The proceedings of the Second European Meeting on "New Aspects of MagellanicCloud Research" review the most recent progress in the study of the LMC and SMC. The activities within the ground-based ESO key programme "Coordinated Investigations of Selected Regions in the Magellanic Clouds", as well as new exciting observations from space missions (ROSAT, IUE, ISO, IRAS) result in a more profound insightinto the structure, kinematics, populations (stars, clusters, interstellar medium), and the chemical composition and evolution of the Magellanic Cloud system. The book addresses researchers and graduate students in astrophysics.

Astronomy, astrophysics and space research have witnessed an explosive development over the last few decades. The new observational potential offered by space stations and the availability of powerful and highly specialized computers have revealed novel aspects of the fascinating realm of galaxies, quasars, stars and planets. The present completely revised 5th edition of The New Cosmos provides ample evidence of these dramatic developments. In a concise presentation, which assumes only a modest prior knowledge of mathematics and physics, the book gives a coherent introduction to the entire field of astronomy and astrophysics. At the same time it takes into account the art of observation and the fundamental ideas behind their interpretation. Like its predecessors, this edition of The New Cosmos will provide new insight and enjoyment not only to students and researchers in the fields of astronomy, physics and earth sciences, but also to a wide range of interested amateurs.

Der neue Kosmos bietet in uberschaubarem Umfang eine zusammenhangende Einfuhrung in das Gesamtgebiet der Astronomie und Astrophysik. Der korrigierte und erweiterte Nachdruck tragt dem rasanten Fortschritt der astronomischen Forschung und Beobachtungsmoeglichkeiten in den zwei Jahren seit dem ersten Erscheinen der 7. Auflage Rechnung. Die wichtigsten neuen Ergebnisse, vor allem bei unserem Planetensystem, bei der Neutrinostrahlung der Sonne, bei den fernsten Galaxien und Quasaren sowie bei der Entwicklung des Universums werden berucksichtigt.