Landolt-Brnstein Group VI
: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Volume 1 

Astronomy and Astrophysics 

Introductory material 
1 
Astronomical instruments 1

1.1 
Optical instruments 1

1.1.1 
Introduction 1

1.1.2 
Telescopes 1

1.1.3 
Solar telescopes 14

1.1.4 
Astrometric instruments 19

1.2 
Radio-astronomical devices 22

1.3 
Performance of telescopes 35

1.4 
Photoelectric photometry 44

1.5 
Influence of the earth's atmosphere 48

1.5.1 
Astronomical refraction and extinction 48

1.5.2 
Influence of atmospheric turbulence 56

1.5.3 
Brightness of twilight and of the night sky 60

2 
Position and time determination, astronomical constants 62

2.1 
Geographical position determination 62

2.2 
Time determination 70

2.3 
The system of astronomical constants 76

3 
Abundances of the elements in the universe 83

3.1 
Introduction 83

3.2 
Meteorites, surface rocks, tektites 84

3.3 
The sun and the stony meteorites 86

3.4 
Stars 89

3.5 
The abundance distribution of the individual nuclides 90

4 
The solar system 95

4.1 
The sun 95

4.1.1 
The quiet sun 95

4.1.2 
The activity of the sun 119

4.2 
Planets and satellites 150

4.2.1 
Mechanical data of planets and satellites 150

4.2.2 
Physics of planets and satellites 166

4.3 
Comets 176

4.3.1 
Mechanical data of comets 176

4.3.2 
Physics of the comets 188

4.4 
Meteors 195

4.4.0 
Introduction 195

4.4.1 
Classification 196

4.4.2 
Meteor streams 197

4.4.3 
Origin of meteors and their position in the cosmos 202

4.4.4 
Diurnal and annual variation 204

4.4.5 
Physical data 205

4.4.6 
Electrophysical observations 208

4.4.7 
Telescopic meteors and micrometeorites 208

4.4.8 
Meteorite falls 209

4.5 
Artificial earth satellites and space probes 214

4.5.0 
Introduction, notation 214

4.5.1 
Rocket propulsion 215

4.5.2 
Elementary satellite orbits 216

4.5.3 
Orbital perturbations 221

4.5.4 
Lunar and interplanetary trajectories 222

4.5.5 
Astronautical missions and hardware 226

4.6 
Interplanetary space 233

4.6.1 
Interplanetary dust 233

4.6.2 
Interplanetary gas and magnetic field 244

5 
The stars 254

5.1 
Positions and motions 254

5.1.1 
Stellar positions 254

5.1.2 
Proper motions 267

5.1.3 
Radial velocities 270

5.1.4 
Parallaxes 277

5.2 
Physical parameters and two-parameter diagrams of the stars 284

5.2.0 
Introduction 284

5.2.1 
Classification of stellar spectra 284

5.2.2 
Intrinsic colors and absolute magnitudes 297

5.2.3 
The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram; stellar populations 304

5.2.4 
Mass, radius, density, surface gravity 306

5.2.5 
Rotation of stars 311

5.2.6 
Integral brightness 315

5.2.7 
Colors of the stars 336

5.2.8 
Spectrophotometric investigations, intensity distribution, temperature 374

5.3 
Physics of stellar atmospheres 396

5.3.0 
Symbols and definitions 396

5.3.1 
Structure of stellar atmospheres (Continuum) 397

5.3.2 
Model atmospheres 425

5.3.3 
Convection in stellar atmospheres 432

5.3.4 
Line absorption (line broadening) 445

5.3.5 
Line formation 452

5.4 
Stellar structure and evolution 459

5.4.0 
List of symbols 459

5.4.1 
Basic equations 460

5.4.2 
The equation of state 461

5.4.3 
The opacity 465

5.4.4 
Energy generation 472

5.4.5 
Models 474

6 
Special types of stars 487

6.1 
Double stars 487

6.1.0 
General remarks 487


6.1.1 
6.1.2 
6.1.3 
6.1.4 
6.2 
6.2.1 
6.2.2 
6.2.3 
6.3 
6.4 
6.5 
7

7.1 
7.2 
7.3 
7.4 
8

8.1 
8.2 
8.2.1 
8.2.2 
8.2.3 
8.2.4 
8.3 
8.4 
8.4.0 
8.4.1 
8.4.2 
8.4.3 
8.4.4 
8.4.5 
8.4.6 
9

9.1 
9.2 
9.3 
9.4 
9.5 
9.6 
9.7 
9.8 
Visual double stars 490

Spectroscopic binaries 501

Photometric or eclipsing binaries 508

Astrometric binaries and stars with invisible companions 515

517 
517 
519 
543 
564 
566 
575 
582 
582 
583 
590 
596 
598 
598 
601 


Apparent distribution of the stars on the celestial sphere 601

Luminosity function and spatial distribution of the various objects 610

Shape and dimensions of the system 622

Spiral structure 623

Kinematic and dynamic properties of the Galaxy 627

Interstellar space 642

Introduction 642

The interstellar gas 642

Interstellar dust 652

Relationship between interstellar gas and dust 658

Spatial distribution and kinematic properties of the interstellar matter 659

The interstellar radiation field 662

InterstelIar magnetic fields and Halo of the Milky Way; cosmic radiation in interstellar 663

space
Galaxies 664

General references and identification 664

The apparent distribution of galaxies over the sky 665

Distance criteria
The individual galaxies
Multiple systems and clusters of galaxies
The Universe
References for 9
Bibliography for cosmology
Nomograms
List of periodicals

665 
667 
674 
675 
676 
679 
682 
701 




Variable stars
Definitions and general remarks
Pulsating variables
Eruptive variables
Stars with strong magnetic fields
Planetary nebulae
White dwarfs

Star clusters and associations
Introduction
Globular clusters
Open (or galactic) clusters
Associations

The stellar systern
The nearest stars
Structure of the Galaxy

