This second edition has been updated and substantially expanded. Starting with the description of our home galaxy, the Milky Way, this cogently written textbook introduces the reader to the astronomy of galaxies, their structure, active galactic nuclei, evolution and large scale distribution in the Universe. After an extensive and thorough introduction to modern observational and theoretical cosmology, the focus turns to the formation of structures and astronomical objects in the early Universe. The basics of classical astronomy and stellar astrophysics needed for extragalactic astronomy are provided in the appendix. While this book has grown out of introductory university courses on astronomy and astrophysics and includes a set of problems and solutions, it will not only benefit undergraduate students and lecturers; thanks to the comprehensive coverage of the field, even graduate students and researchers specializing in related fields will appreciate it as a valuable reference work.

With an emphasis on numerical modelling, Physics of the Sun: A First Course presents a quantitative examination of the physical structure of the Sun and the conditions of its extended atmosphere. It gives step-by-step instructions for calculating the numerical values of various physical quantities in different regions of the Sun. Fully updated throughout, with the latest results in solar physics, this second edition covers a wide range of topics on the Sun and stellar astrophysics, including the structure of the Sun, solar radiation, the solar atmosphere, and Sun-space interactions. It explores how the physical conditions in the visible surface of the Sun are determined by the opacity of the material in the atmosphere. It also presents the empirical properties of convection in the Sun, discusses the physical conditions which must be satisfied for nuclear reactions to occur in the core, and describes how radiation transports energy from the core outwards. This text enables a practical appreciation of the physical models of solar processes. Numerical modelling problems and step-by-step instructions are featured throughout, to empower students to calculate, using their own codes, the interior structure of different parts of the Sun and the frequencies of p-modes and g-modes. They encourage a firm grasp of the numerical values of actual physical parameters as a function of radial location in the Sun. It is an ideal introduction to solar physics for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in physics and astronomy, in addition to research professionals looking to incorporate modelling into their practises. Extensive bibliographies at the end of each chapter enable the reader to explore the latest research articles in the field. Features: Fully updated with the latest results from the spacecraft Hinode, Stereo, Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS), and Parker Solar Probe Presents step-by-step explanations for calculating numerical models of the photosphere, convection zone, and radiative interior with exercises and simulation problems to test learning Describes the structure of polytropic spheres and the acoustic power in the Sun and the process of thermal conduction in different physical conditions

Describes how radio astronomers made a series of remarkable serendipitous discoveries that changed our understanding of the Universe.

A new frontier in our solar system opened with the discovery of the Kuiper Belt and the extensive population of icy bodies orbiting beyond Neptune. Today the study of all of these bodies, collectively referred to as trans-Neptunian objects, reveals them to be frozen time capsules from the earliest epochs of solar system formation. This new volume in the Space Science Series, with one hundred contributing authors, offers the most detailed and up-to-date picture of our solar systemÕs farthest frontier. Our understanding of trans-Neptunian objects is rapidly evolving and currently constitutes one of the most active research fields in planetary sciences. The Solar System Beyond Neptune brings the reader to the forefront of our current understanding and points the way to further advancement in the field, making it an indispensable resource for researchers and students in planetary science.