Sculpting a Galaxy: Inside the Star Wars Model Shop

Book Description

From the producers of the acclaimed Dressing a Galaxy: The Costumes of Star Wars comes an inside look at the secrets behind the saga’s artful models and sculptures. Lorne Peterson, model and sculpture designer for the entire Star Wars saga, takes us on a journey through the intricate process of crafting and sculpting the models from sketch to screen and the artistry behind the dazzling results.
Sculpting a Galaxy: Inside the Star Wars Model Shop features more than 300 full-color photographs and illustrations from the Lucasfilm archives, models from all six films, interviews, images and text with concept sculptors, an overview of the ILM model shop from 1976 through today and numerous gatefolds of the most loved models.
ILM virtually redefined visual effects and blazed a trail into the digital realm, follow behind the camera and into the rarely seen workshops and an amazing look at the creation of movie magic. Sculpting a Galaxy: Inside the Star Wars Modelshop takes readers behind-the-scenes for the first in-depth look at these amazing models and the process behind their creation, punctuated by Lorne Peterson’s exuberance and dedication to craft.
This unique visual treat is a must-have for any Star Wars fan.

Customer Reviews:

for the fans.......2007-10-04

The book is great for star wars fans. It has loads of reference photos in a variety of production areas. If you want a good present or inspiration to sculpt this would do it.

Giant coffee table book...mostly a retread.......2007-08-02

For those who have purchased the series of "Art of Star Wars" books, as well as "Star Wars: Sketchbooks" et cetera, this tome is impressive but not novel. Many photos from those earlier books are reused here. The problem is that they have been blown up for this larger format. Consequently, the blown-up recycled photos are slightly blurry. There are some wonderful photos of star destroyer details that have not been seen before...but is that enough to merit this huge new book? That decision is up to you, but I expected heretofore unseen, crisply focused photographs.

Great Content, Defective Copy.......2007-08-01

The actual content of the book is top notch, with many great shots model shots. I also enjoy the accompanying stories, from behind the scenes. The problem is, the binding was already coming apart when I received it. A beautiful book, marred by a crappy binding.

I received a copy of this book as a present, that was purchased on Amazon.

Un livre indispensable à tout fan de Star Wars.......2007-07-19

Le département Maquettes d'ILM est devenu Kerner-Optical, mais le savoir faire n'a pas été dispersé grace à Lorne Peterson.
Ce livre montre en détail toute cette expérience acquise depuis plus de 30 ans, ce livre donne des astuces pour tout maquettiste en herbe.
Un très bon ouvrage.
Bonne lecture

star wars fan.......2007-07-05

If you are a either a fan of star wars or a model builder this is the book for you. It is full for close up pictures not only of the ships but also creatures and settings.

Average customer rating:

Great but flawed printing
getting one for my kids
The best beginning astro book ever...
The Stars - The Way They Were Meant To Be Seen
curious george has hit the stars, by greinke, samuel

The Stars: A New Way to See Them
H. A. Rey
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Find the Constellations
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Star Maps for Beginners: 50th Anniversary Edition

ASIN: 0395248302

Product Description

The Stars: A New Way to See Them. By H.A. Rey. This remains our all-time favorite guide to learning the constellations. Written for older kids and adults, its simple style has made it a top seller for more than 40 years. Classy cartoon illustrations and star charts round out this fine guidebook. 160 pages, softcover.

Customer Reviews:

Great but flawed printing.......2007-10-03

This is a wonderful book but the version I was sent did not match the See inside version. The copy I received was printed in China, rather than the United States, and had numerous problems. The binding cracked when I opened the book, one page had obvious misprints in the constellation drawings (p. 30), and the constellation charts on pp. 74-105 were printed all the way into the gutter margins, making some of the text very difficult to read. Also, the text on facing pages was not aligned. Great book but poor production values, at least in the copy I received.

getting one for my kids.......2007-09-09

I love this book! My Dad had this book when I was a kid, and I had the best time using it to find the constellations. It was simple enough for me to understand. I'm buying my own to share with my kids.

The best beginning astro book ever..........2007-05-25

Purchase this book...even if you are taking college astronomy courses! This book actually places the cosmos in one's hand. Well worth the price.

The Stars - The Way They Were Meant To Be Seen.......2007-04-26

i love my curious george star book!
this book is an incredibly easy way to learn the star constellations, i have only had it for a week and i can already recognize alot of them. the night sky is making sense and becoming more familiar. the book shows the constellations in easy to remember shapes and easy ways to locate each.
in one week i have learned more about the stars and the earth's movement than i have in 39 years.
i think every average family needs to keep this book around, it is alot of fun for the whole family and will be a "must" to bring camping, and on those weekend trips to the lake.

: - )

wake.

curious george has hit the stars, by greinke, samuel.......2007-04-14

The Curious George author presnts the stars in easy to understand language "imagine the sky as if looking into the underside of an umbrella..."
It's a great book for basic understanding and knowledge of the heavens.

greinke, samuel

Dressing a Galaxy: The Costumes of Star Wars

Average customer rating:

Absolutely Great!
a MUST HAVE book for every Starswars fan !
Costume Haute Couture...
Simply breathtaking!
Tremendous book

Dressing a Galaxy: The Costumes of Star Wars
Trish Biggar
Manufacturer: "Harry N. Abrams, Inc."
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Sculpting a Galaxy: Inside the Star Wars Model Shop
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ASIN: 0810965674

Book Description

While the Star Wars saga is famous for its elaborate sets and for revolutionary visual effects, it also features some of the most unique and ornate costumes in modern film. In this exquisite volume, the intricate and beautiful fashions that have appeared in all six Star Wars films are on display-from military gear to royal gowns and the iconic garbs of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader. Every costume is brilliantly displayed in intimate detail, from preproduction sketches to the final creations. Actors, including Natalie Portman and Samuel L. Jackson, provide commentary on their experiences during principal photography, while writer-director George Lucas and producer Rick McCallum contribute their thoughts on this exploration of Star Wars costume design. Accompanied by an exhibition at the The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) Museum & Galleries at FIDM in Los Angeles, this unique visual treat is a must-have for any Star Wars fan. An additional limited-edition run of this book will be released with lavish gatefolds, fabric swatches, and a cast replica of a Wookiee belt-buckle, sure to be the ultimate Star Wars collectible.

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely Great!.......2007-08-01

This book is a gem. It is a treasure trove of detailed photographs of the wonderful costumes created by Trisha Biggar.
If you are a costume player or just a costume historian, you will find this book a marvel. This is one of the best books I've ever seen as a record of a movie of any kind.

a MUST HAVE book for every Starswars fan !.......2007-03-30

Absolutely wonderful !
Fantastic pictures, you will shock all your Starwars friends showing it !
And Italian fans will recognize all pics taken at italian movies' locations: Como Lake (Villa Balbianello) where the Padme&Anakin wedding cerimony was celebrated, and Lenno village.
A MUST HAVE book for every Starwars Fans.

Costume Haute Couture..........2007-02-23

I picked this book up at a local bookstore for a whopping $5.00 . I enjoyed the movies, but they definitely aren't at the top of my favorites list. This book appealed to me purely for the fashion, costume, and design aspects. And it delivers a beautiful display for all those things. I actually found myself reading the book (usually I just dissect the pictures and draw inspiration that way), and found it to be well written as well. The text, gives insight into how a large scale costuming production works for theatrical purposes. It illustrates all of the dynamics of organizing such a production from start to finish. I imagine this would be a good read for someone interested in the theatrical costuming field. Besides that, it is a wonderful coffee table book , or uber bible of clothes for the "Con" participant. Surely worth ten times what I paid!

Simply breathtaking!.......2007-02-09

I finally got this book - now I don't know why I waited! Totally worth it!

Anyone who is a fan of Star Wars and even a casual fan of costumes will truly enjoy this book. The book is filled with exquisitely detailed photos and descriptions of all of the costumes from Eps 1-3, and many from Eps 4-6, but the focus is really on the costumes that dominated the last 3 films - those of Amidala/Padmé, the Emperor, Bail Organa, Obi-Wan, Anakin, etc. Some of the most creative details are illustrated on the numerous characters that only appear briefly at the senate meetings, and their attire reflects their status in society as well as the environment from which they come. There are close-ups of the detailed beadwork, stitching, tooled leather and fabrics used to create each work of art. There is also a visual reference at the back of the book with images of every Star Wars costume, and there are a few foldout pages as well showing the different styled robes and gowns for some of the main characters. The next best thing would be to touch the fabric! (Supposedly you can do that in the limited edition boxed version - complete with fabric samples).

Several character illustrations by Iain McCaig, Dermot Power, and others are shown - which is amazing to see the concept art of the character with their wardrobe, then the final masterpiece by Trisha Biggar.

A must for anyone in love with Star Wars and the imaginative design that set the stage for each character.

Tremendous book.......2007-01-09

Probably one of the five or ten best Star Wars books, up there with the 'Art of' books from the Classic trilogy. This is a terrific look at Trisha Biggar's amazing work, and gets into exquisite detail on many of the sumptuous costumes from the prequels. Whether you loved or hated the films, you must admit, the outfits were out of this world, and this book chronicles all that work and effort. Well worth a purchase.

Carol Doak's Simply Sensational 9-Patch Stars: Mix and Match Units to Create a Galaxy of Paper-Pieced Stars

Average customer rating:

Easy and fantastic
Out of this world
Carol Doak's Simply Sensational Nine Patch Stars
Paper Piece taught by the expert
"Carol Doak's is amazing"

Carol Doak's Simply Sensational 9-Patch Stars: Mix and Match Units to Create a Galaxy of Paper-Pieced Stars
Carol Doak
Manufacturer: C&T Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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50 Fabulous Paper-Pieced Stars
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Show Me How to Paper Piece

ASIN: 1571202846

Book Description

• Perfect stars every time!

• Mix-and-match units offer endless possibibities

• Easy for beginners, beautiful for advanced quilters

Quilters will have stars in their eyes when they see this sparking book, packed with a galazy of twelve projects featuring nine-patch stars. Author Carol Doak shows how to make forty different mix and match four-inch star units, then piece perfect twelve-inch star blocks every time. A bonus CD-ROM lets users print the book's patterns in different sizes, making it even easier to create timeless star blocks and more than 250 nine-patch star possibilities, Carol Doak's Simply Sensational 9-Patch Stars is a shimmering star in the firmament of quilting books.

Customer Reviews:

Easy and fantastic.......2007-05-14

Good and informative book for everyone who like Paperpiecing
A lot of new inspiration and easy to work with

Out of this world.......2007-05-07

Until now I had never attempted paper piecing, but with this book it was so easy. Tips, CD, pictures, the designs, were out of this world. Love all the possibilities using just a simple square then combining them into a 9 patch block. Thanks Carol

Carol Doak's Simply Sensational Nine Patch Stars.......2007-03-14

We ordered this for my wife who is all wrapped up in quilting. This is one of several of Carol Doak's books, and it is especially interesting bececause it reports that C. Doaks has and sells a special paper for paper piecing, which save the whole house from being covered by very tiny pieces of floating paper. All of C Doak's books have many, many patterns of various styles and colors from which to choose. She is very impressive!

Paper Piece taught by the expert.......2007-01-29

I've been wanting to try this for a long time, but couldn't find the book anywhere. Amazon had it and now I am all set. This book takes the video one step further and now I have every confidence I can Paper Piece wih ease!

"Carol Doak's is amazing".......2006-02-25

I have tried unsucessfully to do paper piecing before and just didn't understand the concept. This book had many pictures to help you along the way. There are not a lot of pieces in each patch, so I think it is a great book to start out with. those of you who have thought about paper pieceing...give it a try and you too will be hooked. the finished stars are beautiful and PERFECT points every time.

Average customer rating:

Stars and Galaxies
Michael A. Seeds
Manufacturer: Brooks Cole
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Cracking India: A Novel

ASIN: 0495110531

Book Description

Fascinating and engaging, STARS AND GALAXIES guides you to answer these fundamental questions: "What are we?" and "How do we know?" In discussing the interplay between evidence and hypothesis, this textbook provides a conceptual framework for understanding the logic of science. Crafting a story about astronomy, Seeds shows you how to ask questions to gradually puzzle out the beautiful secrets of the physical world.

Universe: Stars and Galaxies w/Student CD & Starry Night CD: featuring Starry Night Backyard and Deep Space Explorer

Average customer rating:

The best

Universe: Stars and Galaxies w/Student CD & Starry Night CD: featuring Starry Night Backyard and Deep Space Explorer
Roger Freedman , and William J. Kaufmann
Manufacturer: W. H. Freeman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Universe
Essentials of Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences

ASIN: 0716769972

Customer Reviews:

The best.......2005-09-25

One of the best done books I've ever seen on a topic - don't know how it could be done any better.

Galaxies and How to Observe Them (Astronomers' Observing Guides)

Average customer rating:

A very good book
most up-to-date, clearly structured reference book on galaxy observing
A Wealth of Information, Poorly Organized

Galaxies and How to Observe Them (Astronomers' Observing Guides)
Wolfgang Steinicke , and Richard Jakiel
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Accessories:

Celestial Mechanics: The Waltz of the Planets (Springer Praxis Books / Popular Astronomy)
Distant Worlds: Milestones in Planetary Exploration
Praxis Manned Spaceflight Log 1961-2006 (Springer Praxis Books / Space Exploration)

ASIN: 1852337524

Book Description

Galaxies are perhaps the most popular of all visual targets that are sought after by visual observers. At present the only way to get up-to-date information, is to query various (often highly technical) speciality books or digging deeply into the Internet. This can be a time consuming and often frustrating task, as the data aren’t often compatible. This book satisfies the need for a modern, comprehensive review in combining the three major aspects: the physical background on the nature and data of galaxies, the relevant instrumentation and viewing techniques, and finally the targets and their individual appearance in telescopes of various apertures. To illustrate the latter, a comprehensive sample of galaxies, including quasars, groups and clusters of galaxies is presented. This combination of theoretical knowledge and practical information guarantees successful observing sessions. The book could become a standard source on galaxy observing for all kinds of amateur observers, from the beginner to the experienced.

Customer Reviews:

A very good book.......2007-10-04

It is excellent writting, comprehensive, analytical and all subjects well presented and in the appropriate order.

most up-to-date, clearly structured reference book on galaxy observing.......2007-08-13

Wolfgang Steinicke was the leading author of the german "Praxishandbuch Deep Sky"(Kosmos 2004), which I like very much. So I started reading his new book on Galaxies with high expectations...and I was not disappointed :
I believe this is the most up-to-date, clearly structured reference book on galaxy observing - satisfying a very broad range of interests.
In three major sections, the authors not only address the needs of the most ambitious observers, but frequently add encouraging hints for beginners as well.
I recommend it A) as a reading book to gain a broader knowledge
and B) as an excellent planning guide when you want to observe MUCH MORE than the most commonly known galaxies.
SECTION I (70 pages) provides a basic understanding of the different types of galaxies and clusters, plus all those data that are important for visually observing them.
Chapter 1 explains different galaxy classification schemes, special cases and pecularities - then chapter 2 introduces pairs, groups and clusters of galaxies and shows their place within the hierarchy of the universe.
Chapter 3 presents a well structured overview for many different types of galaxy catalogs, containing galaxy data and nomenclatures. Advantages/disadvantages of these catalogs are discussed and their data quality is critically judged.
I strongly recommend to study this chapter 3 on catalogs first, because the same presentation structure is followed in the later SECTION III on observing programs.
SECTION II (33 pages) covers the Technical Aspects on observing galaxies.
Key technical instrumentation aspects are only summarized briefly (chap.4), but the Theory of Visual Observation (chap.5), together with practical recommendations on observing, star hopping and observing logs (chap.6) demonstrate the authors very broad experience in finding, identifying faint galaxies and documenting them.
SECTION III (110 pages) on "What to Observe? - The Objects" contains the largest, most valuable part of the book.
An instructive combination of "photo/textual" descriptions presents a large number of objects in the most "objective" way :
Not counting individual galaxies inside groups or clusters (though mentioned in the tables), a total of 500 objects are listed in data tables - following that same structure introduced in SECTION I. Each data table is immediately followed by a separate table with textual descriptions. Around 600 such descriptions are given, based on the visual appearance of each object with different instruments: 1. binocular (if possible),
2. medium aperture telescope(6-10"), 3. large telescope(13-20", sometimes larger).
All these observation descriptions in chapters 7 to 10 stem from renowned observers; e.g. Steve Gottlieb, Steve Coe, beside the authors.
Chapter 7 suggests a variety of Observing Programs, based on
a) M-, NGC/IC- or UGC- CATALOGS
b) Sky Areas and constellations
Chapter 8 suggests selection criteria which are dependent on the characteristics of the individual galaxy; i.e. by sorting them by their distance or by their appearance.
Chapter 9 concentrates on Groups and Clusters; i.e. by listing a) pairs and trios, b) small groups and chains, then c) clusters.
Chapter 10 finally suggests interesting targets "off the beaten path" or in the category of "ultimate challenge".
My reason for mentioning all these details is to demonstrate that this book is quite well organized - especially for all those readers with a minimal amount of patience and learning will.

There is only one unfortunate omission : Springer printed the 1.edition of this unique reference book without a page index !!!
However, after I emailed the author, he swiftly produced an INDEX OF ALL OBJECTS (xls), which can easily be downloaded
from the (Homepage Wolfgang Steinicke).

A Wealth of Information, Poorly Organized.......2007-04-17

This book is filled with a lot of really interesting information on galaxies. However, it is extremely disorganized. My copy of this book is now full of bookmarks to help me find information later. Why? This book has no index. Let me repeat that--this book has NO INDEX. This is an unforgivable sin for any reference book! Furthermore, the subtitle is "and how to observe them." There is not a clue about how to observe galaxies. Instead, the pictures of galaxies are taken through large professional telescopes that for the most part are not even identified. There are observer's descriptions for some galaxies, but most of these are through 20" and larger telescopes. Only a few descriptions are for telescope sizes you might be likely to own.

On the plus side, there are a number of pointers to more information sources, but often these are given in large, undifferentiated lists, instead of the authors making specific recommendations.

Some of the descriptions of galactic structure and evolution are extremely sparse. You won't find a clear definition of Seyfert galaxies, for example.

If you're looking for a definitive work on galaxies, this isn't it. But if you want to learn some interesting facts, you might find this book a fun read. You'll probably come away with some observing ideas as well, but stock up on bookmarks!

A Year in the Life of the Universe: A Seasonal Guide to Viewing the Cosmos

Average customer rating:

Stunningly Beautiful
A grand photographic reference
Super Book by a Top Amateur Astronomer
Incredible!!!!

A Year in the Life of the Universe: A Seasonal Guide to Viewing the Cosmos
Robert Gendler
Manufacturer: Voyageur Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Astronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

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The NewAstro Zone System for Astro Imaging

ASIN: 0760326428

Book Description

From our viewing platform on Earth, the night sky changes throughout the year. Autumn and spring are best for observing galaxies, winter is ideal for sighting nebulae and star clusters, and summer is the season of the Milky Way. A Year in the Life of the Universe, published in collaboration with Sky Telescope magazine, takes you on an intimate seasonal tour of these ever-changing heavens. Stellar photographs by renowned astrophotographer Robert Gendler help identify more than 120 deep-sky objects that stand out by virtue of their beauty, visual impact, and scientific interest, presenting the celestial objects in the order in which they appear through the seasons. This is not only a beautiful photo bookit is also a practical, hands-on guidebook for astronomy buffs at all levels, with coordinates, detailed captions, and wide-field sky charts to help stargazers young and old navigate the night sky.

Customer Reviews:

Stunningly Beautiful.......2007-04-02

When you look at such a spectacular set of photographs you have to be struck by the beauty of our universe. As the author says in the Preface, this book showcases the sky's most beautiful objects. Arranged in a way that the casual reader will enjoy. This is an assembledge of significant images of objects visible from from the Eat throughout the year. Many, perhaps even most of the images are from observations taken of items within the Milky Way. But there are also brilliant images of our local galaxy group and some more of galaxies and galaxy groups from much further away.

No less than the photographs are the explanations. While brief, here are matter of fact comments about our local group. There in a description of galaxy NGC 3079 (60 million light years away) there is a pair of dots labeled Q0957+562, a gravitationally lensed quasar ever discovered - 9.1 BILLION light years away.

I've taken a lot of pictures, but nothing like these. Dr. Gendler but in a different class than most of us, including a 20 inch telescope installed at an inky-dark, high-altitude site in New Mexico, and controlled over the Internet. But that's just the equipment. To go with it is a lifetime of skill.

This book is an absolutely delightful read for any amateur astronomer, or want to be.

A grand photographic reference.......2007-01-10

Beautifully done by a world class imager. During any season of the year the deep sky offers wonderous objects of beauty and wonder. Dr. Rob Gendler has captured the beauty of galaxies and nebula in a spectacular display of color and accompanies each image with useful descriptions.

Super Book by a Top Amateur Astronomer.......2007-01-10

This book, by Robert Gendler, one of the best known and most prolific amateur astrophotographers, is assembled mainly from his own images and incorporates some by other astrophotographers. It is a milestone in amateur astronomy. Many of us didn't know we were waiting for such a book, but when it appeared, I ordered it without hesitation. I'm not disappointed. Among other places, Gendler's images have appeared in Sky & Telescope, Astronomy, and on the Astronomy Picture of the Day web site. It's great to have them in book form both to enjoy personally as well as to share with those who are interested in the visible universe. [....]

Incredible!!!!.......2006-11-27

After I received this book, I downloaded quite a few of the author's images from [...] and had them framed for my home. I can't imagine anything as beautiful as our universe! Rob Gendler's incredible efforts are bringing an awesome appreciation of the universe to our planet. I'm ordering 6 now, and probably a lot more, as holiday gifts.

SEGMD

Galactic Dynamics (Princeton Series in Astrophysics)

Average customer rating:

Galactic Dynamics
THE Definitive Work on Galaxies
Please create an audio adaptation ...
The "Bible" of Galactic Dynamics

Galactic Dynamics (Princeton Series in Astrophysics)
James Binney , and Scott Tremaine
Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0691084459

Book Description

Two of the world's leading astrophysicists, James Binney and Scott Tremaine, here present a comprehensive review of the theory of galactic dynamics at a level suitable for both graduate students and researchers. Their work in this volume describes our present understanding of the structure and dynamics of stellar systems such as galaxies and star clusters.

Nicknamed "the Bible of galactic dynamics," this book has become a classic treatise, well known and widely used by researchers and students of galactic astrophysics and stellar dynamics. Praised for its modern approach, as well as for the rigor and exemplary clarity with which the authors handle the material in this book, Galactic Dynamics includes classic results and data while also reflecting the many recent developments in the field. The authors maintain an effective style of exposition throughout, keeping clear what is present knowledge and what is still speculation, while allowing the reader to grasp an overview of the subject before following through (where needed) with the mathematical detail. Most of the astronomical community since the late 1980s was introduced to galactic dynamics through Galactic Dynamics, and it remains the most widely used graduate textbook in galactic astrophysics today. No other book gathers together and presents our current understanding of the field in such a clear and concise way. Through this approach, Binney and Tremaine succeeded in creating a classic reference of enormous pedagogic value.

Customer Reviews:

Galactic Dynamics.......2007-01-11

Not for the faint of heart. Well written, but very technical. Needs good math and physics background.

THE Definitive Work on Galaxies.......2006-12-28

Binney has cleary established Galactic Dynamics and its companion volume Galactic Astronomy as the definitive works on the subject. The NASA Astronomy Abstract Service lists 3411 citations for this book as of 12/2006 so it is clearly an important part of the literature of astrophysics.

This book is written at the graduate or researcher level. As it deals with the behavior of galaxies, potential theory, energy distribution, angular momentium and dark matter so the mathematics employed are quite powerful.

Please create an audio adaptation ..........1999-06-02

To the publisher I would appreciate it if the publisher could produce an audio adaptation of this book. I would love to listen to this while I drive to work and to let my 16 month old son listen to it as a bedtime story. Arnold D Veness

The "Bible" of Galactic Dynamics.......1998-04-18

This book is a very well-known and widely used reference for students in extragalactic astrophysics and stellar dynamics. A solution manual for the problems would be highly welcomed.

Globular Clusters (Cambridge Contemporary Astrophysics)

Average customer rating:

the night sky

Globular Clusters (Cambridge Contemporary Astrophysics)
C. Mart^D'inez Roger , I. P^D'erez Fournon , and F. S^D'anchez
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0521770580

Book Description

Globular clusters are spherical, densely packed groups of stars found around galaxies. They are thought to have formed at the same time as their host galaxy and thus provide a powerful probe for understanding galaxy evolution, as well as being studied as objects of interest in their own right. This volume presents invited articles by a team of world leaders who gathered at the X Canary Islands Winter School of Astrophysics to review our current understanding of globular clusters. It provides an accessible introduction to the field for graduate students, and a comprehensive and up-to-date reference for researchers.

Customer Reviews:

the night sky.......2005-02-15

What must is be like to live on a planet of a star inside one of these globular clusters? A night sky that is never dark? This perhaps is an inevitable thought if you read the book. It goes into all sorts of technical detail about our current understanding of the clusters. And the latter are described, both within the Milky Way and in other galaxies.

A very specialised book, that is best suited for the professional astronomer. Most of the observational details discussed will probably be mostly intelligible to such a person.

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