Astrophysics A Very Short Introduction

Astrophysics is the study of stars and, more broadly, the study of the Universe. It allows us to better comprehend the structure and evolution of planetary systems, stars, galaxies, interstellar gas, and the entire cosmos. The leading astrophysicist James Binney shows how the field of astrophysics has grown rapidly in the last century, with vast amounts of data gathered by telescopes exploiting all parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, combined with rapid advances in computing power, allowing increasingly effective mathematical modelling. He demonstrates how fundamental physics principles, such as the consideration of energy, mass, and momentum, can be used to solve problems.