The Sky at Einstein's Feet (Springer Praxis Books / Popular Astronomy)

Specifically traces the impact of Einstein's ideas on astronomy, including the way we interpret observations of stars and galaxies. Includes comments from principals in important discoveries, illuminating the processes behind these results. Presents many applications of relativity that have not been shown in earlier popular-level books and illustrates how deeply physics permeates the way we interpret many astronomical phenomena. Highlights light-travel delays in cosmic jets, using gravitational lensing to trace cosmic mass distribution. Illustrations employ new and archival data from ground- and space-based observatories. "One hundred years ago, Albert Einstein published his Special Theory of Relativity. In the century following his breakthrough, his insights have illuminated astronomical discovery. This book shows how deeply relativity has informed our interpretation of the Universe, and how many of the amazing discoveries of the last one hundred years can be interpreted properly only in the light of relativity." "Written in an accessible and non-mathematical way, this book provides a fascinating insight into the part that Einstein has played in the worlds of physics as well as space exploration and astronomical discovery."--BOOK JACKET