Introduction to Astronomy and Astrophysics

Useful Links

There are zillions of astronomy web sites. If you want to explore, then AstroWeb is probably a good place to start. I'm putting a few on this page, however, that I will use frequently in the course.

The links below are mainly "image" oriented. That is, they have great pictures and information to go along with them. You should also take a look at the NASA Astrophysics Data System and their search engine for finding recent astrophysics papers. For example, if you search for the object "Sirius B" it returns the titles of 256 papers (many of which you can retrieve electronically) that tell you all about this white dwarf star.

Hubble Space Telescope Pictures

These are great images, and easy-to-read information to go along with them. They also have links and contacts so that you can get more detail if you want.

Jet Propulsion Laboratory

JPL is the main research station for planetary exploration, so this is a good place to get information about the solar system. They have a page devoted to images as well.

SEDS

The Students for the Exploration and Development of Space organization has this well organized web page with images and plenty of information to go along with them.

Photographs by David Malin

These are outstanding images, with low resolution versions of them available off the web. You can purchase various products as well, including beautiful high resolution reproductions in many forms.

Radio Astronomy

Emission of low energy photons leads to the field of radio astronomy. This site, maintained by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a good starting point, and includes some cool images.

Images from High Energy Astrophysics

Invisible astronomy at high energies means looking at X-rays and gamma rays from telescopes in space. These images are concocted in various ways from this sort of data.

Multi Wavelength Map of the Milky Way

The Milky Way as viewed by instruments sensitive to various parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. Cool poster can be ordered for free.