Volume 4 of The General History of Astronomy, originally published in 1984, concerns the birth of modern astrophysics in the nineteenth century, the growth of astronomical institutions to around 1920, and the development of instrumentation. Intended for general readership, this book formed part of an in-depth synthesis of the development of astronomy from the earliest times.

This volume concerns the birth of modern astrophysics, the growth of astronomical institutions, and the development of instrumentation.