Cosmology (Oxford Physics)

This book offers a completely up-to-date introduction to the exciting science of cosmology. It describes the very latest discoveries that have led astronomers and physicists ever closer to understanding the deepest secrets of the universe: its origin, evolution, and eventual fate. The author shows how today's technology has enabled scientists to exploit every clue hidden in the electromagnetic spectrum of radiating objects located at unimaginable distances from our solar system. The formation and aging of different types of stars and galaxies are considered, as are the dramatic phenomena of quasars and black holes. The Big Bang model of the universe is presented in Newtonian terms, and their derivation from the general theory of relativity is briefly sketched. For general readers with some science background, as well as undergraduates in physics and astronomy, the book offers a fascinating look at current cosmological knowledge. It ends with a discussion of 20 leading controversies and unanswered questions that scientists are attempting to resolve.