Research Guides: Astronomy: Books and eBooks

Find reference and introductory materials, plus more with our hand-picked book selections below. Be sure to search our catalog and databases for more book and ebook selections.

Cambridge Illustrated Dictionary of Astronomy by Jacqueline Mitton
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Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2007
Around 1300 carefully selected and cross-referenced entries are complemented by hundreds of beautiful color illustrations, taken from space missions, the Hubble Space Telescope, and other major observatories on Earth and in space. Astronomical objects, constellations, observatories and space missions are described in detail, as well as biographical sketches for 70 individuals in the history of astronomy and space science. Acronyms and specialist terms are clearly explained.
An Introduction to Astronomy and Astrophysics by Pankaj Jain
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Publisher: CRC Press, 2015
An Introduction to Astronomy and Astrophysics offers a comprehensive introduction to astronomy and astrophysics, complete with illustrative examples and illuminating homework problems. Addresses key physics concepts relevant to stellar observations, including radiation, electromagnetic spectrum, photometry, continuous and discrete spectrum, and spectral lines. Describes instruments used for astronomical observations as well as how the radiation received is characterized and interpreted to determine the properties of stars. Examines the structure of stars, the basic equations which explain stars in equilibrium, and the fusion reactions occurring in stellar cores. Discusses the evolution of stars, the solar system, the dynamics of galaxies, and the fundamentals of modern cosmology. Explores the universe at high redshifts, where it is dominated by objects such as active galaxies.
The Space and Astronomy Handbook by Joseph A. Angelo
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Publisher: Facts on File, 2009
A thoroughly revised and updated edition of a popular and comprehensive reference. With special emphasis on recent planetary exploration missions, including NASA's Phoenix lander as well as NASA's plans to explore the moon and Mars with astronauts. This straightforward book contains an extensive glossary with more than 1,250 entries - more than 100 new to this edition - as well as 35 biographies, an updated chronology of events, essential charts and tables, and an index. With 129 new and updated black-and-white photographs and 47 line illustrations, this encyclopedia reflects some of the latest discoveries and achievements in the field.

An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics by Bradley W. Carroll; Dale A. Ostlie
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Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2017
An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics is a comprehensive, well-organized and engaging text covering every major area of modern astrophysics, from the solar system and stellar astronomy to galactic and extragalactic astrophysics, and cosmology. Designed to provide students with a working knowledge of modern astrophysics, this textbook is suitable for astronomy and physics majors who have had a first-year introductory physics course with calculus. Featuring a brief summary of the main scientific discoveries that have led to our current understanding of the universe; worked examples to facilitate the understanding of the concepts presented in the book; end-of-chapter problems to practice the skills acquired; and computational exercises to numerically model astronomical systems.
Welcome to the Universe by Neil deGrasse Tyson; Michael A. Strauss; J. Richard Gott
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Publisher: Princeton University Press, 2016
Welcome to the Universe is a personal guided tour of the cosmos by three of today's leading astrophysicists. Inspired by the enormously popular introductory astronomy course that Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michael A. Strauss, and J. Richard Gott taught together at Princeton, this book covers it all--from planets, stars, and galaxies to black holes, wormholes, and time travel. Describing the latest discoveries in astrophysics, the informative and entertaining narrative propels you from our home solar system to the outermost frontiers of space.
Astrophysics Is Easy! by Michael Inglis
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Publisher: Springer, 2015
Astrophysics is often -with some justification - regarded as incomprehensible without the use of higher mathematics. Consequently, many amateur astronomers miss out on some of the most fascinating aspects of the subject. Astrophysics Is Easy! cuts through the difficult mathematics and explains the basics of astrophysics in accessible terms. Using nothing more than plain arithmetic and simple examples, the workings of the universe are outlined in a straightforward yet detailed and easy-to-grasp manner.

Fundamental Planetary Science by Jack J. Lissauer; Imke de Pater
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Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2019
A quantitative introduction to the Solar System and planetary systems science for advanced undergraduate students, this engaging textbook explains the wide variety of physical, chemical and geological processes that govern the motions and properties of planets. The authors provide an overview of our current knowledge and discuss some of the unanswered questions at the forefront of research in planetary science and astrobiology today. This updated edition contains the latest data, new references and planetary images and an extensively rewritten chapter on current research on exoplanets. The text concludes with an introduction to the fundamental properties of living organisms and the relationship that life has to its host planet.
The Exoplanet Handbook by Michael Perryman
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Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2011
More than 500 exoplanets are now known, and groups world-wide are actively involved in a broad range of observational and theoretical efforts. This book ties together these many avenues of investigation - from the perspectives of observation, technology and theory - to give a comprehensive, up-to-date review of the entire field. All areas of exoplanet investigation are covered, making it a unique and valuable guide for researchers in astronomy and planetary science, including those new to the field.

Handbook of Astrobiology by Vera M. Kolb
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Publisher: CRC Press, 2019
Astrobiology is the study of the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life on Earth. This exciting and significant field of research also investigates the potential existence and search for extra-terrestrial life in the Solar System and beyond. Edited by Vera Kolb, a highly respected astrobiologist, this comprehensive resource captures the history and current state of the field. Rich in information and easy to use, it assumes basic knowledge and provides answers to questions from practitioners and specialists in the field, as well as providing key references for further study.
An Introduction to Astrobiology by David A. Rothery; Iain Gilmour; Mark A. Sephton
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Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2017
How did life on Earth begin? How common is it elsewhere in the Universe? Written and edited by planetary scientists and astrobiologists, this undergraduate-level textbook provides an introduction to the origin and nature of life, the habitable environments in our solar system and the techniques most successfully used for discovery and characterization of exoplanets. This third edition has been thoroughly revised to embrace the latest developments in this field. Updated topics include the origins of water on Earth, the exploration of habitable environments on Mars, Europa and Enceladus, and the burgeoning discoveries in exoplanetary systems.

The Astronomy Revolution: 400 Years of Exploring the Cosmos by Donald G. York (Editor); Owen Gingerich (Editor); Shuang-Nan Zhang (Editor)
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Publisher: Taylor & Francis, 2011
Some 400 years after the first known patent application for a telescope by Hans Lipperhey, The Astronomy Revolution: 400 Years of Exploring the Cosmos surveys the effects of this instrument and explores the questions that have arisen out of scientific research in astronomy and cosmology.
Encyclopedia of the History of Astronomy and Astrophysics by David Leverington
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Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2013
This comprehensive Encyclopedia covers the full history of astronomy from its ancient origins in Africa, South America, the Middle East and China to the latest developments in astrophysics and space-based research. The initial articles, which are largely organized chronologically, are followed by numerous thematic historical articles on the constituents of the solar system, types of stars, stellar evolution, active galaxies, cosmology and much more. These are followed by articles on tools and techniques, from the history of spectroscopy to adaptive optics. The last part of the Encyclopedia is devoted to the history of ground- and space-based telescopes and observatories, covering the full spectral range from gamma-rays through the optical waveband to radio waves.

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Not all materials from the Hunt Library are available for borrowing. See collection locations in table below to determine which materials are available for borrowing or library use only:

Available for Borrowing	Library Use Only
Main Shelves NTSB Documents ERAU Dissertations/Theses	Reference Reserves Special Collections Aircraft Manuals

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For additional information on borrowing books such as loan periods, renewals, and how to return materials, please see the library website.