Astronomy, Astrophysics, & Planetary Science: Reference Sources

Astrophysics is the physics of the stars, and more widely the physics of the Universe. It enables us to understand the structure and evolution of planetary systems, stars, galaxies, interstellar gas, and the cosmos as a whole.In this Very Short Introduction, the leading astrophysicist James Binney shows how the field of astrophysics has expanded rapidly in the past century, with vast quantities of data gathered by telescopes exploiting all parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, combined with the rapid advance ofcomputing power, which has allowed increasingly effective mathematical modelling. He illustrates how the application of fundamental principles of physics - the consideration of energy and mass, and momentum - and the two pillars of relativity and quantum mechanics, has provided insights intophenomena ranging from rapidly spinning millisecond pulsars to the collision of giant spiral galaxies. This is a clear, rigorous introduction to astrophysics for those keen to cut their teeth on a conceptual treatment involving some mathematics.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, andenthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable

This second edition of the McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Astronomy aims to provide a major revision of the trade edition of the astronomy content in the McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms (based on the 6th edition). It covers the principal disciplines of astronomy and contains approximately 3600 entries, each accompanied by a pronunciation guide.

Space Sciences
John F. McCoy, ed. 2nd ed. Detroit, MI: Macmillan Reference USA, 2012. 1850 pp. 4 vols.
From the history of space exploration to the future of "space business", this set offers a broad survey of the space sciences. Includes biographies of scientists and the space-related job market.