Hello, I'm new to these forums so I don't really know if I'm posting this in the right spot, but I was wondering if I could get some suggestions on books to read on Astrophysics. I've been reading a couple books on String Theory by Brian Greene and a couple books by Michio Kaku, but I would really like to get more into the depth of Astrophysics in a few other books. I would also like to say, nothing too complicated, something for a new person looking into Astrophysics. Thanks
cristo
Jul17-08, 06:40 AM
I think you'll need to be more specific: are you looking for popular science books, similar to the ones you name here, or do you want technical books on astrophysics. I'm not sure that I know of any that fall into the latter category...
Kurdt
Jul17-08, 07:03 AM
Zeilik's "Introductory Astronomy and Astrophysics" should be a fairly small step up from Pop. sci. books.
buffordboy23
Jul17-08, 07:49 AM
Freedman and Kaufmann's "Universe" textbook would be good. It is predominantly conceptual in nature and covers a lot of topics. You should be able to find older editions for a few bucks.
McTrastico
Jul17-08, 01:23 PM
I think you'll need to be more specific: are you looking for popular science books, similar to the ones you name here, or do you want technical books on astrophysics. I'm not sure that I know of any that fall into the latter category...
In response to your reply, I am looking for more technical books on Astrophysics. I am really looking to learn new astrophysics for later on in my schooling.
buffordboy23
Jul17-08, 03:01 PM
If your looking for a book that uses mathematics extensively, I recommend "An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics" by Carroll and Ostlie. They came out with a new edition within the past year, so it is a little pricey but older editions may be cheaper.
Oberst Villa
Jul17-08, 03:28 PM
Maybe not exactly what you are searching for, but you can download it for free, so why not have a look at it:
http://arxiv.org/abs/0706.1988
Lecture notes on Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology for undergrades. Some of the equations are too hard for a newbie, just skip them and read the text.
McTrastico
Jul17-08, 08:45 PM
Maybe not exactly what you are searching for, but you can download it for free, so why not have a look at it:
http://arxiv.org/abs/0706.1988
Lecture notes on Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology for undergrades. Some of the equations are too hard for a newbie, just skip them and read the text.
nice, thank you
Heisenberg.
Jul21-08, 03:41 AM
McTrastico - I was at the same level with you. Plans of pursuing physics/astrophysics as a career - read I guess "laymen" physics/ astrophysics books - wanted something deeper but not too complex for one without a degree in the field?
Try Feynman's Lectures - He's interesting and from what I hear he is must read for some undergraduate physics majors in college.
Also read Stephen Hawking's A Brief History Of Time - similar to what Greene did in The Elegant Universe - but a little more complex.
Another book that fits what you want - The Road To Reality by Roger Penrose
If you have access to science journals, then Astrophysical Journal would be a given.
You would also be surprised at how many essays with varying degrees of complexity on astrophysics or related fields are on the web. A simple search would give you a plethora of information.
Hope this helps.
McTrastico
Jul22-08, 07:20 AM
McTrastico - I was at the same level with you. Plans of pursuing physics/astrophysics as a career - read I guess "laymen" physics/ astrophysics books - wanted something deeper but not too complex for one without a degree in the field?
Try Feynman's Lectures - He's interesting and from what I hear he is must read for some undergraduate physics majors in college.
Also read Stephen Hawking's A Brief History Of Time - similar to what Greene did in The Elegant Universe - but a little more complex.
Another book that fits what you want - The Road To Reality by Roger Penrose
If you have access to science journals, then Astrophysical Journal would be a given.
You would also be surprised at how many essays with varying degrees of complexity on astrophysics or related fields are on the web. A simple search would give you a plethora of information.
Hope this helps.
I just want to say that that was a very helpful reply, I'm in the middle of reading The Elegant Universe, and about to start on A Brief History of Time afterwards, and a quick question, If I read some online essays, would It really help when I take the astronomy and physics courses in school?
cristo
Jul22-08, 07:37 AM
If I read some online essays, would It really help when I take the astronomy and physics courses in school?
I would be very careful when choosing articles to read online: there is a lot more nonsense out there than there is real science.
Astronuc
Jul22-08, 07:44 AM
Perhaps this would be of interest -
The Unsolved Universe: Challenges for the Future: JENAM 2002 (Hardcover)
by Mário J.P.F.G. Monteiro (Editor)
http://www.amazon.com/Unsolved-Universe-Challenges-Future-JENAM/dp/1402016735/
Robert Trotta's homepage at Cambridge might also be of interest
http://www-astro.physics.ox.ac.uk/~rxt/
With regard to on-line essays, one might wish to peruse the bibliographies of publications of university faculty members which have been published in peer review journals.
malawi_glenn
Jul22-08, 07:45 AM
Freedman and Kaufmann's "Universe" textbook & "An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics" by Carroll and Ostlie.
Are my tips, 1st book is loot of nice pictures and phenomelogical, second is approx 1400 pages, only B&W pictures, and lots of lots of math.
Kurdt
Jul22-08, 08:05 AM
I also Kaufman's "Universe" and would like to echo the sentiments of others about being careful with online articles.
The Stars: their structure and evolution
R. J. Tayler (Cambridge University Press)
Great book! I read it many moons ago for a second year astronomy course. One of the best textbooks I encountered, almost up there with Feynman. Read Feynman's lectures on physics first, to get the necessary Maths & Physics background. You need to put the physics (and some maths) into astro to advance.