Analysis of Starlight

About this book

"This is the story of the analysis of starlight by astronomical spectroscopy, spanning from Joseph Fraunhofer's discovery of spectral lines in the early nineteenth century through to around the year 2000. In addition to the key discoveries, it presents the culture and social history of stellar astrophysics by introducing the leading astronomers, their struggles, triumphs and disagreements. Basic concepts in spectroscopy and spectral analysis are included, so both observational and theoretical aspects are described, in a non-mathematical framework. This new edition covers the final decades of the twentieth century, with its major advances in stellar astrophysics: the discovery of extrasolar planets, new classes of stars and the observation of the ultraviolet spectra of stars from satellites. The in-depth coverage of the subject makes it essential reading for graduate students working in stellar spectroscopy, as well as a major reference for professional and amateur astronomers and historians of science"--Provided by publisher.