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New Light on Dark Stars : Red Dwarfs, Low-Mass Stars, Brown Stars
There has been very considerable progress in research into low-mass stars, brown dwarfs and extrasolar planets during the past few years, particularly since the fist edtion of this book was published in 2000. In this new edtion the authors present a comprehensive review of both the astrophysical nature of individual red dwarf and brown dwarf stars and their collective statistical properties as an important Galactic stellar population. Chapters dealing with the observational properies of low-mass dwarfs, the stellar mass function and extrasolar planets have been completely revised. Other chapters have been significantly revised and updated as appropriate, including important new material on observational techniques, stellar acivity, the Galactic halo and field star surveys. The authors detail the many discoveries of new brown dwarfs and extrasolar planets made since publication of the first edition of the book and provide a state-of-the-art review of our current knowledge of very low-mass stars, brown dwarfs and extrasolar planets, including both the latest observational results and theoretical work.
Multiple Stars Across the H-R Diagram ; Proceedings of the ESO Workshop held in Garching, Germany, 12-15 July 2005
Stars show a marked tendency to be in systems of different multiplicity, ranging from simple binaries and triples to globular clusters with several 10,000's of stars. The formation and evolution of multiple systems remains a challenging part of astrophysics, and the contributions in this book report on the significant progress that had been made in this research field in the last years. The reader will find a variety of research topics addressed, such as the dynamical evolution in multiple stars, the effects of the environment on multiple system parameters, stellar evolution within multiple stars, multiplicity of massive stars, pre-main sequence and intermediate mass stars, multiplicity of low-mass stars from embedded protostars to open clusters, and brown dwarfs and extrasolar planets in multiples.
Methods of Celestial Mechanics ; Vol. II : Application to Planetary System, Geodynamics and Satellite Geodesy
G. Beutler's Methods of Celestial Mechanics is a coherent textbook for students as well as an excellent reference for practitioners. Volume II is devoted to the applications and to the presentation of the program system CelestialMechanics. Three major areas of applications are covered: (1) Orbital and rotational motion of extended celestial bodies. The properties of the Earth-Moon system are developed from the simplest case (rigid bodies) to more general cases, including the rotation of an elastic Earth, the rotation of an Earth partly covered by oceans and surrounded by an atmosphere, and the rotation of an Earth composed of a liquid core and a rigid shell (Poincaré model). (2) Artificial Earth Satellites. The oblateness perturbation acting on a satellite and the exploitation of its properties in practice is discussed using simulation methods (CelestialMechanics) and (simplified) first order perturbation methods. The perturbations due to the higher-order terms of the Earth's gravitational potential and resonant perturbations are considered thereafter. Special attention is paid to satellites of the Global Navigation Satellite Systems and to geostationary satellites. The characteristics of and models for the two most important non-gravitational forces, atmospheric drag and radiation pressure, are presented as well as the most relevant forces acting on high- and low-orbiting satellites. (3) Evolution of the Planetary System. The outer planetary system consisting of the planets Jupiter to Pluto is studied over long time intervals using simulation methods and spectral analysis (CelestialMechanics). The properties of the inner systems, in particular of the Earth's orbit, are made visible by integrating the entire system over long time intervals relevant for climate change. The distribution of minor planets and their orbital properties, regular orbits, and chaotic orbits are easily generated and analyzed using CelestialMechanics. The volume concludes with the discussion of important mathematical tools of the program system and of the principles of spectral analysis.
Mercury
Mercury, the planet closest to the Sun, is different in several respects from the other three terrestrial planets. In appearance, it resembles the heavily cratered surface of the Moon, but its density is high, it has a magnetic field and magnetosphere, but no atmosphere or ionosphere. This book reviews the progress made in Mercury studies since the flybys by Mariner 10 in 1974-75, based on the continued research using the Mariner 10 archive, on observations from Earth, and on increasingly realistic models of its interior evolution.
Introduction to Planetary Science : The Geological Perspective
This textbook is intended to be used in a lecture course for college students majoring in the Earth Sciences. Planetary Science provides an opportunity for these students to apply a wide range of subject matter pertaining to the Earth to the study of other planets of the solar system and their principal satellites. As a result, students gain a wider perspective of the different worlds that are accessible to us and they are led to recognize the Earth as the only oasis in space where we can live without life-support systems.The subject matter is presented in 24 chapters that lead the reader through the solar system starting with historical perspectives on space exploration and the development of the scientific method. The presentations concerning the planets and their satellites emphasize that their origin and subsequent evolution can be explained by applications of certain basic principles of physics, chemistry, and celestial mechanics and that the surface features of the solid bodies in the solar system can be interpreted by means of the principles of geology.
Interplanetary Mission Analysis and Design
The book describes current mission analysis and design techniques that may be applied to a very wide range of interplanetary missions from those targeting the inner planets to those destined for the outer planets and Solar System escape trajectories.
Imaging planetario : Guida all’uso della webcam = Planetary Imaging : Guide to using the webcam
In this book, Martin Mobberley introduces the amateur to the use of webcams and digital image processing, while providing detailed tips for shooting the Sun, Moon and planets. Each object, with its specific shooting and processing techniques, is treated in a separate chapter. Through the images in this book, the amateur will be able to realize what can be done by applying a webcam to your telescope!
How to photograph the moon and planets with your Digital camera
Using just a regular digital camera along with an amateur astronomical telescope, anyone can produce spectacular photographs of the Moon, as well as surprisingly good images of major planets.Purpose-made astronomical CCD cameras are still very expensive, but technology has now progressed so that digital cameras – the kind you use for everyday photos – are more than capable of being used for astronomy. Tony Buick has written this illustrated step-by-step manual for anyone who has a telescope (of any size) and a digital camera. Look inside at the beautiful color images he has produced – you could do the same.
High-Pressure Shock Compression of Solids VIII : The Science and Technology of High-Velocity Impact
Research in the field of shock physics and ballistic impact has always been intimately tied to progress in development of facilities for accelerating projectiles to high velocity and instrumentation for recording impact phenomena. The chapters of this book, written by leading US and European experts, cover a broad range of topics and address researchers concerned with questions of material behaviour under impulsive loading and the equations of state of matter, as well as the design of suitable instrumentation such as gas guns and high-speed diagnostics. Applications include high-speed impact dynamics, the inner composition of planets, syntheses of new materials and materials processing. Among the more technologically-oriented applications treated is the testing of the flight characteristics of aeroballistic models and the assessment of impacts in the aerospace industry.
High Resolution Infrared Spectroscopy in Astronomy ; Proceedings of an ESO Workshop Held at Garching, Germany, 18-21 November 2003
Two specialized new instruments for ESO's VLT, VISIR and CRIRES, spawned the idea for this workshop. CRIRES is a dedicated very high resolution infrared spectrograph; VISIR features a high resolution spectroscopic mode. Together, the instruments combine the sensitivity of an 8m-telescope with the now well-established reliability of VLT-facility instruments. High resolution here means that lines in cool stellar atmospheres and HII-regions can be resolved. The astrophysical topics discussed in this rather specialized workshop range from the inner solar system to active galactic nuclei. There are many possibilities for new discoveries with these instruments, but the unique capability, which becomes available through high-resolution infrared spectroscopy, is the observation of molecular rotational-vibrational transitions in many astrophysical environments. Particularly interesting and surprising in this context, many papers on modeling and laboratory spectroscopy at the workshop appear to indicate that astronomical observations are lagging a bit behind in this field. The papers are an interesting mix of reports from existing high resolution facilities, reports on modeling efforts of synthetic spectra and reports on laboratory spectra. In this sense, a fruitful exchange between molecular physics and astronomy was again accomplished and is documented in this volume.
Gravitational Lensing : Strong, Weak and Micro : Saas-Fee Advanced Course 33
The up-to-date contributions in this book are based on the lecture notes of the 33rd Saas–Fee Advanced Course of the Swiss Society of Astronomy and Astrophysics, entitled Gravitational Lensing: Strong, Weak, and Micro. The book comprises four complementary parts, written by leading experts in the field, constituting a genuine textbook about gravitational lensing: • Peter Schneider – Part 1: Introduction to Gravitational Lensing and Cosmology • Christopher Kochanek – Part 2: Strong Gravitational Lensing • Peter Schneider – Part 3: Weak Gravitational Lensing • Joachim Wambsganss – Part 4: Gravitational Microlensing
Geology and Habitability of Terrestrial Planets
This book has resulted from a workshop at the International Space Science Institute (ISSI) in Bern, Switzerland (5-9 September 2005) that brought together planetary geologists, geophysicists, atmospheric scientists, and biologists to discuss the multi-faceted problem of how the habitability of a planet co-evolves with the geology of the surface and interior, the atmosphere, and the magnetosphere.
Field Guide to Meteors and Meteorites
Imagine the unique experience of being the very first person to hold a newly-found meteorite in your hand – a rock from space, older than Earth! "Weekend meteorite hunting" with magnets and metal detectors is becoming ever more popular as a pastime, but of course you can’t just walk around and pick up meteorites in the same way that you can pick up seashells on the beach. Those fragments that survived the intense heat of re-entry tend to disguise themselves as natural rocks over time, and it takes a trained eye – along with the information in this book – to recognize them.
Fare astronomia con piccoli telescopi = Are astronomy with small telescopes
Giant tools are not necessarily required to produce scientifically valid results in the field of astronomy. Even the amateur with a small telescope, with a diameter of only 8-9 cm, can contribute to the science of the sky by making useful observations of the Sun, the Moon, planets, comets, asteroids, double or variable stars, nebulae and star clusters. The manual of M.K. Gainer explains what the minimum equipment is (a small telescope, a computer, a simple digital camera), how to use it, and what are the appropriate techniques to be adopted in the observations. It also offers schemes for interpreting and reducing the collected data, as well as forms to be filled in and sent to international collection centers.
Extrasolar Planets : Saas Fee Advanced Course 31
Research on extrasolar planets is one of the exciting fields of activity in astrophysics, from early speculations on the existence of planets orbiting other stars to the first discoveries and characterization of extrasolar planets. This book talks about this breakthrough as the result of a growing interest of a large community of researchers.
Exoplanets : Detection, Formation, Properties, Habitability
This edited, multi-author volume will be an invaluable introduction and reference to all key aspects in the field of exoplanet research. The reviews cover: Detection methods and properties of known exoplanets, Detection of extrasolar planets by gravitational microlensing. The formation and evolution of terrestrial planets in protoplanetary and debris disks. The brown dwarf-exoplanet connection. Formation, migration mechanisms and properties of hot Jupiters. Dynamics of multiple exoplanet systems. Doppler exoplanet surveys. Searching for exoplanets in the stellar graveyard. Formation and habitability of extra solar planets in multiple star systems. Exoplanet habitats and the possibilities for life. Moons of exoplanets: habitats for life.
Distant Worlds : Milestones in Planetary Exploration
Peter Bond provides an overview of key, unmanned missions, chapter by chapter, to planets in the twentieth century. He tells the story of the mission planners and engineers who, working mostly in the background, made these unprecedented achievements in scientific exploration possible.
Dictionary of Minor Planet Names : Addendum to Fifth ed.: 2006 - 2008
Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, Fifth Edition, is the official reference for the field of the IAU, which serves as the internationally recognised authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and any surface features on them. It provides authoritative information about the basis for all names of minor planets.
Dictionary of Minor Planet Names : Addendum to Fifth ed. : 2003 - 2005
The Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, fifth Edition, is the official reference for the field of the IAU, which serves as the internationally recognised authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and any surface features on them. The accelerating rate of the discovery of minor planets has made this Addendum to this established compendium necessary. It covers all newly published names from the period 2003-2005 as well as corrections and amendments to earlier editions.
Diapause in Aquatic Invertebrates : Theory and Human Use
Contributors to this new book are leaders in the field of diapause studies, and many authors were participants at a recent workshop on diapause in aquatic invertebrates (Pallanza, Italy 2003). The book consists of two major parts, as indicated in its title: Phenomenology of diapause and significance of this adaptation in scientific and practical uses. Application to newly developing areas such as cultivation of live food, like rotifers or Artemia, in modern aquaculture is covered, as are aspects of diapause that promote the colonization of new environments by facilitating the passive transport of resting stages of invasive species. Creation of artificial ecosystems outside of the Earth’s biosphere using dormant propagules becomes an actual possibility as humankind develops plans to colonize our nearest planets.
