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<\/figure><\/div>\n\nMatthew Bothwell <\/strong>Oneworld \u00a318.99 HB<\/p>\n\n Astronomy is often thought of as a very visual field, with lots of focus on what we can see. In The <\/em>Invisible <\/em>Universe, <\/em>Matthew Bothwell explores those bits that we can\u2019t see \u2013 although that\u2019s a little bit of a disservice as those \u2018bits\u2019 amount to the vast majority of the cosmos.<\/p>\n\n To understand what we can\u2019t see, it\u2019s worth first of all understanding why we see what we can actually see. The first chapter is a brief physics lesson covering the history of the discovery and theoretical understanding of light\u2019s true nature, including a bit of quantum physics.<\/p>\n\n Most of the chapters focus on a particular part of the spectrum or a particular discovery. In every case there\u2019s a narrative taking the reader through a potted history, including some very recent discoveries. It doesn\u2019t try to walk linearly along the spectrum or through a history of discoveries, as the journey of humanity\u2019s discovery hasn\u2019t worked like that. No book like this could avoid jumping around in history, but overall there\u2019s a logical flow.<\/p>\n\n It\u2019s rather focused on the longwavelength end of the spectrum, perhaps due to the author\u2019s background, and if you have a passion for learning about X-rays or gamma rays, then this isn\u2019t the book for you. But in terms of radio, infrared and microwaves it\u2019s very comprehensive, and when you consider the chapters on black holes, dark matter gravitational waves and the end of the Universe, it certainly covers a lot of ground.<\/p>\n\n Throughout the book, concepts are well explained, using metaphors and analogies to create an accessible writing style. The author\u2019s day job as an observational astronomer comes through, and there are nice anecdotes about trips to telescopes in Hawaii and Chile, and a few from his base at the University of Cambridge, an embedded in the text by way of illustration, as well as a short, glossy photo section relevant to the story.<\/p>\n\n An engaging read overall, this book will be of interest to anyone wanting to know more about how we\u2019ve learned what we know about the Universe. \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/span><\/p>\n\n Chris North <\/strong>is Ogden Science Lecturer and STFC Public Engagement Fellow at Cardiff University<\/em><\/p>\n\n Lots of things in the Universe, from young stars to dead stars, black holes to entire galaxies, don\u2019t emit much visible light. To see them, we have to use other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum such as radio waves, infrared and X-rays. Some things don\u2019t emit light at all, like dark matter or gravitational waves. All things considered, the Universe we can see really is just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We can go big, looking at the Universe as a whole and working backwards by asking, what kind of dark matter would produce a Universe that looks like this? The answer we get is that dark matter is a heavy, slow-moving kind of particle that doesn\u2019t emit light. Or we can go small and build detectors to hunt for dark matter particles right here on Earth. These tend to be deep underground, shielded from cosmic radiation. So far, these experiments haven\u2019t found anything, so we keep hunting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019d love to know! We don\u2019t really understand dark energy, the strange force that seems to be pushing the Universe apart faster and faster. If it\u2019s some kind of constant built into the fabric of space-time, then the Universe is destined to get bigger and bigger, and colder and emptier, forever. If it changes with time, then all bets are off: the Universe could ultimately end up tearing itself to pieces or even collapsing back down to nothingness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Matthew Bothwell <\/strong>is Public Astronomer at the University of Cambridge\u2019s Institute of Astronomy<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n John Gribbin <\/strong>Icon Books \u00a310.99 HB<\/p>\n\n The title of John Gribbin\u2019s latest book nods towards the famous dictum of Sherlock Holmes: \u201cWhen you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.\u201d This, Gribbin argues in his introduction, is a fairly good encapsulation of the scientific method: testing hypotheses and drawing closer to the truth (though in science never quite being certain we have reached it) every time a failure forces us to look again at our assumptions about the Universe.<\/p>\n\n The eight short essays that make up this volume explore some of the unexpected and highly improbable conclusions that modern science has reached using this method. Gribbin casts a wide net and displays his breadth of knowledge in packing a lot into each chapter, while ensuring the prose remains readable.<\/p>\n\n Topics range from the existence of gravitational waves that ripple across the Universe from the Big Bang, to the descent of all life on Earth from a single cell; and from a mind-bending exploration of the true concept of relativity, to the link between ice ages and human evolution.<\/p>\n\n Perhaps the most intriguing chapter is one that provides the book with its subtitle, The <\/em>Mystery <\/em>of <\/em>the <\/em>Moon, <\/em>and <\/em>Other <\/em>Implausible <\/em>Scientific <\/em>Truths, <\/em> where Gribbin looks at the origins of the Moon and raises some connections between the presence of our satellite and Earth\u2019s own habitability which I\u2019ve never seen pointed out before. A brief read, but one that may inspire readers to dig deeper. \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/span><\/p>\n\n Giles Sparrow <\/strong>is a science writer and a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society<\/em><\/p>\n\n Al Worden with Francis French <\/strong>University of Nebraska Press \u00a321.99 HB<\/p>\n\n Ever wondered what Al Worden really thought of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin? In his latest book written before his death in 2020, the Apollo 15 astronaut shares his candid opinions and does not hold back.<\/p>\n\n Worden\u2019s raw and honest musings on the space programme, flying to the Moon, about those involved in the Apollo missions, and his life as a retired astronaut are very refreshing to read, and at points quite eye-opening.<\/p>\n\n There are some funny moments, such as Worden\u2019s experiences with fans at conventions, but there are also heartbreaking points when he recounts the times he learnt of the deaths of fellow astronauts, and the pain of those moments can be felt though his words.<\/p>\n\n However, there isn\u2019t much structure to this collection of thoughts, which can jump from one topic to the next, like when Worden goes from sharing his opinions on the International Space Station to musing about being inside a Soyuz capsule. Then there is the infamous postal scandal that cost Worden his job as an astronaut: it is alluded to but never explained in detail, which can be quite frustrating to a reader who doesn\u2019t know the story.<\/p>\n\n This book is not so much Worden\u2019s reflections on a life in space, but more a collection of seemingly random thoughts and opinions put together in its most honest and uncensored form. Is this book a good way to learn about the late Al Worden? I would say not. But it could be a good place to start. \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/span><\/p>\n\n Melissa Brobby <\/strong>is a science communicator and Social Media Officer at the Institute of Physics<\/em><\/p>\n\n PACKED WITH PRACTICAL TIPS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n Philip M Bagnall <\/strong>Springer \u00a327.99 PB<\/p>\n\n Meteors and meteorites can be the Hollywood blockbusters of astronomical objects. Thankfully, most are less impactful than the 2013 fireball above Chelyabinsk in Russia, which injured hundreds of people and was visible up to 100km away, but there is a perennial fascination in seeing them zip across the night sky.<\/p>\n\n If you are interested in more than just catching glimpses of these phenomena, this thorough and clearly written handbook (by the author of The <\/em>Star <\/em>Atlas <\/em>Companion) <\/em>will take you through the practicalities of observing the 10 major annual meteor showers. Because meteors appear in different parts of the sky and are very short-lived, telescopes tend not to be very useful for this sort of astronomy and The <\/em>Atlas <\/em>of <\/em>Meteor <\/em>Showers <\/em>concentrates on naked-eye observations.<\/p>\n\n The book introduces the relevant science of meteor showers, explaining how meteors are caused by the debris of material shed from comets and asteroids, their surfaces heated up as they approach the Sun. When the resulting dust collides with Earth\u2019s atmosphere it can produce spectacular displays, as well as occasional meteorites that survive to land on the surface of our planet.<\/p>\n\n With huge amounts of detail on each of the major showers, the book seems clearly aimed at the interested and knowledgeable amateur who can navigate their way around a star chart and knows how magnitudes are defined. On the other hand, perhaps puzzlingly, it also has very basic advice about wrapping up warm when observing at night. But all in all, this is a welcome guide for those keen to spot these beautiful evanescent objects and learn more about them. \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/span><\/p>\n\n Pippa Goldschmidt <\/strong>is an astronomy and science writer<\/em><\/p>\n\n New astronomy and space titles reviewed<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":27187,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","purple_page_number":"94","purple_custom_meta_purple_page_number":"94","purple_seq_number":"1","purple_custom_meta_purple_seq_number":"1","purple_source_article":"article_94-1.xml","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_article":"article_94-1.xml","purple_source_issue":"January-2022","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_issue":"January-2022","purple_external_id":"January-2022-94-1","purple_custom_meta_purple_external_id":"January-2022-94-1","purple_issue_code":"|0000086548||","purple_custom_meta_purple_issue_code":"|0000086548||","purple_android_product":"com.im.skyatnight.200","purple_custom_meta_purple_android_product":"com.im.skyatnight.200","purple_ios_product":"com.im.skyatnight.200","purple_custom_meta_purple_ios_product":"com.im.skyatnight.200","purple_web_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_web_product":"","purple_publication_id":"075fab74-0a21-4201-866a-899d6c41c40c","purple_migrated":"","kt_blocks_editor_width":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[14],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2021\/12\/d25aab29-cc19-4de5-aaff-c5a10d0bdcc9.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"8","apple_news_title":""},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2021\/12\/d25aab29-cc19-4de5-aaff-c5a10d0bdcc9.jpg",567,911,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2021\/12\/d25aab29-cc19-4de5-aaff-c5a10d0bdcc9-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2021\/12\/d25aab29-cc19-4de5-aaff-c5a10d0bdcc9-187x300.jpg",187,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2021\/12\/d25aab29-cc19-4de5-aaff-c5a10d0bdcc9.jpg",567,911,false],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2021\/12\/d25aab29-cc19-4de5-aaff-c5a10d0bdcc9.jpg",567,911,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2021\/12\/d25aab29-cc19-4de5-aaff-c5a10d0bdcc9.jpg",567,911,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2021\/12\/d25aab29-cc19-4de5-aaff-c5a10d0bdcc9.jpg",567,911,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"New astronomy and space titles reviewed","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27193"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27193"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27193\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27705,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27193\/revisions\/27705"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27187"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27193"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27193"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27193"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dj9jqhxgw9833.cloudfront.net\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2021\/12\/b6a9eee0-6829-4081-8b91-196419b43d5a.jpg\")
Interview with the author <\/strong>Matthew Bothwell<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHow can we observe<\/strong> the \u2018invisible\u2019 Universe?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
How can we solve the mystery of dark matter?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
What is the Universe\u2019s ultimate fate?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Eight Improbable Possibilities<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
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\n\nThe Light of Earth<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
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\n\nAtlas of Meteor Showers<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n