A good book for astrophysics&astronomy

[plasmon]

I am a researcher and wish to learn astrophysics(research in dark matter). I have never studied astrophysics or astronomy. I am in search for a book that can guide me

(1)How do astronomers predict masses of stars, galaxies and planets, their positions and relative velocities?

(2) Also exercises and examples?

Kindly provide me names, which can guide me on this.

I am already studying a book "Fundamentals of Astronomy".

 

[nicksauce]

Carroll and Ostlie, "Introduction to Modern Astrophysics", tries to cover basically everything in astrophysics and does a pretty darn good job of it in my opinion.

 

[SHISHKABOB]

carroll and ostlie does your #1 and your #2

while I'm not exactly sure about planets, it does have a chunk of the book devoted to the planets of the solar system. We've never gone through it, though.

I forget if it specifically mentions exoplanets as well.

 

[plasmon]

Thanks, looks good to me.

 

[pmacias]

As a fellow researcher in astrophysics, I would recommend the book "Introduction to Astrophysics" by Bradley W. Carroll and Dale A. Ostlie. This book covers the fundamental concepts of astrophysics and provides a comprehensive overview of topics such as dark matter, star formation, and galaxy evolution. It also includes exercises and examples to help you apply these concepts and deepen your understanding.

To answer your first question, astronomers use a variety of techniques to predict masses, positions, and velocities of celestial objects. For example, they can measure the orbital motion of stars in a binary system to determine their masses, use gravitational lensing to estimate the mass of a galaxy cluster, or analyze the spectra of stars to determine their chemical composition and evolutionary stage.

In addition to "Introduction to Astrophysics," I would also recommend "Astrophysics for People in a Hurry" by Neil deGrasse Tyson. This book provides a more accessible and engaging introduction to astrophysics, and includes thought-provoking exercises and examples to help you think critically about the concepts.

I hope these recommendations help guide you in your research on dark matter and astrophysics. Keep exploring and learning, and best of luck in your studies!