Self-study Astrophysics by Reading Books

[Mikey16]

I am a mechanical engineering student who got a master offer in space science recently. This master course is more like astrophysics. So if I want to systematically study astrophysics, where should I start and which books should I start reading first of all?
Thanks!

 

[George Jones]

I recommend "Foundations of Astrophysics" by Barbara Ryden and Bradley M. Peterson.

 

[Nieves Snow]

cosmology by edward harrison covers just about everything that has to with space and physics. Its very easy to understand. if you are looking for a fast easy intro this is it.

 

[MinasKar]

Due to the fact that Astrophysics is a vastly broad subject, I would recommend that you start by one of the following books.

An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics by Carroll and Ostlie
or
Astrophysics for Physicists by Choudhuri

The first one is the considered the standard textbook in numerours astrophysics courses and the later one is one that I found particularly good.

The "Foundations of Astrophysics" by Barbara Ryden and Bradley M. Peterson. recommended by George Jones is also pretty good, although I believe that Ryden did a better job with her Cosmology book.

On the other hand, the Cosmology book by Harrison, is an excellent introductory text for cosmology, but I don't think that it covers much of the general astrophysics topics that one would like to learn.

In case you would like learn more about more specialized topics such as star formation, fluid dynamics... there are a lot of textbooks especially written for that.

 

[smodak]

An Invitation to Astrophysics by Padmanabhan
https://www.amazon.com/dp/9812566872/?tag=pfamazon01-20

He also has a Theoretical Astrophysics Series
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0521566320/?tag=pfamazon01-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0521566312/?tag=pfamazon01-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0521566304/?tag=pfamazon01-20

He also wrote a book in an innovative Style
Cosmology and Astrophysics through Problems
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0521467837/?tag=pfamazon01-20

I have not read any of these but Padmanabhan wrote a few other books that I really like (Gravitation, QFT, and Sleeping Beauties). He is a great teacher.

There is a video series that follows this book
http://pirsa.org/C08018

Preview here: https://books.google.com/books?id=o...ogy and Astrophysics through Problems&f=false

 

[Mikey16]

An Invitation to Astrophysics by Padmanabhan
https://www.amazon.com/dp/9812566872/?tag=pfamazon01-20

He also has a Theoretical Astrophysics Series
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0521566320/?tag=pfamazon01-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0521566312/?tag=pfamazon01-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0521566304/?tag=pfamazon01-20

He also wrote a book in an innovative Style
Cosmology and Astrophysics through Problems
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0521467837/?tag=pfamazon01-20

I have not read any of these but Padmanabhan wrote a few other books that I really like (Gravitation, QFT, and Sleeping Beauties). He is a great teacher.

There is a video series that follows this book
http://pirsa.org/C08018

Preview here: https://books.google.com/books?id=o-YrZM9kNtUC&pg=PP1&lpg=PP1&dq=Cosmology+and+Astrophysics+through+Problems&source=bl&ots=4uZrjbsmWm&sig=LhCVaoLOb5R7fAZoHHTXfk9lajA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi4s9bqkcDRAhVM64MKHRj6BGYQ6AEILzAE#v=onepage&q=Cosmology and Astrophysics through Problems&f=false

Thanks so much for your recommendations! I searched some of them on amazon.com, and thought these books written by Padmanabhan are really practical to solve astrophysical problems!