
New Worlds in the Cosmos
The Discovery of Exoplanets
Cambridge University Press
Published on 25. September 2003
Book
Hardback
274 pages
978-0-521-81207-8 (ISBN)
Description
With the discovery in 1995 of the first planet orbiting another star, we know that planets are not unique to our own Solar System. For centuries, humanity has wondered whether we are alone in the Universe. We are now finally one step closer to knowing the answer. The quest for exoplanets is an exciting one, because it holds the possibility that one day we might find life elsewhere in the Universe, born in the light of another sun. Written from the perspective of one of the pioneers of this scientific adventure, this exciting account describes the development of the modern observing technique that has enabled astronomers to find so many planets orbiting around other stars. It reveals the wealth of new planets that have now been discovered outside our Solar System, and what this means in terms of finding other life in the Universe.
Reviews / Votes
'Mayor and Frei present an account of this remarkable transformation that is personal, comprehensive and at all times understandable.' Nature 'Find a space on your bookshelf for this one.' Astronomy Now '... an inspiring account of one of the most exciting fields of modern astronomy and therefore thoroughly recommended to anyone with the slightest interest in the possibility of life elsewhere in the Galaxy.' The Observatory ' ... the cheerful style makes this a very approachable book. I am glad to have read it.' Journal of the British Astronomical AssociationMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Illustrations
1 Tables, unspecified; 20 Plates, color; 24 Halftones, unspecified; 2 Line drawings, unspecified
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
552 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-521-81207-8 (9780521812078)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Michel Mayor is Director of the Observatory of Geneva, Switzerland. In 1995, together with Didier Queloz, he discovered the first extrasolar planet (51 Peg b) around a main sequence star, and has discovered many more since. His work earned him the prestigious Balzan Prize in 2000, for Instrumentation and Techniques in Astronomy and Astrophysics. Pierre-Yves Frei is a science journalist with the Swiss newspaper, Lausanne Hebdo. In 1998 he was awarded the Media Prize of the Swiss Natural Sciences Academy for science popularisation.
Content
Preface; 1. The quest begins; 2. Infinity and beyond; 3. New arrivals in the Solar System; 4. Why stars wobble; 5. Neutron planets; 6. Brown dwarfs in the headlines; 7. Sirens in the cosmos; 8. Foreign planets different to our home-grown ones; 9. Destination: earths!; 10. Further yet: life.