This atlas is a comprehensive illustration of the morphology of normal, nearby galaxies and how they are classified in the revised Hubble system developed in the 1950s by Gérard de Vaucouleurs, one of the twentieth century's leading astronomers. Using an image database of over 500 galaxies, the de Vaucouleurs classification is made more accessible and understandable so that astronomy researchers, students, and amateurs can apply the system with ease. Because much has been learned about the physical basis of galaxy morphology since de Vaucouleurs published his revision, the atlas contains a comprehensive review of the recent literature, outlining how different morphological features are interpreted. The de Vaucouleurs Atlas of Galaxies is not only a pictorial atlas, but it is an up-to-date reference on our understanding of the physical processes that underlie galaxy morphology. Additional materials will be available at www.cambridge.org/9780521820486.
• Contains descriptions and classifications of more than 500 galaxies, allowing readers to see how the de Vaucouleurs classification system is applied • First comprehensive galaxy atlas to use colour index maps • Covers new topics so readers are kept abreast of developments in the field
Contents
1. Galaxy classification; 2. Recent classification developments; 3. Production of the atlas; 4. The Atlas; 5. Physical galaxy morphology; 6. Epilogue; 7. Gérard de Vaucouleurs: a brief biography; 8. Appendix: basic data for atlas galaxies; 9. References; Index.
Reviews
'…an excellent reference manual for professionals and the serious amateur astronomer. … This superb up-to-date informative reference work is one that should be in the possession of any galaxy enthusiast and, of course, observatory technical libraries.' Astronomy Now
'The authors are to be congratulated for this effort ... this is a valuable contribution to the field [it] contains a wealth of information, and justifiably brings one of the major contributions of a great astronomer to the modern research community in a useful, and useable, form.' The Observatory
'This book provides a comprehensive and detailed study of the morphology of normal and nearby galaxies as classified by de Vaucouleurs. It brings the subject up to date with the latest thoughts on how to organise galaxies and includes images of more than 500 star systems grouped appropriately. … Overall, I recommend this book both to professional galaxy researchers and amateurs who love to hunt for 'faint fuzzies' and want to learn more about what they are observing through the eyepiece.' Sky and Telescope 2008
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