An introduction to planetary nebulae / Jason J. Nishiyama.

Περιλαμβάνει βιβλιογραφικές παραπομπές.

1. Introduction -- 1.1. Planetary nebulae -- 1.2. Discovery and history -- 1.3. Components of planetary nebulae

2. Formation of planetary nebulae -- 2.1. Planetary nebulae as a stage in stellar evolution -- 2.2. Proto-planetary nebulae -- 2.3. Progenitor masses -- 2.4. Post-planetary nebula -- 2.5. Interacting stellar winds

3. Observational data of planetary nebulae -- 3.1. Chemical abundance -- 3.2. Distance determination

4. Planetary nebula morphology -- 4.1. Classifying planetary nebulae -- 4.2. Morphology, classification and planetary nebulae evolution -- 4.3. Explaining morphology -- 4.4. Concluding remarks.

In this book we will look at what planetary nebulae are, where they come from and where they go. We will discuss what mechanisms cause these beautiful markers of stellar demise as well as what causes them to form their variety of shapes. How we measure various aspects of planetary nebulae such as what they are made of will also be explored. Though we will give some aspects of planetary nebulae mathematical treatment, the main points should be accessible to people with only a limited background in mathematics. A short glossary of some of the more arcane astronomical terms is at the end of the book to help in understanding. Included at the end of each chapter is an extensive bibliography to the peer reviewed research on these objects and I would encourage the reader interested in an even deeper understanding to read these articles.