An introduction to astrophysics with Python :stars and planets /

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"Version: 20251201"--Title page verso.Includes bibliographical references.part I. Newton's gravity and orbits. 1. A review of newton's laws and an introduction to python -- 1.1. Overview -- 1.2. Scientific background -- 1.3. Using Python as a calculator -- 1.4. Arrays and (avoiding) loops -- 1.5. Using Python modules to help with units -- 1.6. Defining your own functions2. Kepler's laws of planetary motion -- 2.1. The solar system and early astronomy -- 2.2. A bit about ellipses -- 2.3. Kepler's laws -- 2.4. Exercise : Kepler's laws and ellipses3. Polar coordinates and Kepler's second law -- 3.1. Kinematics in polar coordinates -- 3.2. An application to Kepler's second law -- 3.3. Calculating integrals numerically -- 3.4. Summary -- 3.5. Exercise : area and other properties of ellipses4. Gravity, ordinary differential equations, and non-dimensionalizing -- 4.1. Motion in a constant gravitational field -- 4.2. Numerical solution -- 4.3. The power of non-dimensionalizing -- 4.4. Summary -- 4.5. Exercise : motion in a constant gravitational field5. Setting up the "two-body problem" -- 5.1. The two-body problem -- 5.2. The full set of differential equations -- 5.3. Setting up the problem for numerical solution -- 5.4. Exercise : solving the two-body problem numerically -- 5.5. Study questions6. Energetics in the two-body problem -- 6.1. Energy and Newton's laws -- 6.2. Deriving Kepler's laws -- 6.3. Exercise : calculating energy and angular momentum in the two-body problem -- 6.4. Study questions7. Velocities in the two-body problem -- 7.1. The vector components of velocity -- 7.2. Numerical differentiation -- 7.3. The Python implementation -- 7.4. Exercise : two-body E and L time dependence -- 7.5. Study questions8. Features of orbits in the two-body problem -- 8.1. The effective potential -- 8.2. The special case of circular orbits -- 8.3. General properties of bound orbits -- 8.4. Exercise : features of orbits -- 8.5. Study questions9. Summary and commentary -- 9.1. The two-body problem is very special -- 9.2. Summary of gravity and orbits -- 9.3. Exercise : orbital dynamics -- 9.4. Study questionspart II. Interaction of light and matter. 10. Light and the electromagnetic spectrum -- 10.1. The importance of light -- 10.2. Properties of light -- 10.3. The electromagnetic spectrum11. An introduction to atoms -- 11.1. A model of matter -- 11.2. The classical hydrogen atom -- 11.3. Matter and radiation -- 11.4. Exercise : atoms and radiation12. Atoms and atomic processes -- 12.1. Transitioning from classical to quantum hydrogen -- 12.2. Radiation from the hydrogen atom -- 12.3. A quantum mechanical description of the atom -- 12.4. Atomic processes -- 12.5. Exercise : atoms and atomic processes -- 12.6. Study questions13. Temperature and thermodynamics -- 13.1. Temperature and energy states -- 13.2. Temperature and motion -- 13.3. Exercise : thermal escape in atmospheres -- 13.4. Study questions14. Thermal radiation -- 14.1. Describing the radiation field -- 14.2. The Planck formula -- 14.3. Average energy per photon and photon flux -- 14.4. A simple stellar model -- 14.5. Exercise : thermal radiation -- 14.6. Study questions15. Ionization and the Saha equation -- 15.1. Temperatures and ionization -- 15.2. Density and ionization -- 15.3. Exercise : ionization zone of a hydrogen gas -- 15.4. Study questions16. The Doppler shift and its uses -- 16.1. Exercise : finding exoplanets -- 16.2. Study questions17. Introduction to radiative transfer -- 17.1. Number density and mean free path -- 17.2. Cross section -- 17.3. The optical depth -- 17.4. Low and high optical depth -- 17.5. Exercise : optical depth for free electrons18. Summary of light, matter and temperaturepart III. Planetary and stellar structure. 19. Surface temperatures of planets -- 19.1. Overview -- 19.2. Background assumptions -- 19.3. Refining the model -- 19.4. Exercise : surface temperatures in the solar system -- 19.5. Study questions20. Hydrostatic equilibrium -- 20.1. Stellar and planetary atmospheres (slab geometry) -- 20.2. Stellar and planetary interiors (spherical geometry) -- 20.3. Mean molecular mass -- 20.4. Exercise : atmospheres and interiors -- 20.5. Study questions21. The main sequence and the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram -- 21.1. Key ideas -- 21.2. Star formation -- 21.3. Stellar lifetimes -- 21.4. Fitting formulas and scaling relations -- 21.5. Study questions22. Absorption lines in stars -- 22.1. Stellar atmospheres -- 22.2. Line width -- 22.3. The line cross section -- 22.4. Exercise : modeling an absorption line23. A model of stellar structure -- 23.1. Nuclear fusion in stars -- 23.2. Flux due to a temperature gradient -- 23.3. The stellar structure equations -- 23.4. The structure of the sun -- Appendix A. A "derivation" of the Planck blackbody formula.Full-text restricted to subscribers or individual document purchasers.This book complements traditional astronomy texts by helping students apply core concepts to realistic problems using modern tools, especially Python, which is widely used in astronomical research. Rather than replacing foundational resources, it builds on them through hands-on, exploratory exercises designed for small-group work with instructor support. These exercises are open-ended and exploratory, encouraging deeper conceptual understanding. The material is presented in manageable sections to support active learning.The subject matter focuses on stars and planets and provides all figures as Python scripts at a separate website, enabling students to create interactive visualizations and animations that enhance their understanding of astronomical phenomena.Undergraduate physical science majors taking an astronomy or astrophysics course.Also available in print.Mode of access: World Wide Web.System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader, EPUB reader, or Kindle reader.James Aguirre is an associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania. His research explores star and galaxy formation in the context of cosmology. He also develops advanced millimeter-wave and radio instrumentation and data analysis tools for astronomical research.Title from PDF title page (viewed on January 8, 2026).

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: .,

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1 online resource (various pagings) :illustrations (some color).

Language

English

ISBN/ISSN

9780750354677

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523.010285

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Subject(s)

Galaxies & stars.
SCIENCE / Space Science / Astronomy.
Astrophysics
Python (Computer program language)

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Statement of Responsibility

James Aguirre.

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