Fundamentals of Astrophysics

Stan Owocki (University of Delaware)

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Paperback

Forthcoming
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English

Cambridge University Press
24 July 2025

Astronomy, space & time; Astrophysics

Presenting a concise overview of astrophysical concepts, the second edition of this textbook bridges the gap between introductory astronomy books and advanced astrophysics texts. Designed for one-semester astrophysics courses, the textbook is aimed at science and engineering students with college-level calculus-based physics. The new edition features both revisions and additions, with the extension of topics such as luminosity distance and the inclusion of notable developments such as the James Webb and Roman Space Telescopes. As before, the chapters are organized into five parts, covering: stellar properties; stellar structure and evolution; the interstellar medium and star/planet formation; our Milky Way and other galaxies; and cosmology. The exposition guides students toward a comprehensive fundamental understanding, using 'Quick Questions' to spur practice in basic computations, and multi-part exercises that offer a greater challenge. The solutions to the questions are freely accessible online, with exercise solutions and lecture slides available for instructors.

By: Stan Owocki (University of Delaware)
Imprint: Cambridge University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Edition: 2nd Revised edition
ISBN: 9781009618007
ISBN 10: 1009618008
Pages: 320
Publication Date: 24 July 2025
Audience: College/higher education , A / AS level
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Stan Owocki is an Emeritus Professor within the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Delaware. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Colorado in 1982 and had post-doctoral positions at Harvard University and University of California, San Diego before joining the faculty at U. Delaware in 1987. Co-author of more than 300 scientific papers, his research focuses on mass loss from luminous, massive stars. He has extensive experience of teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, with his flagship “Fundamentals of Astrophysics” course laying the foundation for this text.

Reviews for Fundamentals of Astrophysics

'Owocki's book is a welcome addition to the handful of good textbooks that cover astrophysics at an introductory level. Building on the typical first-year undergraduate STEM curriculum, he makes a thorough quantitative survey of all the important topics in stellar, galactic, and extragalactic astrophysics. Teachable within a one-semester course, this book creates an attractive technical elective in this fascinating field.' Jim Napolitano, Temple University 'This much-needed text fills the void for good up-to-date introductions to astrophysics for second- or third-year undergraduates with a calculus-based intro physics background. I especially like the division in short 'one topic per session' chapters, which makes the text useful for modern active-learning-based approaches. The exercises are well designed, and the inclusion of popular subjects such as exoplanets and gravitational wave observations will certainly inspire a broad range of students. I will seriously consider it for our Intro to Astrophysics class.' Francesc Ferrer, Washington University in St Louis 'Owocki's book is conversational and supremely readable. Readers will feel both the author's excitement for the material and his depth of experience explaining concepts at the undergraduate level … a welcome addition to the world of undergraduate astronomy textbooks.' Colette Salyk, Vassar College, Physics Today