Overview
The twentieth century witnessed the development of astrophysics and cosmology from subjects which scarcely existed to two of the most exciting and demanding areas of contemporary scientific inquiry. In this book Malcolm Longair reviews the historical development of the key areas of modern astrophysics, linking the strands together to show how they have led to the extraordinarily rich panorama of modern astrophysics and cosmology. While many of the great discoveries were derived from pioneering observations, the emphasis is upon the development of theoretical concepts and how they came to be accepted. These advances have led astrophysicists and cosmologists to ask some of the deepest questions about the nature of our Universe and have pushed astronomical observations to the very limit. This is a fantastic story, and one which would have defied the imaginations of even the greatest storytellers.
Full Product Details
Author: Malcolm S. Longair (University of Cambridge)
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Imprint: Cambridge University Press (Virtual Publishing)
Edition: Revised edition
ISBN: 9781139878319
ISBN 10: 113987831
Publication Date: 05 February 2015
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Professional & Vocational
Format: Undefined
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Available To Order
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Reviews
'Little of astrophysics and cosmology escapes the gaze of Longair ... Readers, especially those already familiar with many of the topics, will enjoy his prose. Certainly all graduate students in the field should read this book. And anyone interested in the history of science would enjoy it as bedside reading if they were willing to skip the equations.' Jay M. Pasachoff, Nature 'I can envisage this book being useful to physicists from other areas of specialization, who would like an overview of astrophysics and cosmology, or for workers in one of these areas who want to broaden their horizons. It could also be a text for graduate students in astronomy, astrophysics or astrophysical cosmology, who want a synoptic overview of these areas ... the book ... clearly separates speculation from well-established theory ... a sound work that will be well appreciated.' George Ellis, Nature Physics 'The astrophysical equivalent to Gombrich's Story of Art ... Written with grace, clarity and formidable knowledge, this is simply a book that every serious student of astrophysics must have.' Astronomy Now
'Little of astrophysics and cosmology escapes the gaze of Longair ... Readers, especially those already familiar with many of the topics, will enjoy his prose. Certainly all graduate students in the field should read this book. And anyone interested in the history of science would enjoy it as bedside reading if they were willing to skip the equations.' Jay M. Pasachoff, Nature 'I can envisage this book being useful to physicists from other areas of specialization, who would like an overview of astrophysics and cosmology, or for workers in one of these areas who want to broaden their horizons. It could also be a text for graduate students in astronomy, astrophysics or astrophysical cosmology, who want a synoptic overview of these areas ... the book ... clearly separates speculation from well-established theory ... a sound work that will be well appreciated.' George Ellis, Nature Physics 'The astrophysical equivalent to Gombrich's Story of Art ... Written with grace, clarity and formidable knowledge, this is simply a book that every serious student of astrophysics must have.' Astronomy Now The book is written in a clear, concise manner at a level suitable for undergraduates...With its exhaustive bibliography and careful indexing, this excellent book is destined to be come an important and familiar resource. -- Choice ...Malcolm Longair has written a very timely book, directed toward students, researchers, and lecturers; I enjoyed experiencing all three roles while reading it. It is a lucid and in-depth presentation of the subject and introduces topics at various levels of complexity.... Longair's style very effectively engages the reader in the story of this wonderful adventure of the human mind. Riccardo Giacconi, Physics Today 2007 Outstanding Academic Title -- Choice Magazine ...a sweeping overview of our progress in understanding the univesre, made during the 20th century...I found this book to be an excellent overview. --Review from the Online Bookstore of the American Association of Variable Star Observers
'Little of astrophysics and cosmology escapes the gaze of Longair … Readers, especially those already familiar with many of the topics, will enjoy his prose. Certainly all graduate students in the field should read this book. And anyone interested in the history of science would enjoy it as bedside reading if they were willing to skip the equations.' Jay M. Pasachoff, Nature 'I can envisage this book being useful to physicists from other areas of specialization, who would like an overview of astrophysics and cosmology, or for workers in one of these areas who want to broaden their horizons. It could also be a text for graduate students in astronomy, astrophysics or astrophysical cosmology, who want a synoptic overview of these areas … the book … clearly separates speculation from well-established theory … a sound work that will be well appreciated.' George Ellis, Nature Physics 'The astrophysical equivalent to Gombrich's Story of Art … Written with grace, clarity and formidable knowledge, this is simply a book that every serious student of astrophysics must have.' Astronomy Now
Author Information
Malcolm Longair is Emeritus Jacksonian Professor of Natural Philosophy and Director of Development at the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge. He has held many highly distinguished positions within physics and astronomy and has served on and chaired many international committees, boards and panels, working with both NASA and the European Space Agency. He has received much recognition for his work, including the Pilkington Prize of the University of Cambridge for Excellence in Teaching and a CBE in the millennium honours list for his services to astronomy and cosmology. His previous well-received books for Cambridge University Press include Theoretical Concepts in Physics (2003), The Cosmic Century: A History of Astrophysics and Cosmology (2005) and High Energy Astrophysics (2011).
