Light Astronomy

From the big bang to black holes, this fast-paced tour of time and space for the astro-curious unlocks the science of the stars to reveal fascinating theories, surprising discoveries, and ongoing mysteries in modern astronomy and astrophysics. Before the big bang, time, space, and matter didn't...

Learn about the incomparable beauty of the Northern Lights with this accessible guide for aspiring astronomers and seasoned night sky observers. Covers the essential equipment needed for observation and photography. Tom Kerss covers the cultural and scientific context for auroras, and offers a...

One of Vogue’s Best Books of 2026 A beautiful, heartbreaking novel about ambition, love, and space from the award-winning author of Wandering Souls January 28, 1986: Soon after launch, the Challenger shuttle falls out of the sky and into the sea. At the same time, Oliver Ines is born...

Scientists tell us that ninety-six percent of the universe is unexplained dark matter and dark energy. Also, they admit that no unifying “theory of everything” exists in physics. This shaky foundation is the basis of modern thinking about the cosmos and Earth’s place in it. Something big seems to be missing. Thus, we’re left with no choice but to question the “consensus” cosmological model. Are we really flying through space on a spinning ball within an expanding universe, while free-falling around the Sun—all as a consequence of a “Big Bang” that supposedly occurred 13.8 billion years ago?

The International Bestseller On April 10, 2019, award-winning astrophysicist Heino Falcke presented the first image ever captured of a black hole at an international press conference—a turning point in astronomy that Science magazine called the scientific breakthrough of the year. That photo...

From Galileo’s humble spyglass to spaceborne observatories that glimpse the edge of time, this is the epic story of how humanity learned to see the universe. For over 400 years, the telescope has reshaped not just astronomy, but our very understanding of our place in the cosmos. Lenses, Light, and the Infinite Night traces the sweeping, often surprising history of this revolutionary instrument—from the dim candlelit workshops of the Renaissance to the golden mirrors of James Webb and the continent-spanning radio eyes that captured a black hole. Told with rich detail and poetic clarity, ...

Bloomsbury presents First Light written and read by Emma Chapman. ‘Illuminating and entertaining’ The Washington Post Astronomers have successfully observed a great deal of the Universe’s history, from recording the afterglow of the Big Bang to visualising the shadow of a black hole...

A heartfeltexploration of the night on Earth, following a travel journalist and dark sky advocate around the globe as she seeks out dark places in our ever-brightening world. People, plants and animals all depend on the natural night—both its darkness and its starlight—for so much, from...

A talk by Terence McKenna about how our global culture is preparing to depart for the stars, so we must begin to pack for the trip. He begins with a discussion of botanical dimensions of folk medicine which are lost in pharmacology and how this is being uncovered by the New Age archaic revival. McKenna envisions an end to the current age, which has consisted of eons of boredom. He goes on to discuss the growing wonder of the universe as presented by leading astronomers Stephen Hawking and Carl Sagan.

This “accessible and always entertaining” (Booklist) combination of history, pop science, and in-depth reporting offers a fascinating account of the asteroids that hit Earth long ago and those streaming toward us now, as well as how prepared we are against asteroid-caused catastrophe. One of...

An exploration into consciousness, the universe, and the nature of reality Draws on transdimensional physics and biology, reincarnation and past-life memories, animal consciousness, multiple identities, thoughtforms, soul pictures, and paranormal phenomena like crop circles and poltergeists...

LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK PRIZE WINNER An MIT astrophysicist reinvents herself in the wake of tragedy and discovers the power of connection on this planet, even as she searches our galaxy for another Earth, in this “bewitching” (Anthony Doerr, The New York Times Book Review) memoir...

Unveil the gripping mysteries of the cosmos with your new read The Language of the Universe. Every paragraph of this groundbreaking eBook will transport you to a realm that channels the rhythm and pulse of the cosmos, unearthing thrilling insights and answers about the nature and implications of light and optics in our universe. Delve into the enchanting dance of light and optics illuminated in chapter one. Discover not just why light matters in astronomy, but also the crucial role that optics play in reading the secret language of the universe. Progress to chapter two where the nature of ...

Brock, the brachiosaurus, and Tilly, the T-Rex, are best friends who love discovering the wonders of the world around them. In this enchanting book, Brock & Tilly learn about the phases of the moon with the help of Tilly's wise and gentle grandma. Through vivid illustrations and captivating storytelling, children ages 6-8 will have an exciting journey of curiosity and discovery, learning the secrets of the moon’s ever-changing face. Perfect for young readers, this book inspires a love for exploration, encourages asking questions, and introduces the magic of science in a fun and engaging ...

In a beautifully written, science-packed, and inspirational memoir, Egyptian-American astrophysicist Sarafina El-Badry Nance shares how she boldly carved out a place in the field of astrophysics, grounding herself in a lifelong love of the stars to face life’s inevitable challenges and embrace...

A New Scientist Best Popular Science Book of 2023 How seeing Earth through the eyes of an astronaut brings new wonder and meaning to life on our planet. One stifling summer night, the poet and journalist Marjolijn van Heemstra lay awake, unable to sleep—like so many of us feeling anxious and...

Apollo 15 command module pilot Al Worden was one of the highest-profile personalities among the Apollo astronauts, renowned for his outspokenness and potent views but also recognized as a warm and well-liked person who devoted much of his life after retiring from NASA to sharing his spaceflight experiences.

Quasars are the brightest sustained phenomena in the known universe—engines of light powered by supermassive black holes devouring matter at the centers of distant galaxies. But they are more than cosmic spectacles. Every beam of quasar light that crosses the universe accumulates an extraordinarily detailed record of the gas, matter, and structure it passes through. The intergalactic medium writes its autobiography in the spectra of quasars, using absorption lines as words and sightlines as sentences.

Light is the most important part of our lives. Louise Riofrio, while working as a Scientist at NASA, made the biggest discovery of the century--the Speed of Light is changing. Starting when a child's eyes first open she describes how we learn about the world through light in our first few months of life, then how we discovered that Earth is round, and how we found we are part of a solar system and a galaxy. The Speed of Light takes you around the world from the Mediterranean to Hawaii in 100 illustrations showing where discoveries were made. This new edition shows how the size of the ...

Marvel at the mesmerizing northern lights by learning the history of the natural light show and the science behind how the aurora borealis works! It takes three things for the northern lights to appear in the sky: a stream of charged particles, a magnetic field, and an atmosphere of certain...