The Road to Galaxy Formation [electronic resource] / by William C. Keel.

A cosmological cartoon -- Galaxies today -- The fossil record in nearby galaxies -- Measuring galaxies -- Galaxy evolution -- The intergalactic medium -- The initial conditions before galaxy formation -- Active galactic nuclei in the early universe -- Approaching the Dark Ages -- The processes of galaxy formation -- Forward to the pastwhat can new eyes expect to see?.

The formation of galaxies is one of the greatest puzzles in astronomy, the solution is shrouded in the depths of space and time, but has profound implications for the universe we observe today. The book discusses the beginnings of the process from cosmological observations and calculations, considers the broad features of galaxies that we need to explain and what we know of their later history. The author compares the competing theories for galaxy formation and considers the progress expected from new generations of powerful telescopes both on earth and in space. In this second edition the author has retained the observationally-based approach of the first edition, a feature which was particularly well-reviewed: Writing in Nature, Carlton Baugh noted in February 2003 that ǣIt is refreshing, in a market dominated by theorists, to come across a book on galaxy formation written from an observational perspective. The Road to Galaxy Formation should prove to be a handy primer on observations for graduate students, advanced undergraduates and theorists who feel too shy to visit a telescopeǥ. The New Scientist wrote in March 2003: ǣWilliam Keel delicately balances observational evidence against today's relevant theoretical possibilitiesǥ. And Sepehr Arbabi-Bidgoli wrote in Astronomische Nachrichten that ǣReading this book I often felt like sitting in an exciting and entertaining lecture given by an astronomer who knows the subject and knows how to present it to the audienceǥ. A Bibliography at the end of each chapter contains a resumȨ of books, selected research papers and Web resources providing guidance to further reading.

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