Textbooks & References

Recommended reading for Introduction to Astronomy & Astrophysics I

Given the short duration of this course (only 14 lectures) and its vast scope, I will not be able to do justice to any topic. However, the list of books below will help whet your appetite on the many topics covered in this course.

General Textbooks

Theoretical Astrophysics (3 volumes)
Cambridge, 2010

Padmanabhan

A comprehensive 3 volume survey of many aspects of modern astrophysics from a theoretical perspective.
Astrophysics for Physicists
Cambridge, 2010

Rai Choudhuri

A clear exposition of most topics in astrophysics at a level suitable for this course.
An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics
Cambridge, 2017

Carroll and Ostlie

One of the best comprehensive textbooks for the US Astronomy undergrad market.
The Universe
Freeman, 2010

Freedman, Geller, Kaufmann

Another comprehensive and well-written text for the undergrad market.
The Universe: A Definitive Visual Guide
DK, 2020

Rees (ed.)

The most beautiful book to remind us why we do what we do. The text is very well written too, but from the layman's perspective.

Specialised Textbooks

Solar System Astrophysics (2 volumes)
Springer, 2014

Milone and Wilson

A comprehensive two volume introduction to the solar system.
Black Holes, White Dwarfs, and Neutron Stars
Wiley, 1983

Shapiro and Teukolsky

An old classic on the physics of compact objects that has not been bettered. Classic
Stellar Structure and Evolution
Springer, 2020

Kippenhahn, Weigert and Weiss

Classic text, now in a revised second edition.
Galactic Astronomy
Princeton, 1998

Binney and Merrifield

The definitive treatment of the phenomenology of galaxies. Several aspects rendered outdated by recent research.
Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology: An Introduction
Springer, 2010

Schneider

Excellent textbook covering many extragalactic physics topics relevant to this course.
Principles of Physical Cosmology
Classic

Peebles

A classic text. Excellent introduction to basic concepts in cosmology and galaxy formation.