By Clabon Walter Allen, Arthur N. Cox
Level: Intermediate |
Ideal for: Professional astronomers, graduate students in astrophysics, observatory researchers, planetarium directors, physics professors teaching astronomy courses, and advanced undergraduate students conducting research projects requiring precise astrophysical data and constants.
⏱️ Reading time: This is primarily a reference work for consultation rather than sequential reading, with typical lookup sessions lasting 10-30 minutes depending on research needs
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Who it’s for:
Professional astronomers, graduate students in astrophysics, observatory researchers, planetarium directors, physics professors teaching astronomy courses, and advanced undergraduate students conducting research projects requiring precise astrophysical data and constants.
Level:
Intermediate
Reading:
This is primarily a reference work for consultation rather than sequential reading, with typical lookup sessions lasting 10-30 minutes depending on research needs
📖 Book Summary
Allen's Astrophysical Quantities stands as the definitive reference compendium for astronomical data and physical constants essential to modern astrophysics. Originally conceived by Clabon Walter Allen and masterfully updated by Arthur N. Cox, this comprehensive handbook serves as an indispensable resource for anyone working with quantitative aspects of astronomy and space science. The book presents a systematic compilation of fundamental astrophysical data, from stellar parameters and planetary characteristics to galactic properties and cosmological constants. What sets this work apart is its meticulous organization and accessibility of complex numerical data that would otherwise require extensive literature searches to obtain. The authors adopt a practical, reference-oriented approach, presenting information in clearly structured tables, charts, and mathematical formulations that facilitate quick lookup and reliable citation. Each section is carefully cross-referenced and includes essential conversion factors, making it invaluable for both theoretical calculations and observational analysis. The narrative style is concise yet comprehensive, focusing on accuracy and usability rather than lengthy explanations. Updated sections reflect the latest discoveries in exoplanet research, gravitational wave astronomy, and precision cosmology, ensuring relevance to contemporary astrophysical research. The book's enduring relevance stems from its role as a trusted repository of fundamental constants and measurements that form the backbone of astronomical research, from undergraduate problem sets to cutting-edge research publications.
👥 Is This Book For You?
✅ YES it’s for you if:
Professional astronomers, graduate students in astrophysics, observatory researchers, planetarium directors, physics professors teaching astronomy courses, and advanced undergraduate students conducting research projects requiring precise astrophysical data and constants.
Prior knowledge: Undergraduate-level physics and mathematics, basic familiarity with astronomical terminology and coordinate systems, understanding of scientific notation and unit conversions, and some exposure to stellar astronomy and planetary science concepts.
❌ NOT for you if:
Complete beginners to astronomy, casual stargazers seeking observational guides, those looking for conceptual explanations of astrophysical phenomena, or readers preferring narrative-driven popular science books over technical reference materials.
⚖️ Pros and Cons
✅ Pros
- Comprehensive compilation of fundamental astrophysical constants and data in one authoritative reference, eliminating the need for extensive literature searches
- Meticulously organized tables and cross-references that enable rapid lookup of specific values with confidence in their accuracy and currency
- Regular updates incorporating the latest astronomical discoveries and refined measurements from space missions and ground-based observatories
- Clear presentation of unit conversions and mathematical relationships essential for quantitative astrophysical calculations and research applications
❌ Cons
- Limited explanatory text may leave readers without sufficient context to understand the significance or proper application of certain data
- Dense tabular format can be overwhelming for those seeking conceptual understanding rather than specific numerical values
- High price point may make it inaccessible to individual students, though justified for institutional libraries and research facilities
🎓 What You’ll Learn in This Book
- Fundamental physical constants and their uncertainties as applied to astronomical contexts and calculations
- Comprehensive stellar data including masses, luminosities, temperatures, and spectral classifications for reference stars and stellar populations
- Planetary system parameters covering solar system bodies, exoplanets, and their orbital characteristics and physical properties
- Galactic structure data including star formation rates, interstellar medium properties, and Milky Way parameters
- Cosmological parameters and relationships essential for understanding universal expansion, dark matter, and large-scale structure
- Proper conversion factors and mathematical formulations for transforming between different astronomical coordinate systems and measurement units
📚 Similar Books: When to Choose Each One
CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics
By CRC Press
Choose this if: When you need broader physical constants beyond astronomy or require chemical data alongside astrophysical values
An Introduction to Stellar Astrophysics
By Jean-Louis Tassoul
Choose this if: When you want detailed explanations of stellar physics concepts rather than just reference data and constants
Fundamental Astronomy
By Hannu Karttunen
Choose this if: When you need a comprehensive textbook combining theory with reference material for educational purposes
The Astronomical Almanac
By US Naval Observatory
Choose this if: When you need current ephemeris data and precise positional information for observational astronomy applications
🌟 Why This Book Is Important
This book represents the gold standard reference for astrophysical data, serving as the foundation for countless research papers, observatory operations, and educational programs worldwide. Its importance lies in providing a single, authoritative source for the numerical backbone of modern astronomy, enabling consistent and reliable calculations across the global astronomical community while maintaining the highest standards of accuracy.