Synopses & Reviews
Each night, we are able to gaze up at the night sky and look at the thousands of stars that stretch to the end of our individual horizons. But the stars we see are only those that make up our own Milky Way galaxyand#151;but one of hundreds of billions in the whole of the universe, each separatedand#160; by inconceivably huge tracts of empty space. In this book, astronomer James Geach tells the rich stories of both the evolution of galaxies and our ability to observe them, offering a fascinating history of how weand#8217;ve come to realize humanityand#8217;s tiny place in the vast universe.
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Taking us on a compelling tour of the state-of-the-art science involved in mapping the infinite, Geach offers a first-hand account of both the science itself and how it is done, describing what we currently know as well as that which we still do not. He goes back one hundred years to when scientists first proved the existence of other galaxies, tracking our continued improvement in the ability to collect and interpret the light that stars in faraway galaxies have emitted through space and time. He discusses examples of this rapidly accelerating research, from the initial discovery that the faint and#147;spiral nebulaeand#8221; were actually separate star systems located far beyond the Milky Way to the latest observations of the nature of galaxies and how they have evolved. He also delves into the theoretical framework and simulations that describe our current and#147;world modeland#8221; of the universe.
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With one hundred superb color illustrations, Galaxy is an illuminating guide to the choreography of the cosmos and how we came to know our place within it that will appeal to any stargazer who has wondered what was beyond their sight. and#160;
Review
"Unraveling the origin and growth of cosmic structures, from the simplicity of the Big Bang to the complexity of the modern Universe, is an unparalleled achievement of modern science. Written by renowned world experts, this book presents a clear, systematic and comprehensive exposition of the physics and mathematics underlying these breathtaking advances. It is compulsory reading not only for those aspiring to contribute to our growing understanding of the cosmos, but for all those who appreciate the beauty and power of contemporary physical science." - Carlos S. Frenk, Ogden Professor of Fundamental Physics, Director, Institute for Computational Cosmology, Durham University
Review
"...a comprehensive text on the modern subject of galaxy formation and evolution. The book is fully self-contained, covering the basic theory in depth, and including the essential background material on observations and the relevant theory from extragalactic astronomy, stellar astrophysics, and cosmology. It will serve as an indispensable reference for students and researchers alike, and is destined to become a classic in this field." - Robert C. Kennicutt, Jr., Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy, Director, Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge
Review
"Every topic is extremely well referenced and current ... This book is likely to be an essential reference for any galaxy-formation-research student or professor. In the coming years I can see myself dipping into this treasure trove on a very regular basis." Shaun Cole, The Observatory
Review
"...an ideal introduction for anyone with a minimal background in astrophysics who wishes to enter the field of large-scale structure formation. It is well suited for use in a general astrophysics course for senior- undergraduate and graduate students and is also an excellent reference source for more advanced courses on specific topics in astrophysics. The authors are leading theoretical astrophysicists who have made major contributions to galaxy formation theory. Their text provides a comprehensive review of relevant topics, ranging from the growth of the first density fluctuations to the evolution of the stellar populations in galaxies. It is a timely update of similar but now more dated texts...." Physics Today
Review
andldquo;Book of the Month. . . .
Galaxy: Mapping the Cosmos is a beautifully illustrated exploration of the Universe beyond the Milky Way and the mysteries and wonders of extragalactic astronomy. Geach is ideally placed to be our guide on this journeyandmdash;a researcher in the fast-changing field of galaxy evolution, he displays both breadth and depth of knowledge, happily matched by a talent for engaging, nontechnical prose and an eye for a simile. His work with some of the biggest and most advanced of modern telescopes also provides the vicarious pleasure of some armchair astronomical tourism.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Astrophysicist Geach goes an order of magnitude further than the usual popular astronomy titleandmdash;those full of breathtaking images, but little in the way of contextandmdash;by giving readers the fascinating stories revealed by those images: how galaxies are created, how they evolve, and what they tell us about our universe. The sheer variety is stunning. . . . Gorgeous color photos, coupled with clear and engaging explanations of the science behind them, make this book a winner on every level.andrdquo;
Review
and#8220;Galaxies represent the visible fabric of the universe and Geach brings his personal experience to the fore in describing the latest discoveries in this rapidly developing field of cosmology and galaxy evolution. He has a refreshing style of writing, and I highly recommend this book for those wanting to share in the excitement of modern astronomy.and#8221;
Review
andldquo;An excellent guide to a world many of us never get to see, both on and off this planet.andrdquo;
Review
and#8220;Geach is actively researching on one of the most exciting frontiers of todayand#8217;s science: extragalactic astronomy. His book conveys his personal enthusiasm and offers a clear and highly readable survey of the fieldand#8217;s progress and prospects.and#8221; and#160;
Review
and#8220;Galaxies are the building blocks of the universe. But they are dynamic blocks that have changed and evolved throughout the 13 billion years since their seedsand#8212;sown at the very instant of the Big Bangand#8212;began to grow. Their trials and tribulations are recounted with great clarity in this short, accessible, yet deep and comprehensive book. What are galaxies made of; why do they have different sizes, luminosities, and morphologies; and how have they managed to grow gigantic black holes in their midstand#8212;all these questions are posed, and answered as far as current knowledge permits, in an engaging and absorbing way by Geach. As a practicing professional astronomer at the cutting edge of galaxy research, Geach has managed to convey the vibrancy and excitement of research at the very forefront of human knowledge.and#8221; and#160;
Synopsis
The rapidly expanding field of galaxy formation lies at the interface between astronomy, particle physics, and cosmology. Covering diverse topics from these disciplines, all of which are needed to understand how galaxies form and evolve, this book is ideal for researchers entering the field. Individual chapters explore the evolution of the Universe as a whole and its particle and radiation content; linear and nonlinear growth of cosmic structure; processes affecting the gaseous and dark matter components of galaxies and their stellar populations; the formation of spiral and elliptical galaxies; central supermassive black holes and the activity associated with them; galaxy interactions; and the intergalactic medium. Emphasizing both observational and theoretical aspects, this book provides a coherent introduction for astronomers, cosmologists, and astroparticle physicists to the broad range of science underlying the formation and evolution of galaxies.
Synopsis
A coherent introduction for researchers in astronomy, particle physics, and cosmology on the formation and evolution of galaxies.
Synopsis
Covering diverse topics from astronomy, particle physics, and cosmology, this book is ideal for researchers entering the field. Emphasizing both observational and theoretical aspects, the book provides a coherent introduction to the broad range of science underlying the formation and evolution of galaxies.
About the Author
Houjun Mo is Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Massachusetts. He is known for his work on the formation and clustering of galaxies and their dark matter halos.Frank van den Bosch is Associate Professor at the University of Utah, and is known for his studies of the formation, dynamics, and clustering of galaxies.Simon White is Director at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics in Garching. He is one of the originators of the modern theory of galaxy formation and has received numerous international prizes and honors.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction; 2. Observational facts; 3. Cosmological background; 4. Cosmological perturbations; 5. Gravitational collapse and collisionless dynamics; 6. Probing the cosmic density field; 7. Formation and structure of dark matter halos; 8. Formation and evolution of gaseous halos; 9. Star formation in galaxies; 10. Stellar populations and chemical evolution; 11. Disk galaxies; 12. Galaxy interactions and transformations; 13. Elliptical galaxies; 14. Active galaxies; 15. Statistical properties of the galaxy population; 16. The intergalactic medium; Appendices; References; Index.