An Introduction to Distance Measurement in Astronomy - Hardcover

Richard De Grijs

9780470511794: An Introduction to Distance Measurement in Astronomy

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0470511796 ISBN 13: 9780470511794

Publisher: Wiley, 2011

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Distance determination is an essential technique in astronomy, and is briefly covered in most textbooks on astrophysics and cosmology. It is rarely covered as a coherent topic in its own right. When it is discussed the approach is frequently very dry, splitting the teaching into, for example, stars, galaxies and cosmologies, and as a consequence, books lack depth and are rarely comprehensive. Adopting a unique and engaging approach to the subject An Introduction to distance Measurement in Astronomy will take the reader on a journey from the solar neighbourhood to the edge of the Universe, discussing the range of distance measurements methods on the way. The book will focus on the physical processes discussing properties that underlie each method, rather than just presenting a collection of techniques. As well as providing the most compressive account of distance measurements to date, the book will use the common theme of distance measurement to impart basic concepts relevant to a wide variety of areas in astronomy/astrophysics. The book will provide an updated account of the progress made in a large number of subfields in astrophysics, leading to improved distance estimates particularly focusing on the underlying physics. Additionally it will illustrate the pitfalls in these areas and discuss the impact of the remaining uncertainties in the complete understanding of the Universes at large. As a result the book will not only provide a comprehensive study of distance measurement, but also include many recent advances in astrophysics.

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From the Back Cover

An Introduction to Distance Measurement in Astronomy delves into the physical processes and properties underlining the methods used for distance determinations, travelling from our local solar neighbourhood to the edge of the Universe and defining the milestones along the way. Accurate distance measurements are of prime importance to our understanding of the fundamental properties of not only the Universe as a whole, but also of the large variety of astrophysical objects contained within it. This book illustrates the
interdependence of measurements across radically different scales and provides a clear introductory overview of the many subfields of relevance to this topic. It outlines the links between distance determination techniques and many other areas of astrophysics and cosmology, including;

- stellar types, star clusters and their life cycles

- stellar content, dynamics and evolution of galaxies

- the expansion, geometry and history of the Universe

The focus of this text is on the physics behind distance determination methods, highlighting the effectiveness of modern techniques including up-to-date results with accounts of recent progress and detailed discussions of the uncertainties and pitfalls associated with all methods. This enables the reader to build a framework for understanding how to place observations into an astrophysical context and recognize that some key issues are open-ended.

This highly valuable and practical book is not only appropriate for undergraduate and postgraduate students but also includes technical and detailed material for the more advanced reader.