Course in Astrophysics and Stellar Astronomy

Автор: B. P. Gerasomivioh, Director of Pulloovo Obsonratory, Editor



PREFACE

This course is the first attempt in world of scientific literature at a complete, connected and yet non-elementary exposition of the methods and results of astrophysics and stellar astronomy. The pioneering character of this course is its distinction, yet it is also a source of possible shortcomings. The authors were unable to take advantage of classical standard texts because they do not exist as yet. On the other hand, the quickly changing aspects of our science contain the dancers of anachronisms as well as too hasty conclusions. The author’s triad to maintain the greatest objectivity possible with regard to debatable and hotly discussed problems.

The course is composed by a group of Pulkovo astronomers on the principle o specialization. We may assume that this principle should increase the quality of the course, although it was sometimes difficult to synchronize the stype of the several authors and to escape some repetitions. The first part contains the exposition of the methods of astrophysics and astrophotography. The second part contains the physics of the solar system and the stellar astronomy.