The Violent Universe: Joyrides through the X-ray Cosmos

The Violent Universe: Joyrides through the X-ray Cosmos by Weaver, Kimberly. Hardcover edition. ISBN: 9780801881152.

The universe is filled with extreme events: galactic collisions, supernovae eruptions, and stellar implosions. Although not always visible through optical telescopes, these processes generate x-rays, high-energy particles that travel at the speed of light. The Violent Universe reveals how astronomers use color to understand the energy and intensity of these x-rays―in the process transforming invisible particles into gorgeous images of the cosmos―and how these scientists discover more about the exotic objects that produce them. Kimberly Weaver traces the development of x-ray astronomy from the 1950s, when the first artificial satellites began transmitting information from deep space. By juxtaposing a selection of images from optical telescopes with those of cutting-edge x-ray telescopes, she illustrates the way x-ray astronomy captures energy and activity that cannot be seen in visible light. The book is illustrated with stunning four-color images of galaxies, quasars, pulsars, and black holes captured by Chandra, an enormous x-ray satellite that orbits Earth from a distance 200 times higher than that of the Hubble Space Telescope. The Violent Universe makes plain the amazing new astronomy that has unmasked the thunderous cosmos―a dynamic science that daily creates breathtaking art.