Our Universe : An Astronomer’s Guide

**Jo Dunkley combines her expertise as an astrophysicist with her talents as a teacher and writer in this lively and exceptionally clear introduction to the structure and history of the universe and its enduring mysteries.**Most of us have heard of black holes and supernovas, galaxies and the Big Bang. But few of us understand more than the bare facts about the universe we call home. What is really out there? How did it all begin? Where are we going?Jo Dunkley begins in Earth's neighborhood, explaining the nature of the Solar System, the stars in our night sky, and the Milky Way. She then moves out past nearby galaxies--and back in time--to the horizon of the observable universe, which contains over a hundred billion galaxies, each with billions of stars, many orbited by planets, some of which may host life. These visible objects in space sit in a web of dark matter, mysterious stuff we cannot see or yet understand. Dunkley traces the evolution of the universe from the Big Bang fourteen billion years ago, past the birth of the Sun and our planets, to today and beyond. She explains cutting-edge debates about such perplexing phenomena as the accelerating expansion of the universe and the possibility that our universe is only one of many.__Our Universe__conveys with authority and grace the thrill of scientific discovery and a contagious enthusiasm for the endless wonders of space-time. Jo Dunkley Combines Her Expertise As An Astrophysicist With Her Talents As A Teacher And Writer In This Lively And Exceptionally Clear Introduction To The Structure And History Of The Universe And Its Enduring Mysteries. Most Of Us Have Heard Of Black Holes And Supernovas, Galaxies And The Big Bang. But Few Of Us Understand More Than The Bare Facts About The Universe We Call Home. What Is Really Out There? How Did It All Begin? Where Are We Going? Jo Dunkley Begins In Earth's Neighborhood, Explaining The Nature Of The Solar System, The Stars In Our Night Sky, And The Milky Way. She Then Moves Out Past Nearby Galaxies--and Back In Time--to The Horizon Of The Observable Universe, Which Contains Over A Hundred Billion Galaxies, Each With Billions Of Stars, Many Orbited By Planets, Some Of Which May Host Life. These Visible Objects In Space Sit In A Web Of Dark Matter, Mysterious Stuff We Cannot See Or Yet Understand. Dunkley Traces The Evolution Of The Universe From The Big Bang Fourteen Billion Years Ago, Past The Birth Of The Sun And Our Planets, To Today And Beyond. She Explains Cutting-edge Debates About Such Perplexing Phenomena As The Accelerating Expansion Of The Universe And The Possibility That Our Universe Is Only One Of Many. Our Universe Conveys With Authority And Grace The Thrill Of Scientific Discovery And A Contagious Enthusiasm For The Endless Wonders Of Space-time.-- Our Place In Space -- We Are Made Of Stars -- Seeing The Invisible -- The Nature Of Space -- From Start To Finish -- Epilogue: Looking Forward. Jo Dunkley. Originally Published In 2019 In The United Kingdom By Pelican Books, An Imprint Of Penguin Books.--title Page Verso. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Most of us have heard of black holes and supernovas, galaxies and the Big Bang. But few of us understand more than the bare facts about the universe we call home. Jo Dunkley combines her expertise as an astrophysicist with her talents as a writer and teacher to present an exceptionally clear and elegant introduction to the structure and history of the universe, and to enduring mysteries about some of the deepest questions humans have ever asked. What is out there? How did it all begin? Where are we going? Dunkley begins in Earth's neighborhood, explaining the nature of the Solar System, the stars in our night sky, and the Milky Way. She moves out past nearby galaxies-and back in time-to the horizon of the observable universe, which contains over a hundred billion galaxies, each with billions of stars, many orbited by planets, some of which may host life. These visible objects in space sit in a web of dark matter, mysterious stuff we cannot see or yet understand. She traces the evolution of the universe from the Big Bang fourteen billion years ago, past the birth of the Sun and our planets, to today and beyond. Among the cutting-edge, perplexing phenomena discussed are the accelerating expansion of the universe and the possibility that our universe is only one of many. Our Universe conveys with authority and grace the thrill of scientific discovery and a contagious enthusiasm for the endless wonders of space-time Jo Dunkley combines her expertise as an astrophysicist with her talents as a teacher and writer in this lively and exceptionally clear introduction to the structure and history of the universe and its enduring mysteries. Most of us have heard of black holes and supernovas, galaxies and the Big Bang. But few of us understand more than the bare facts about the universe we call home. What is really out there? How did it all begin? Where are we going? Jo Dunkley begins in Earth's neighborhood, explaining the nature of the Solar System, the stars in our night sky, and the Milky Way. She then moves out past nearby galaxies--and back in time--to the horizon of the observable universe, which contains over a hundred billion galaxies, each with billions of stars, many orbited by planets, some of which may host life. These visible objects in space sit in a web of dark matter, mysterious stuff we cannot see or yet understand. Dunkley traces the evolution of the universe from the Big Bang fourteen billion years ago, past the birth of the Sun and our planets, to today and beyond. She explains cutting-edge debates about such perplexing phenomena as the accelerating expansion of the universe and the possibility that our universe is only one of many. Our Universe conveys with authority and grace the thrill of scientific discovery and a contagious enthusiasm for the endless wonders of space-time.-- Provided by publisheṛ A BBC Sky at Night Best Astronomy and Space Book of the Year “[A] luminous guide to the cosmos...Jo Dunkley swoops from Earth to the observable limits, then explores stellar life cycles, dark matter, cosmic evolution and the soup-to-nuts history of the Universe.” —Nature “A grand tour of space and time, from our nearest planetary neighbors to the edge of the observable Universe...If you feel like refreshing your background knowledge...this little gem certainly won’t disappoint.” —Govert Schilling, BBC Sky at Night Most of us have heard of black holes and supernovas, galaxies and the Big Bang. But few understand more than the bare facts about the universe we call home. What is really out there? How did it all begin? Where are we going? Jo Dunkley begins in Earth’s neighborhood, explaining the nature of the Solar System, the stars in our night sky, and the Milky Way. She traces the evolution of the universe from the Big Bang fourteen billion years ago, past the birth of the Sun and our planets, to today and beyond. She then explains cutting-edge debates about such perplexing phenomena as the accelerating expansion of the universe and the possibility that our universe is only one of many. Our Universe conveys with authority and grace the thrill of scientific discovery and a contagious enthusiasm for the endless wonders of space-time.