The Galaxies of the Local Group
The Galaxies of the Local Group
The Local Group is a small cluster of galaxies that includes the Milky Way. At least half of all galaxies in the Universe are thought to belong to similar groups. This authoritative volume provides a comprehensive synthesis of what is known about the Local Group. It begins with a summary of each member galaxy, as well as those galaxies previously regarded as possible members. The book examines the mass, stability and evolution of the Local Group as a whole and includes many important previously unpublished results and conclusions. With clarity, Professor van den Bergh provides a masterful summary of all that is known about the galaxies of the Local Group and their evolution, and expertly places this knowledge in the wider context of on-going studies of galaxy formation and evolution, the cosmic distance scale, and the conditions in the early Universe.
- A masterful summary of the Local Group
- Clear and comprehensive
- Contains many previously unpublished results and important conclusions
Reviews & endorsements
"...a well-written, authoritative survey of our current understanding of the group...The Galaxies of the Local Group is a masterpiece, an important reference work that belongs in the library of every astronomer." Science Books & Films
"This book is the best and most current summary of what we know about the Local Group. It discusses the makeup, movement, composition, shape, shape, size, location -- in short everything -- we know about these galaxies. This book does not use a heavily mathematical approach, but is instead more of a general verbal description. The material in the book is the most recent available, including information from the various orbiting observatories such as Hubble, RORSAT, and others." - Sidney van den Bergh, Books-On-Line
Product details
July 2007Paperback
9780521037433
348 pages
243 × 169 × 17 mm
0.57kg
103 b/w illus. 82 tables
Available
Table of Contents
- Preface
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Local group membership
- 3. The Andromeda galaxy (M31)
- 4. The Milky Way system
- 5. The Triangulum galaxy (M33)
- 6. The Large Magellanic Cloud
- 7. The Small Magellanic Cloud
- 8. The elliptical galaxy M32 (= NGC 221)
- 9. The irregular dwarf galaxy NGC 6822
- 10. The starburst galaxy IC 10
- 11. Faint dwarf irregular galaxies
- 12. Spheroidal galaxies
- 13. The most luminous dwarf spheroidal galaxies
- 14. Dwarf spheroidals in the Andromeda subgroup
- 15. Faint dwarf spheroidals
- 16. The outer fringes of the Local Group
- 17. Intergalactic matter in the Local Group
- 18. Dynamical and physical evolution
- 19. Properties of the Local Group
- 20. Conclusions
- Glossary
- Bibliography
- Object index.
