The New Cosmos

Book excerpt: This new edition of the classic textbook The New Cosmos presents a comprehensive introductory survey of the whole field of astronomy and astrophysics. Among the topics covered are: - Classical astronomy and the Solar System - Instruments and observational methods - The Sun and the stars - The Milky Way and other galaxies - Cosmology - The origin of the Solar System - The evolution of the Earth and of life The observational methods and results of astronomical research as well as their theoretical foundations and interrelations are presented in an understandable format. The rapid progress of observational techniques and of theoretical understanding in the past decade are introduced and summarized in this timely and readable volume. This revised and extended new printing demonstrates the rapid advances in astronomical research and observation in the three years since the appearance of the 5th edition. The most important new results can be found within, providing in particular up-to-date information on our solar system, neutrino radiation from the Sun, the farthest galaxies and quasars and the development of the Universe.