Books of Note

Spring/Summer 2009 - New Books of Note

James E. Peebles, Lyman A. Page, Jr. R. Bruce Partridge
Finding the Big Bang
Cambridge 2009; ISBN: 978-0-521-51982-3, Hardcover $80.00

Cosmology, the study of the universe as a whole, has become a precise physical science, the foundation of which is our understanding of the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) left from the big bang. The story of the discovery and exploration of the CMBR in the 1960s is recalled for the first time in this collection of 44 essays by eminent scientists who pioneered the work. Two introductory chapters put the essays in context, explaining the general ideas behind the expanding universe and fossil remnants from the early stages of the expanding universe. The last chapter describes how the confusion of ideas and measurements in the 1960s grew into the present tight network of tests that demonstrate the accuracy of the big bang theory. This book is valuable to anyone interested in how science is done, and what it has taught us about the large-scale nature of the physical universe.

Harry Nussbaumer & Lydia Bieri
Discovering the Expanding Universe
Cambridge 2009, ISBN: 978-0-521-51484-2, Hardcover $59

The discovery of the expanding universe is one of the most exciting exploits in astronomy. This book explores its history, from the beginnings of modern cosmology with Einstein in 1917, through Lemaître’s discovery of the expanding universe in 1927 and his suggestion of a Big Bang origin, to Hubble’s contribution of 1929 and the subsequent years when Hubble and Humason provided the essential observations for further developing modern cosmology, and finally to Einstein’s conversion to the expanding universe in 1931. As a prelude the book traces the evolution of some of the notions of modern cosmology from the late Middle Ages up to the final acceptance of the concept of galaxies in 1925. Written in non-technical language, with a mathematical appendix, the book will appeal to scientists, students, and anyone interested in the history of astronomy and cosmology.

James Mullaney & Wil Tirion
The Cambridge Doublestar Atlas
Cambridge 2009, ISBN: 978-0-521-49343-7, Paperback $35

This magnificent atlas contains the most attractive and interesting double and multiple stars for viewing with binoculars and telescopes. It is a must-have for stargazers who want to explore these fascinating objects. The first modern star atlas devoted to double and multiple stars, it plots over 2000 selected pairs of stars, each labeled with discoverer, catalog, and/or observatory designations. A superb introduction to this important class of celestial objects, it is spiral bound and printed in red-light friendly colours, making it ideal for use in the field. Written by experienced observer James Mullaney, and beautifully illustrated by renowned celestial cartographer Wil Tirion, it provides an easy-to-use 'celestial roadmap' to locate and identify double and multiple stars. Other deep-sky objects such as star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies are also included, and are color-coded for easy recognition and identification, making this an all-purpose observing reference.

Ronald Stoyan, Stefan Binnewies, Susanne Friedrich, Translated by Klaus-Peter Schroeder
Atlas of the Messier Objects: Highlight of the Deep Sky
Cambridge 2008, ISBN: 978-0-521-89554-5, Hardcover $70

The 110 star clusters, nebulae and galaxies of Messier’s catalog are among the most popular of all the deep sky objects and are beautiful targets for amateur observers of all abilities. This stunning new atlas presents a complete and lively account of all of the Messier objects. Details for each object given include a thoroughly-researched history of its discovery, historical observations and anecdotes, the latest scientific data detailing its astrophysical findings, and clear observational descriptions from naked eye through to large telescopes. In addition, this atlas has some of the world’s finest color astrophotos, inverted and labelled photos pointing to hidden details and neighboring objects, as well as historical sketches alongside new deep sky drawings. Quite simply, this is the most far-reaching and beautiful reference on the Messier objects there has ever been, and one that no observer should be without!

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