Supermassive Ancient Galaxies

Download Supermassive Ancient Galaxies PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Jepko Publishing
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 62 pages
Book Rating : 4./5 ( download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Supermassive Ancient Galaxies by : Ed Lukowich

Download or read book Supermassive Ancient Galaxies written by Ed Lukowich and published by Jepko Publishing. This book was released on 2018-07-01 with total page 62 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Trillion Theory (the new theory by founder/theorist/author Ed Lukowich) is summarized in this book. This new Trillion Theory depicts its estimated ancient trillion year age and origin for our cosmos. Delving deep into humongous galaxies, TT examines the work done by the galaxy builders, which TT purports to be black holes. At the hub of each and every galaxy is a Supermassive black hole which controls all of the millions of solar systems within the galaxy, along with the millions of black holes doing their dutiful tasks of recycling the solar systems for each new 15 billion-year generation. TT says, 'That is why it is near impossible to spot a sun older than 13-14 billion years.; and why astronomers have been mistaken in estimating the age of our cosmos at only 13.7 billion years when viewing the current generation crop of suns and solar systems.' TT states that an ancient Supermassive black hole at the hub of galaxy may have started building its galaxy as far back as 800 billion years in the trillion-year cosmos. While the Supermassive black hole is ancient, its occupant solar systems die and spawn new solar systems once their star reaches the 10-14 billion year age and goes supernova. Our cosmos is akin to a forest which recycles old trees and spawns the next generation of trees. Quadrillions of black holes, varying in a multitude of sizes, are both the builders and the controllers of the solar systems and the galaxies of our immense cosmos. TT says, 'We indeed have plenty to discover and prove about our universe. Trillion Theory is pointing out the direction to be taken.'

The Galactic Supermassive Black Hole

Download The Galactic Supermassive Black Hole PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Princeton University Press
ISBN 13 : 9780691131290
Total Pages : 324 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (312 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Galactic Supermassive Black Hole by : Fulvio Melia

Download or read book The Galactic Supermassive Black Hole written by Fulvio Melia and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2007 with total page 324 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Publisher description

Galaxy Formation and Evolution

Download Galaxy Formation and Evolution PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
ISBN 13 : 0521857937
Total Pages : 841 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (218 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Galaxy Formation and Evolution by : Houjun Mo

Download or read book Galaxy Formation and Evolution written by Houjun Mo and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2010-05-20 with total page 841 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A coherent introduction for researchers in astronomy, particle physics, and cosmology on the formation and evolution of galaxies.

The First Stars

Download The First Stars PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 9783642119644
Total Pages : 240 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (196 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The First Stars by : Volker Bromm

Download or read book The First Stars written by Volker Bromm and published by Springer. This book was released on 2016-09-07 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The formation of the first stars (Pop III stars) and galaxies is one of the great outstanding challenges in modern astrophysics and cosmology. The first stars are likely key drivers for early cosmic evolution and will be at the center of attention over the next decade. The best available space and ground-based telescopes like the Hubble Space Telescope probe the Universe to high redshifts and provide us with tantalizing hints; but they cannot yet directly detect the first generation of stars and the formation of the first galaxies. This is left as key science for future telecopes like the James Webb Space Telescope. This book is based in part on classroom tested lectures related to Pop III stars, but also draws from the author's review articles of the main physical principles involved. The book will thus combine pedagogical introductory chapters with more advanced ones to survey the cutting-edge advances from the frontier of research. It covers the theory of first star formation, the relation between first stars and dark matter, their impact on cosmology, their observational signatures, the transition to normal star formation as well as the assembly of the first galaxies. It will prepare students for interpreting observational findings and their cosmological implications.

First Light

Download First Light PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1472962907
Total Pages : 305 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (729 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis First Light by : Emma Chapman

Download or read book First Light written by Emma Chapman and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2020-11-26 with total page 305 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Astronomers have successfully observed a great deal of the Universe's history, from recording the afterglow of the Big Bang to imaging thousands of galaxies, and even to visualising an actual black hole. There's a lot for astronomers to be smug about. But when it comes to understanding how the Universe began and grew up we are literally in the dark ages. In effect, we are missing the first one billion years from the timeline of the Universe. This brief but far-reaching period in the Universe's history, known to astrophysicists as the 'Epoch of Reionisation', represents the start of the cosmos as we experience it today. The time when the very first stars burst into life, when darkness gave way to light. After hundreds of millions of years of dark, uneventful expansion, one by the one these stars suddenly came into being. This was the point at which the chaos of the Big Bang first began to yield to the order of galaxies, black holes and stars, kick-starting the pathway to planets, to comets, to moons, and to life itself. Incorporating the very latest research into this branch of astrophysics, this book sheds light on this time of darkness, telling the story of these first stars, hundreds of times the size of the Sun and a million times brighter, lonely giants that lived fast and died young in powerful explosions that seeded the Universe with the heavy elements that we are made of. Emma Chapman tells us how these stars formed, why they were so unusual, and what they can teach us about the Universe today. She also offers a first-hand look at the immense telescopes about to come on line to peer into the past, searching for the echoes and footprints of these stars, to take this period in the Universe's history from the realm of theoretical physics towards the wonder of observational astronomy.

Galaxies: A Very Short Introduction

Download Galaxies: A Very Short Introduction PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN 13 : 0199234345
Total Pages : 137 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (992 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Galaxies: A Very Short Introduction by : John Gribbin

Download or read book Galaxies: A Very Short Introduction written by John Gribbin and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 2008-03-27 with total page 137 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this fascinating Very Short Introduction, popular science writer John Gribben tells the story of our growing understanding of galaxies, from the days before Galileo to our present-day observations of our many hundreds of millions of galactic neighbors. Not only are galaxies fascinating astronomical structures in themselves, but their study has revealed much of what we know today about the cosmos, providing a window on the Big Bang and the origins of the Universe. Gribben looks at our own "Milky Way" Galaxy in detail, from the different kinds of stars that are born within it, to the origins of its magnificent spiral structure. Perhaps most interesting, Gribben describes the many exciting discoveries have been made about our own galaxy and about those beyond: how a supermassive black hole lurks at the center of every galaxy, how enormous forces are released when galaxies collide, how distant galaxies provide a window on the early Universe, and how the formation of young galaxies shed needed light on the mysteries of Cold Dark Matter. John Gribbin is one of the best-known current popular science writers. His many books include the acclaimed The Universe: A Biography, In Search of Schrodinger's Cat, and Science: A History. He has written for many newspapers and regularly contributes to radio and television documentaries and debates, and also writes science fiction novels. He formerly worked for Nature and New Scientist and is presently a Visiting Fellow in Astronomy at the University of Sussex. 1. A Very Short Introduction 2. The Great Debate 3. Our Island 4. The Expanding Universe 5. Across the Universe 6. The Origin of Galaxies 7. The Universe at Large References & Further Reading Index

The Andromeda Galaxy

Download The Andromeda Galaxy PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 9780792316541
Total Pages : 378 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (165 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Andromeda Galaxy by : Paul Hodge

Download or read book The Andromeda Galaxy written by Paul Hodge and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 1992-06-30 with total page 378 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Andromeda Galaxy, or M31, is an attractive galaxy for astronomers. It is close to us, it is of about the size of our galaxy, it provides some intriguing observational puzzles because the galaxy is nearly edge-on, and many objects can be studied in detail, because they are still sufficiently bright. With the current developments in instrumentation with which increasingly detailed studies of the Andromeda Galaxy can be made, this book provides a solid foundation for the start of new observations. This book is a mine of information about M31. It can be used as a reference by insiders, and at the same time it provides easy access for newcomers to the field.

Fundamentals of Galaxy Dynamics, Formation and Evolution

Download Fundamentals of Galaxy Dynamics, Formation and Evolution PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : UCL Press
ISBN 13 : 1911307614
Total Pages : 200 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (113 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Fundamentals of Galaxy Dynamics, Formation and Evolution by : Ignacio Ferreras

Download or read book Fundamentals of Galaxy Dynamics, Formation and Evolution written by Ignacio Ferreras and published by UCL Press. This book was released on 2019-04-02 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Galaxies, along with their underlying dark matter halos, constitute the building blocks of structure in the Universe. Of all fundamental forces, gravity is the dominant one that drives the evolution of structures from small density seeds at early times to the galaxies we see today. The interactions among myriads of stars, or dark matter particles, in a gravitating structure produce a system with fascinating connotations to thermodynamics, with some analogies and some fundamental differences. Ignacio Ferreras presents a concise introduction to extragalactic astrophysics, with emphasis on stellar dynamics, and the growth of density fluctuations in an expanding Universe. Additional chapters are devoted to smaller systems (stellar clusters) and larger ones (galaxy clusters). Fundamentals of Galaxy Dynamics, Formation and Evolution is written for advanced undergraduates and beginning postgraduate students, providing a useful tool to get up to speed in a starting research career. Some of the derivations for the most important results are presented in detail to enable students appreciate the beauty of maths as a tool to understand the workings of galaxies. Each chapter includes a set of problems to help the student advance with the material.

Out There

Download Out There PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Grand Central Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1538729385
Total Pages : 170 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (387 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Out There by : Michael Wall

Download or read book Out There written by Michael Wall and published by Grand Central Publishing. This book was released on 2018-11-13 with total page 170 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the vein of Randall Munroe's What If? meets Brian Green's Elegant Universe, a senior writer from Space.com leads readers on a wild ride of exploration into the final frontier, investigating what's really "out there." We've all asked ourselves the question. It's impossible to look up at the stars and NOT think about it: Are we alone in the universe? Books, movies and television shows proliferate that attempt to answer this question and explore it. In Out There Space.com senior writer Dr. Michael Wall treats that question as merely the beginning, touching off a wild ride of exploration into the final frontier. He considers, for instance, the myriad of questions that would arise once we do discover life beyond Earth (an eventuality which, top NASA officials told Wall, is only drawing closer). What would the first aliens we meet look like? Would they be little green men or mere microbes? Would they be found on a planet in our own solar system or orbiting a star far, far away? Would they intend to harm us, and if so, how might they do it? And might they already have visited? Out There is arranged in a simple question-and-answer format. The answers are delivered in Dr. Wall's informal but informative style, which mixes in a healthy dose of humor and pop culture to make big ideas easier to swallow. Dr. Wall covers questions far beyond alien life, venturing into astronomy, physics, and the practical realities of what long-term life might be like for we mere humans in outer space, such as the idea of lunar colonies, and even economic implications. Dr. Wall also shares the insights of some of the leading lights in space exploration today, and shows how the next space age might be brighter than ever./DIV

Galaxy

Download Galaxy PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Reaktion Books
ISBN 13 : 1780233965
Total Pages : 273 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (82 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Galaxy by : James Geach

Download or read book Galaxy written by James Geach and published by Reaktion Books. This book was released on 2014-10-15 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Each night, we are able to gaze up at the night sky and look at the thousands of stars that stretch to the end of our individual horizons. But the stars we see are only those that make up our own Milky Way galaxy—but one of hundreds of billions in the whole of the universe, each separated by inconceivably huge tracts of empty space. In this book, astronomer James Geach tells the rich stories of both the evolution of galaxies and our ability to observe them, offering a fascinating history of how we’ve come to realize humanity’s tiny place in the vast universe. Taking us on a compelling tour of the state-of-the-art science involved in mapping the infinite, Geach offers a first-hand account of both the science itself and how it is done, describing what we currently know as well as that which we still do not. He goes back one hundred years to when scientists first proved the existence of other galaxies, tracking our continued improvement in the ability to collect and interpret the light that stars in faraway galaxies have emitted through space and time. He discusses examples of this rapidly accelerating research, from the initial discovery that the faint “spiral nebulae” were actually separate star systems located far beyond the Milky Way to the latest observations of the nature of galaxies and how they have evolved. He also delves into the theoretical framework and simulations that describe our current “world model” of the universe. With one hundred superb color illustrations, Galaxy is an illuminating guide to the choreography of the cosmos and how we came to know our place within it that will appeal to any stargazer who has wondered what was beyond their sight.

Quasars and Black Holes

Download Quasars and Black Holes PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9780716695899
Total Pages : 64 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (958 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Quasars and Black Holes by :

Download or read book Quasars and Black Holes written by and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 64 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "An introduction to quasars and black holes with information about their formation and characteristics. Includes diagrams, fun facts, a glossary, a resource list, and an index"--Provided by publisher.

The First Galaxies in the Universe

Download The First Galaxies in the Universe PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Princeton University Press
ISBN 13 : 0691144923
Total Pages : 572 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (911 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The First Galaxies in the Universe by : Abraham Loeb

Download or read book The First Galaxies in the Universe written by Abraham Loeb and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2013-01-15 with total page 572 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides a comprehensive, self-contained introduction to one of the most exciting frontiers in astrophysics today: the quest to understand how the oldest and most distant galaxies in our universe first formed. Until now, most research on this question has been theoretical, but the next few years will bring about a new generation of large telescopes that promise to supply a flood of data about the infant universe during its first billion years after the big bang. This book bridges the gap between theory and observation. It is an invaluable reference for students and researchers on early galaxies. The First Galaxies in the Universe starts from basic physical principles before moving on to more advanced material. Topics include the gravitational growth of structure, the intergalactic medium, the formation and evolution of the first stars and black holes, feedback and galaxy evolution, reionization, 21-cm cosmology, and more. Provides a comprehensive introduction to this exciting frontier in astrophysics Begins from first principles Covers advanced topics such as the first stars and 21-cm cosmology Prepares students for research using the next generation of large telescopes Discusses many open questions to be explored in the coming decade

A Question and Answer Guide to Astronomy

Download A Question and Answer Guide to Astronomy PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
ISBN 13 : 131661526X
Total Pages : 361 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (166 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis A Question and Answer Guide to Astronomy by : Pierre-Yves Bely

Download or read book A Question and Answer Guide to Astronomy written by Pierre-Yves Bely and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2017-03-23 with total page 361 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Contains 250 questions and answers about astronomy, particular for the amateur astronomer.

Dynamics and Evolution of Galactic Nuclei

Download Dynamics and Evolution of Galactic Nuclei PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Princeton University Press
ISBN 13 : 1400846129
Total Pages : 567 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (8 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Dynamics and Evolution of Galactic Nuclei by : David Merritt

Download or read book Dynamics and Evolution of Galactic Nuclei written by David Merritt and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2013-07-21 with total page 567 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Deep within galaxies like the Milky Way, astronomers have found a fascinating legacy of Einstein's general theory of relativity: supermassive black holes. Connected to the evolution of the galaxies that contain these black holes, galactic nuclei are the sites of uniquely energetic events, including quasars, stellar tidal disruptions, and the generation of gravitational waves. This textbook is the first comprehensive introduction to dynamical processes occurring in the vicinity of supermassive black holes in their galactic environment. Filling a critical gap, it is an authoritative resource for astrophysics and physics graduate students, and researchers focusing on galactic nuclei, the astrophysics of massive black holes, galactic dynamics, and gravitational wave detection. It is an ideal text for an advanced graduate-level course on galactic nuclei and as supplementary reading in graduate-level courses on high-energy astrophysics and galactic dynamics. David Merritt summarizes the theoretical work of the last three decades on the evolution of galactic nuclei, the formation of massive black holes, and the interaction between black holes and stars. He explores in depth such important topics as observations of galactic nuclei, dynamical models, weighing black holes, motion near supermassive black holes, evolution of nuclei due to gravitational encounters, loss cone theory, and binary supermassive black holes. Self-contained and up-to-date, the textbook includes a summary of the current literature and previously unpublished work by the author. For researchers working on active galactic nuclei, galaxy evolution, and the generation of gravitational waves, this book will be an essential resource.

The Milky Way

Download The Milky Way PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Princeton University Press
ISBN 13 : 0691178356
Total Pages : 330 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (911 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Milky Way by : William H. Waller

Download or read book The Milky Way written by William H. Waller and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2017-10-31 with total page 330 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A grand tour of our dynamic home galaxy This book offers an intimate guide to the Milky Way, taking readers on a grand tour of our home Galaxy's structure, genesis, and evolution, based on the latest astronomical findings. In engaging language, it tells how the Milky Way congealed from blobs of gas and dark matter into a spinning starry abode brimming with diverse planetary systems—some of which may be hosting myriad life forms and perhaps even other technologically communicative species. William Waller vividly describes the Milky Way as it appears in the night sky, acquainting readers with its key components and telling the history of our changing galactic perceptions. The ancients believed the Milky Way was a home for the gods. Today we know it is but one galaxy among billions of others in the observable universe. Within the Milky Way, ground-based and space-borne telescopes have revealed that our Solar System is not alone. Hundreds of other planetary systems share our tiny part of the vast Galaxy. We reside within a galactic ecosystem that is driven by the theatrics of the most massive stars as they blaze through their brilliant lives and dramatic deaths. Similarly effervescent ecosystems of hot young stars and fluorescing nebulae delineate the graceful spiral arms in our Galaxy's swirling disk. Beyond the disk, the spheroidal halo hosts the ponderous—and still mysterious—dark matter that outweighs everything else. Another dark mystery lurks deep in the heart of the Milky Way, where a supermassive black hole has produced bizarre phenomena seen at multiple wavelengths. Waller makes the case that our very existence is inextricably linked to the Galaxy that spawned us. Through this book, readers can become well-informed galactic "insiders"—ready to imagine humanity's next steps as fully engaged citizens of the Milky Way.

Astronomy

Download Astronomy PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9789888407316
Total Pages : 1198 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (73 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Astronomy by : Andrew Fraknoi

Download or read book Astronomy written by Andrew Fraknoi and published by . This book was released on 2017-12-19 with total page 1198 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Astronomy is written in clear non-technical language, with the occasional touch of humor and a wide range of clarifying illustrations. It has many analogies drawn from everyday life to help non-science majors appreciate, on their own terms, what our modern exploration of the universe is revealing. The book can be used for either aone-semester or two-semester introductory course (bear in mind, you can customize your version and include only those chapters or sections you will be teaching.) It is made available free of charge in electronic form (and low cost in printed form) to students around the world. If you have ever thrown up your hands in despair over the spiraling cost of astronomy textbooks, you owe your students a good look at this one. Coverage and Scope Astronomy was written, updated, and reviewed by a broad range of astronomers and astronomy educators in a strong community effort. It is designed to meet scope and sequence requirements of introductory astronomy courses nationwide. Chapter 1: Science and the Universe: A Brief Tour Chapter 2: Observing the Sky: The Birth of Astronomy Chapter 3: Orbits and Gravity Chapter 4: Earth, Moon, and Sky Chapter 5: Radiation and Spectra Chapter 6: Astronomical Instruments Chapter 7: Other Worlds: An Introduction to the Solar System Chapter 8: Earth as a Planet Chapter 9: Cratered Worlds Chapter 10: Earthlike Planets: Venus and Mars Chapter 11: The Giant Planets Chapter 12: Rings, Moons, and Pluto Chapter 13: Comets and Asteroids: Debris of the Solar System Chapter 14: Cosmic Samples and the Origin of the Solar System Chapter 15: The Sun: A Garden-Variety Star Chapter 16: The Sun: A Nuclear Powerhouse Chapter 17: Analyzing Starlight Chapter 18: The Stars: A Celestial Census Chapter 19: Celestial Distances Chapter 20: Between the Stars: Gas and Dust in Space Chapter 21: The Birth of Stars and the Discovery of Planets outside the Solar System Chapter 22: Stars from Adolescence to Old Age Chapter 23: The Death of Stars Chapter 24: Black Holes and Curved Spacetime Chapter 25: The Milky Way Galaxy Chapter 26: Galaxies Chapter 27: Active Galaxies, Quasars, and Supermassive Black Holes Chapter 28: The Evolution and Distribution of Galaxies Chapter 29: The Big Bang Chapter 30: Life in the Universe Appendix A: How to Study for Your Introductory Astronomy Course Appendix B: Astronomy Websites, Pictures, and Apps Appendix C: Scientific Notation Appendix D: Units Used in Science Appendix E: Some Useful Constants for Astronomy Appendix F: Physical and Orbital Data for the Planets Appendix G: Selected Moons of the Planets Appendix H: Upcoming Total Eclipses Appendix I: The Nearest Stars, Brown Dwarfs, and White Dwarfs Appendix J: The Brightest Twenty Stars Appendix K: The Chemical Elements Appendix L: The Constellations Appendix M: Star Charts and Sky Event Resources

Active Galactic Nuclei

Download Active Galactic Nuclei PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Princeton University Press
ISBN 13 : 0691227470
Total Pages : 632 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (912 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Active Galactic Nuclei by : Julian H. Krolik

Download or read book Active Galactic Nuclei written by Julian H. Krolik and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2021-03-09 with total page 632 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the first comprehensive treatment of active galactic nuclei--the cosmic powerhouses at the core of many distant galaxies. The term active galactic nuclei refers to quasars, radio galaxies, Seyfert galaxies, blazars, and related objects, all of which are believed to share a similar central engine--a supermassive black hole many times the mass of the Sun. Astrophysicists have studied these phenomena for the past several decades and have begun to develop a consensus about many of their properties and internal mechanisms. Julian Krolik, one of the world's leading authorities on the subject, sums up leading ideas from across the entire range of research, making this book an invaluable resource for astronomers, physicists interested in applications of the theory of gravitation, and graduate students. Krolik begins by addressing basic questions about active galactic nuclei: What are they? How can they be found? How do they evolve? He assesses the evidence for massive black holes and considers how they generate power by accretion. He discusses X-ray and g-ray emission, radio emission and jets, emission and absorption lines, anisotropic appearance, and the relationship between an active nucleus and its host galaxy. He explores the mysteries of what ignites, fuels, and extinguishes active galactic nuclei, and concludes with a general review of where the field now stands. The book is unique in paying careful attention to relevant physics as well as astronomy, reflecting in part the importance of general relativity to understanding active galactic nuclei. Clear, authoritative, and detailed, this is crucial reading for anyone interested in one of the most dynamic areas of astrophysics today.