Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology: An Introduction

Starting with the description of our home galaxy the Milky Way, this cogently written textbook introduces the reader to the astronomy of galaxies, their structure, active galactic nuclei, evolution and large scale distribution. Then, from the extensive and thorough introduction to modern observational and theoretical cosmology, the text turns to the formation of structures and astronomical objects in the early universe. The basics of classical astronomy and stellar astrophysics needed for extragalactic astronomy are given in the appendix. In particular, Peter Schneider’s Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology has the goal of imparting the fundamental knowledge of this fascinating subfield of astronomy, while leading readers to the forefront of astronomical research. But it seeks to accomplish this not only with extensive textual information and insights. In addition, the author’s evident admiration for the workings of the universe that shines through the lines and the many supporting color illustrations will deeply inspire the reader. While this book has grown out of introductory university courses on astronomy and astrophysics, it will not only be appreciated by undergraduate students and lecturers. Through the comprehensive coverage of the field, even graduate students and researchers specializing in related fields will appreciate it as reliable reference.

Table of Contents:
and Overview.- The Milky Way as a Galaxy.- The World of Galaxies.- Cosmology I: Homogeneous Isotropic World Models.- Active Galactic Nuclei.- Clusters and Groups of Galaxies.- Cosmology II: Inhomogeneities in the Universe.- Cosmology III: The Cosmological Parameters.- The Universe at High Redshift.- Outlook.

Review :
Review of the German Edition: This book fills an important gap in astronomy lecture courses. It summarizes the most modern achievements in cosmology, in particular Dark Matter and Dark Energy. I started using it for my introductory astrophysics lectures on the day it appeared. Prof. Günther Hasinger, Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics During the past years extragalactic astrophysics has made rapid progress. An up-to-date, didactically written summary was not available so far. With its coherent description of the underlying physical principles and the attractive presentation of both the vast observational material and computer simulations, using colorful images throughout, Peter Schneider’s textbook fills that gap in an excellent way. Prof. M. Steinmetz, Astrophysical Institute Potsdam Pre-Publication Review of the English Edition: I think this could be a superb textbook for courses on galaxies and cosmology, where, alas, there are not many, and certainly none that are up-to-date in the field. Prof. John Huchra, Harvard University From the reviews: "Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology traces the development of our understanding of the structures in the universe from both a theoretical and an observational standpoint. … A particularly important and attractive aspect of the presentation is the inclusion of well-reasoned descriptions of the fundamental physical principles that underlie the equations. The book is current even though the field is one of rapid development. … Masterful blending of observation and theory; lucid exposition. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Graduate students through professionals." (D. E. Hogg, CHOICE, Vol. 44 (10), June, 2007) "Through the richness of the color illustrations and through the deep insight of the content, the book will most certainly lead the reader to the forefront of astronomical research in this very interesting andfascinating domain of astronomy. … will not only be highly appreciated by undergraduate students in astronomy but also by graduate students and researchers involved in the field who will certainly appreciate its comprehensive coverage. Teachers and lecturers will also consider it as a mine of information and as a reliable reference." (Emile Biémont, Physicalia Magazine, Vol. 29 (4), 2007)