Celestial and Stellar Dynamics [Paperback]

An accessible starting graduate textbook for a 1-semester astrophysical dynamics course, emphasizing the most important physical principles.This textbook for upper-level undergraduates and graduate students studying astronomy covers the field of celestial dynamics, with applications to exoplanetary systems and our own Solar System. It also covers the field of stellar dynamics, with applications to larger systems such as galaxies and clusters of galaxies.This textbook for upper-level undergraduates and graduate students studying astronomy covers the field of celestial dynamics, with applications to exoplanetary systems and our own Solar System. It also covers the field of stellar dynamics, with applications to larger systems such as galaxies and clusters of galaxies.Although the field of celestial dynamics  the application of Newtonian dynamics to systems with a relatively small number of celestial bodies  is centuries old, it has been reinvigorated by the discovery of thousands of exoplanetary systems orbiting other stars. This textbook uses the properties of planetary systems, including own Solar System, to illustrate the rich variety of behavior permitted by Newton's law of gravity. The textbook then expands its view to examine stellar dynamics  the study of systems containing a very large number of stars or other celestial bodies. The different techniques used for celestial dynamics and stellar dynamics are compared and contrasted. However, throughout the text, emphasis is placed on the underlying physics that applies on scales as small as the EarthMoon system and as large as a cluster of galaxies. It is ideal for a 1-semester astrophysical dynamics course for upper-level undergraduates and starting graduate students.Preface; 1. Newtonian Dynamics; 2. Three-body Systems; 3. Resonances and Chaos; 4. Tides; 5. Exoplanetary Systems; 6. Many-Body Systems; 7. Orbits; 8. Collisionless Stellar Systems; 9. Encounters Between Stellar Systems; 10. Relaxation and CollislSõ