Book Description
Binary systems of stars are as common as single stars. This original text provides a pedagogical and comprehensive introduction to binary stars. The author combines theory and observations at all wavelengths to develop a unified understanding of binaries of all categories.Chapters review methods for calculating orbits, the Roche model, ideas about mass exchange and loss, methods for analyzing light curves, the masses and dimensions of different binary systems, and imaging the surfaces of stars and accretion structures. This volume offers advanced undergraduate and graduate students a thorough introduction to binary stars that will aid their learning of stellar astrophysics, stellar structure and evolution, and observational astrophysics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good book for serious amateur astronomers
If you are an amateur astronomer studying eclipsing binary star systems, and have some training in physics, this book by R.W. Hilditch is a goldmine of information about the interaction of binaries.His treatment is closely tied to observational data, so that you will be motivated to follow the analyses he provides of light curve shapes.The information content of spectroscopic studies and of pulsar and x-ray data are also covered.The book is about as clear as it can be considering the detail provided.Even if equations frighten you, you might find the graphical and pictorial information useful.

Not that much helpful for me
It is good for pure Astrophysics student but not that much helpful for Physics student ... Read more

Book Description
This book focuses on the formulation of mathematical models for the light curves of eclipsing binary stars, and on the algorithms for generating such models. Since information gained from binary systems provides much of what we know of the masses, luminosities, and radii of stars, such models are acquiring increasing importance in studies of stellar structure and evolution. As in other areas of science, the computer revolution has given many astronomers tools that previously only specialists could use; anyone with access to a set of data can now expect to be able to model it. This book will provide astronomers, both amateur and professional, with a guide for - specifying an astrophysical model for a set of observations - selecting an algorithm to determine the parameters of the model - estimating the errors of the parameters It is written for readers with knowledge of basic calculus and linear algebra; appendices cover mathematical details on such matters as optimization, coordinate systems, and specific models. While emphasizing the physical and mathematical framework, the discussion remains close to the problems if actual implementation. It begins with an overview of the problem and a discussion of the observational data that form the basis of any model. The treatment then turns to the direct problem (computing the light curve and other observables from the a given set of parameters) and then to the indirect problem (determining a best-fit set of parameters from the data). The book concludes with chapters on specific models and approaches and the authors' views on the structure of future light- curve programs. ... Read more

Book Description
Double stars are the rule, rather than the exception: our solar system, having a single sun, is in the minority.Orbiting satellites, ground-based observatories and interferometers have all helped discover many hundreds of new pairs - but this has left enormous numbers of wide, faint pairs under-observed or not observed at all.This is where amateur astronomers can help.Bob Argyle, a professional astronomer at Cambridge University, shows where enthusiastic amateur observers can best direct their efforts.The book caters for the use of every level of equipment, from simple commercial telescopes to micrometers and CCD cameras.Amateur astronomers who have gone beyond "sight-seeing and want to make a genuine scientific contribution will find this a fascinating and rewarding field - and this book provides all the background and practical information thats needed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

for the amateur astronomer
Argyle's book is useful for the amateur astronomer. Showing how even in these days of multimillion dollar observatories, you can still make a meaningful contribution to astronomy with quite affordable and modest equipment.

The text goes through elementary optics, that can be found in such standard texts as Hecht and Zajac. But it quickly specialises in details specific to observing binaries in the visual spectrum. With simple measurement techniques whose geometry you can readily grasp and apply.

All a beginner need to know about double stars
I have been a amateur asteroid hunter for a few years but lately my interest switch to double stars. I found that information found on the web is too "bits and pieces". This book give me (an beginner) all the information I need. It is the best $30 I have spent. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Binary Stars (Dover Edition)
Originally published in 1918 and completely revised in 1935, this book is still the "bible" in the field of double-star astronomy. It's author, a director of the famous Lick Obsrvatory, is widely recognised as the father of the modern study of binary star systems and, in this book, he sums up the results of centuries of research, including 40 years of his own work, and surveys the methods of observation and of orbital computation that have been developed.

The book begins with an extensive two-part historical sketch that covers various steps in the discovery and interpretation of binary stars and assesses the work of many of the major contributors. There follow chapters on observational method for visual binary stars; the orbit of a visual bnary star; the radial velocity of a star (written by Dr. J. H. Moore of the University of California); the orbit of a spectroscopic binary star; eclipsing binary stars; the known orbit of binary stars; some binary stars of special interest (Alpha Centari, Sirius, Krueger 60, 61 Cygni, Delta Equu lei, Capella, Algol, and others), and the origin of binary stars. Within each of these topics, the author emphasizes method, telling how to plot orbits, where to locate important data and how to use them in computations, how to measure and reduce spectrograms, when to use eyepieces in observations, and so on. This practical material is truly unique, and it should prove especially useful in classroom instruction, to astronomy students, and to advanced hobbyists.

Each chapter ends with a bibliograohy and there is additional, up-to-date bibliographical material in the notes to this new addition byProfessor J. T. Kent. Professor Kent has also revised and corrected the text. Now, more than ever, this book is an unequalled source of information on methods of study and as a thorough summary of essential binary star material.
--- from book's back cover ... Read more

Book Description
This book contains the proceedings of IAU Symposium No. 151`Evolutionary Processes in Interacting Binary Stars,' which was heldfrom 5 to 9 August 1991 in Cordóba, Argentina.
The primary aim of this conference was to review and evaluate ourcurrent understanding of the evolutionary processes in wide variety ofinteracting binary stars from their births to their deaths. Subjectsincluded the formation of binaries, mass flow and transfer, accretionprocesses, and binaries with collapsed components, such as novae,X-ray binaries and binary pulsars. As the field covered is both broadand diverse, there were in all thirty-seven invited talks; sixty-twocontributed papers were also presented. In addition, these proceedingscontain comments from a panel discussion of the major unsolvedproblems of interacting binary stars. ... Read more

Book Description
IAU Symposium 240, held in conjunction with the 26th General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union, highlights the latest advances in the field of binary and multiple stars, and was the first major meeting in recent years bringing together members of both the 'wide' and 'close' binary communities. Topics discussed ranged from common proper motion pairs and other 'fragile' binaries to contact binaries and star/brown-dwarf/planet systems, exploring the numerous interests common to all binary star researchers. Highlights included talks on observing binaries using high angular and spectral resolution techniques, the impacts of new and planned large-scale surveys, recent models for binary evolution, new methods for analyzing cataclysmic pairs and disentangling spectra, surveys of extragalactic eclipsing binaries, Doppler tomography and imaging, and binaries as probes of the Galaxy's chemical and dynamical evolution. This volume will be an important reference source for binary star researchers for many years to come. ... Read more

Book Description

An international conference entitled "Zdenek Kopal's Binary Star Legacy" was held on the occasion of the late Professor Kopal's 90th birthday in his home town of Litomyl/Czech Republic and dedicated to the memory of one of the leading astronomers of the 20th century.

Book Description
Magnetism in binary stars is now an area of central importancein stellar astrophysics. Magnetic fields are believed to play afundamental role in the mass transfer process in all close binaries.After an outline of the early work in binary stars, the bookintroduces the fundamentals of magnetohydrodynamics and binary startheory. The main areas of MHD in binary stars are then considered,including the AM Herculis systems, intermediate polars, X-ray binarypulsars, accretion disc magnetism, and stellar and disc winds. Theunifying theme is the property of magnetic fields of redistributingangular momentum, and the associated stellar spin evolution. Althoughthis is a rapidly expanding area, the fundamental problems discussedhere are likely to remain relevant for future decades. A knowledge of physics to undergraduate level is assumed. The materialshould be of interest to observers as well as theoreticians. Althoughthe book is mainly aimed at research workers, parts of the text couldbe useful for postgraduate courses in astrophysical fluid dynamics andbinary star theory. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

a good necessary source.
This book is a necessary source for a scientist who are studying astrophysics. But I have got some criticism.These are; 1- this book is very expencive 2- The pictures is less for visual and to imagine. I wanted tohave a lot of pictures moreover these pictures may be colour.

But thecontent and the explain kind are good in this book.These ideasbelong to me.Thank you for C.G.Campbell. ... Read more

Book Description
Binary systems of stars are as common as single stars. Stars evolve primarily by nuclear reactions in their interiors, but a star with a binary companion can also have its evolution influenced by the companion. Multiple star systems can exist in a stable state for millions of years, but can ultimately become unstable as one star grows in radius until it engulfs another. This volume discusses the statistics of binary stars; the evolution of single stars; and several of the most important kinds of interaction between two (and even three or more) stars. A series of mathematical appendices provides a concise but complete account of the mathematics of these processes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The State of the Art as it Exists Today
This book is aimed at the last year undergraduate student, graudade student or researchers. The reader is expected to be familiar with the terminology of stellar astrophysics (spectral types, magnitudes and like). Within that background the author presents an excellent introduction to binary and multiple stars.

The book begins with an interesting discussion on just what is a binary star. With the whole universe rotating about itself, a binary star is simply two stars that are closer than others. But in a dense star field 'closer' has to be closer than it does in a star desert where the orbits of binary stars may be on the order of centuries.

This is not a book for the amateur, the math is heavy duty, indeed the author moved to Livermore Labs to get closer to massive computing power. He has included a series of mathematical appendicies which give a concise but full account of the mathematics of the processes involved with star behavior. ... Read more

Book Description
Research on the formation, structure and evolution of binarystars with at least one compact component (i.e. a white dwarf, neutronstar, or black hole), has in recent years been one of the most activeareas in astrophysics. This volume gives an overview of recentprogress in this area, with particular emphasis on the evolutionaryconnection that may exist between these binaries as observed in avariety of wavelength bands, in particular in the radio and X-raybands. Among the subjects covered are Type Ib/c supernovae andsupernovae in binaries; common-envelope evolution, coalescence ofbinaries and Thorne-Zytkow objects; gravitational waves fromcompact bodies; binary and millisecond radio pulsars; planets aroundpulsars; the pulsar velocity distribution; transient X-ray sources andblack-hole binaries; quasi-periodic oscillations in X-ray sources;supersoft X-ray sources and their possible connection with Type Isupernovae; soft gamma-ray repeaters; gamma-ray bursts and binaryneutron star mergers. ... Read more

Product Description
The Pictorial Atlas will serve astronomy professionals, amateurs, and even uninitiated, interested persons with insight into the makeup of binary star systems, some of which have their component stars so close together as to be in actual physical contact. Nothing like this atlas has ever existed in the field. Each page shows one binary star system at about ten positions in its orbit, so as to provide perspective for the viewer as the system turns, and shows a listing of the fundamental dimensions, mass data, radiative quantities, etc., which are known or estimated for the binary. This book will be of interest to theoretical astronomers, observers, and amateur astronomers. Further uses include the atlas being an adjunct to graduate school courses in the analysis of binary star observations, or fundamentals of binary star research. It could also well be a reference book for university undergraduate laboratories. ... Read more