An Introduction to Astrophysics - Softcover

This invaluable book, now in its second edition, covers a wide range of topics appropriate for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in astrophysics. The book conveys a deep and coherent understanding of the stellar phenomena, and basic astrophysics of stars, galaxies, clusters of galaxies and other heavenly bodies of interest. Since the first appearance of the book in 1997, significant progress has been made in different branches of Astronomy and Astrophysics. The second edition takes into account the developments of the subject which have taken place in the last decade. It discusses the latest introduction of L and T dwarfs in the Hertzsprung-Russel diagram (or H-R diagram). Other developments discussed pertain to standard solar model, solar neutrino puzzle, cosmic microwave background radiation, Drake equation, dwarf galaxies, ultra compact dwarf galaxies, compact groups and cluster of galaxies. Problems at the end of each chapter motivate the students to go deeper into the topics. Suggested readings at the end of each chapter have been complemented.

SUDHINDRA NATH BISWAS has assisted Dr. Baidyanath Basu in writing the book entitled An Introduction to Astrophysics under the UGC fellowship scheme for the preparation of university level books by Indian authors. A teacher by profession, he holds a Master's degree in science and a Bachelor's degree in teaching. He retired as Headmaster of Sonamukhi B.J. High School, Bankura, West Bengal. Sri Biswas has published many semi-technical and a few research papers in the area of astrophysics. He has also taught, during the period 1982-1996, students undergoing 'Introductory Courses on Astrophysics' organized by the Indian Astronomical Society at several University Colleges of Science, Kolkata.|Dr. TANUKA CHATTOPADHYAY, Ph.D., is a faculty member in the Department of Applied Mathematics, Calcutta University. She is a Visiting Associate of Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune since 2002. She has published many research papers in national and international journals in the field of astrophysics. Dr. Tanuka Chattopadhyay has been bestowed with several major research projects funded by the University Grant Commission/Department of Science and Technology. She is a member of the International Statistical Institute (ISI) Astrostatistics Committee since 2010. BAIDYANATH BASU, Ph.D. has been Professor and Head, Department of Applied Mathematics, Calcutta University. He did his postgraduation in astronomy at the University of California at Berkeley. Author of numerous research papers, Professor Basu has made significant contribution to the field of galactic structures, galactic dynamics and star formation.