Astronomy: A Physical Perspective

by Marc L. Kutner

This fully revised and updated text is a comprehensive introduction to astronomical objects and phenomena. By applying some basic physical principles to a variety of situations, students will learn how to relate everyday physics to the astronomical world. Starting with the simplest objects, the text contains explanations of how and why astronomical phenomena occur, and how astronomers collect and interpret information about stars, galaxies and the solar system. The text looks at the properties of stars, star formation and evolution; neutron stars and black holes; the nature of galaxies; and the structure of the universe. It examines the past, present and future states of the universe; and final chapters use the concepts that have been developed to study the solar system, its formation; the possibility of finding other planetary systems; and the search for extraterrestrial life. This comprehensive text contains useful equations, chapter summaries, worked examples and end-of-chapter problem sets.

Genres: Physics, Astronomy, Science, Nonfiction

598 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 20, 1987

About the author

Marc Leslie Kutner

Reviews

[Evan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a rather bad textbook. It is filled with error and imprecise description. Not recommended at all.

[Jose Moa · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the mathematics and physics background between high school and firs college course a very kind complete introduction to astrophysics that enables to make interesting calculations in several fields as : stellar magnitudes,orbits,planetary atmospheres,white dwarfs,neutron stars ,galaxies,cosmolgy,relativity ,telescopes,Roche limit and so on.It has a lot of worked examples and accesible fruitfull exercises