Planets, Stars and Stellar Systems, 2013
Volume 6: Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology

This is volume 6 of Planets, Stars and Stellar Systems, a six-volume compendium of modern astronomical research, covering subjects of key interest to the main fields of contemporary astronomy. This volume on ?Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology? edited by William C. Keel presents accessible review chapters on Galaxy Morphology, Elliptical and Disk Galaxy Structure and Modern Scaling Laws, Star Formation in Galaxies, The Cool ISM in Galaxies, The Influence of Environment on Galaxy Evolution, Clusters of Galaxies, Active Galactic Nuclei, Large Scale Structure of the Universe, Distance Scale of the Universe, Galaxies in the Cosmological Context, Evolution of Active Galactic Nuclei, The Intergalactic Medium, and Cosmic Microwave Background.

All chapters of the handbook were written by practicing professionals. They include sufficient background material and references to the current literature to allow readers to learn enough about a specialty within astronomy, astrophysics and cosmology to get started on their own practical research projects. In the spirit of the series Stars and Stellar Systems published by Chicago University Press in the 1960s and 1970s, each chapter of Planets, Stars and Stellar Systems can stand on its own as a fundamental review of its respective sub-discipline, and each volume can be used as a textbook or recommended reference work for advanced undergraduate or postgraduate courses. Advanced students and professional astronomers in their roles as both lecturers and researchers will welcome Planets, Stars and Stellar Systems as a comprehensive and pedagogical reference work on astronomy, astrophysics and cosmology.

1. Galaxy Morphology. 2. Elliptical and Disk Galaxy Structure, and Modern Scaling Laws. 3. Star Formation in Galaxies. 4. The Cool ISM in Galaxies. 5. The Influence of Environment on Galaxy Evolution. 6. Clusters of Galaxies. 7. Active Galactic Nuclei. 8. Large Scale Structure of the Universe. 9. Distance Scale of the Universe. 10. Galaxies in the Cosmological Context. 11. Evolution of Active Galactic Nuclei. 12. The Intergalactic Medium. 13.Cosmic Microwave Background.

Dr. Terry D. Oswalt, an astronomer, is Head of the Department of Physics and Space Sciences and Associate Provost for Research at Florida Institute of Technology. He has also served the U.S. National Science Foundation as program officer for Stellar Astronomy and Astrophysics. He earned his Ph.D. in Astronomy at The Ohio State University specializing in photoelectric and spectroscopic studies of binary star systems, late stages of stellar evolution, minor planets, and comets.

Since coming to Florida Tech in 1982, Dr. Oswalt has taught astronomy and physics, while continuing his primary research interest in studies of collapsed stars called white dwarfs. Because such objects are very faint, this work often takes him to Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona, Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile, and Mauna Kea Observatory in Hawaii, where telescopes as large as 10-meters are available on a competitive basis to scientists.

Oswalt is the founding Chairman of the Southeast Association for Research in Astronomy, a consortium of 10 universities which operates an automated 1-meter telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory near Tucson, Arizona. In 2007 SARA will assume operations of a similar telescope at Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory in Chile. Oswalt also has been director of the SARA summer internship program, which brings undergraduate students from around the U.S. to the SARA facility at Kitt Peak each summer to do research in astronomy. Dr. Oswalt has written over 100 scientific articles and edits the I.A.P.P.P. Communications, an international journal for advanced amateurs, students, teachers and professionals who collaborate on research and educational projects in astronomy. He is also the editor for a three-volume set of Springer books, "The Future of Small Telescopes in the New Millennium".

William C. Keel is Professor of Astronomy at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. His astronomical interests began as a youn

Presents comprehensive coverage of state-of-the-art 21st century Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology research

Provides the essential background and directs readers to other seminal literature on the topics discussed

Well-suited for lecturers and students as material for advanced courses in astronomy

Volume 6 of a six-volume compendium of modern astronomical research covering subjects of key interest to the main fields of contemporary astronomy and astrophysical cosmology