies have similarly made great strides in recent years. Powerful synergies thus emerge when astronomers and statisticians join in examining astrostatistical problems and approaches. The book begins with an historical overview and tutorial articles on basic cosmology for statisticians and the principles of Bayesian analysis for astronomers. As in earlier volumes in this series, research contributions discussing topics in one field are joined with commentary from scholars in the other. Thus, for example, an overview of Bayesian methods for Poissonian data is joined by discussions of planning astronomical observations with optimal efficiency and nested models to deal with instrumental effects. The principal theme for the volume is the statistical methods needed to model fundamental characteristics of the early universe on its largest scales.

A comprehensive and authoritative introduction to contemporary cosmology for advanced undergraduate and graduate students.

A special forum on critical issues in cosmology in celebraton of Princeton University's 250th birthday.The proceedings of this conference, held as part of Princeton University's 250th birthday celebrations, features lectures and discussions by many of the world's leading scientists on the status and future of modern cosmology.The volume offers the non-specialist a fascinating insight into the current status of cosmology and the issues of contention at the research frontiers of the science. It constitutes the proceedings of a special conference, held as part of Princeton University's 250 birthday celebrations, featuring lectures and discussions by many of the world's leading scientists on the status and future of modern cosmology. The volume is based on the format of a series of debates in which a range of conventional wisdom is reviewed, defended and critcised by renowned specialists in each field.The technical level of the volume is accessible to a very broad audience of non-specialists. This innovative exchange of ideas at the cutting edge of cosmology therefore offers an unusual opportunity for the average reader to savour the excitement of probing into the ultimate secrets of the universe.

Understanding the largest physical structures in the universe is essential for the comprehension of the cosmos as a whole. We want to know how our world is formed, what it is made of and how it evolves.Galaxies, as the most visible constituents of the universe, are interesting probes for the cosmic time sequence. Their formation and development provides us with unique clues to the cosmic evolution. This is tightly connected with the hierarchical cosmic structure: groups and clusters of galaxies and their embedding into the large scale structure offer the opportunity to study the dependencies.Galaxy redshift surveys delineate most impressively a large cosmic web, which is composed of sheets and filaments. Grand simulations of the cosmic evolution complement these observations from the theoretical side and allow one quantify and compare various model universes.Quasar absorption line studies, gravitational lensing and even the X-ray background radiation provide important quantitative measures of the history of matter clustering. Finally, the microwave radiation traces very early structures, which are supposed to originate in the phase of inflationary expansion shortly after the big bang.This volume constituting the proceedings of the 12th Potsdam Cosmology Workshop, deals with the basic aspects of cosmological structure formation on the largest physical scales.