The Life and Death of Stars

by Lang, Kenneth R.

• ISBN13: 9781107016385
• ISBN10: 110701638X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2013-03-31
• Publisher: Cambridge Univ Pr

Summary

In this well-illustrated text, Kenneth R. Lang explains the life cycle of stars, from the dense molecular clouds that are stellar nurseries to the enigmatic nebulae some stars leave behind in their violent ends. Free of mathematical equations and technical jargon, Lang's lively and accessible text provides physical insights into how stars such as our Sun are born, what fuels them and keeps them bright, how they evolve, and the processes by which they eventually die. The book demonstrates the sheer scope and variety of stellar phenomena in the context of the universe as a whole. Boxed focus elements enhance and amplify the discussion for readers looking for more depth. Featuring more than 150 figures, including color plates, The Life and Death of Stars is a modern and up-to-date account of stars written for a broad audience, from armchair astronomers and popular science readers to students and teachers of science.

Table of Contents

List of focus elements

List of tables

Preface

Light of the Sun

Gravity and motion

Atomic and sub-atomic particles

Transmutation of the elements

What makes the Sun shine?

The extended solar atmosphere

Comparisons of the Sun with other stars

The lives of stars

The material between stars

New stars arise from the darkness

Stellar end states

A larger, expanding universe

Birth, life, and death of the universe

Quotation references

Author index

Subject index

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