Introduction to Astrophysics

Astrophysics is the study of the physics of the universe. Various objects, such as stars, planets, and galaxies, are studied under the scope of astrophysics. Since astrophysics is a very broad subject, many disciplines of physics are typically applied.

Historical context

  1. Early Views
  2. Aristotle
  3. Nicolas Copernicus
  4. Galileo
  5. Johannes Kepler
  6. Isaac Newton
  7. Albert Einstein
  8. Stephen Hawking

Stars

Basics

  1. Stellar Luminosity
  2. Stellar Classification
  3. HertzsprungRussell Diagram

Stellar Types

Real

  1. Light Stars
  2. Heavy Stars
  3. Main Sequence Stars
  4. Red Giants
  5. White Dwarfs
  6. Black holes
  7. Neutron Stars

Hypothetical

The science of Astronomy relies on universality of Physical laws. "Same in the heavens as on earth". The world of stellar objects presents us with stupendously larger scales of agglomeration of matter and energy, at which to apply the known laws. Thus we are led to new predictions of entities that have never been observed before. Likewise some species of elementary particles and certain states of matter never observed on Earth need to be postulated in order to accord with observations. Some objects and phenomena falling in such categories and awaiting confirmation or further observational details are in this list. Eventually we expect them to be confirmed in all detail. If they contradict our predictions or conflict with phenomena known on Earth, well that would be even more exciting because that would be a new discovery awaiting explanation.

  1. Black Dwarfs
  2. Quark Stars
  3. Protostars
  4. Dark Matter
  5. Dark Energy
  6. Vacuum Energy

Stellar Formation & Evolution

  1. Interstellar Medium
  2. Phases of Stellar Evolution
  3. Degenerate Stars
  4. Supernovae
  5. Compact Stellar & Relativistic Objects
  6. Close Binary Systems

Stellar Structure

  1. Hydrostatic Equilibrium
  2. Nuclear Reactions
  3. Energy Transport

Star clusters and galaxies

  1. Star Cluster
  2. Galaxies:Shapes and Evolution

Quasars and Pulsars

  1. Quasars
  2. Pulsars

Appendices

  1. A: Laws and Formulae
  2. B: Astronomical Constants

See also

Category:Book:Introduction to Astrophysics#%20 Category:Subject:Physics#Introduction%20to%20Astrophysics Category:Subject:Physics/all books Category:Subject:Physical sciences/all books Category:Subject:Science/all books Category:Subject:Books by subject/all books Category:Book:Introduction to Astrophysics#%20 Category:Book:Wikibooks Stacks/Books#Introduction%20to%20AstrophysicsCategory:Shelf:Physics Category:Shelf:Physics/all books Category:Shelf:Physical sciences/all books#Physical%20sciences Category:Department:Science/all books#Science Category:Alphabetical/I Category:Partly developed booksCategory:Books by completion status/all books
Category:Alphabetical/I Category:Book:Introduction to Astrophysics Category:Book:Wikibooks Stacks/Books Category:Books by completion status/all books Category:Department:Science/all books Category:Partly developed books Category:Shelf:Physical sciences/all books Category:Shelf:Physics Category:Shelf:Physics/all books Category:Subject:Books by subject/all books Category:Subject:Physical sciences/all books Category:Subject:Physics Category:Subject:Physics/all books Category:Subject:Science/all books