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Stairway to the Stars - Story of the World's Largest Observatory (Hardcover, Softcover Reprint Of The Original 1st Ed. 1994)
Loot Price: R1,581
Discovery Miles 15 810
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Stairway to the Stars - Story of the World's Largest Observatory (Hardcover, Softcover Reprint Of The Original 1st Ed. 1994)
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On the desolate, snow-topped peak of the highest mountain in Hawaii
the view of the heavens is truly breathtaking. Since the
"discovery" of Mauna Kea in 1963, astronomers worldwide have been
vying for the opportunity to stargaze from its vantage point. Nine
domes now stand on the peak, making this the world's largest
observatory complex. Each dome is the brainchild of extraordinary
scientists - pioneers who, amidst fierce competition and frigid,
treacherous conditions - fought for their dreams to build the
largest, most magnificent telescopes on Earth. Barry Parker,
award-winning science writer, relates the intriguing stories of the
founding of this observatory complex and goes on to interview some
of the great astronomers of our time as they work at this inspiring
site. Bringing the public for the first time into the rarefied air
of the control rooms, Parker describes what marvelous challenges
these astronomers pursue, night after night, through these massive
telescopes. Using brilliant, colorful images from the world's most
powerful infrared telescopes and data taken by the enormous Keck
telescope - the largest in the world - the scientists at Mauna Kea
capture visions of the most distant galaxies ever seen, and use
them to look deeply into our past to try to determine our future.
Through imagination and genius, the scientists at Mauna Kea have
made significant strides in formulating answers to the most
fascinating astronomical questions. What can the exploding galaxies
in the outer reaches of space tell us about our universe in its
infancy? Could the enormous black holes at the cores of galaxies
actually be "seeds," central to forming these vast systems of
stars? Will our universe, like a dying star, come to an end, and,
if so, what dramatic events will lead to this fate? Parker clearly
and eloquently explains the theories of these astronomers and
describes one of their most ambitious efforts-the quest of finding
life in other galaxies. Parker, whose earlier work The New York
Times Book Review called "physics for poets," has penned a new
masterpiece. This unforgettable book evokes the excitement of
living and working at this exquisite site and dares us to imagine
the awesome forces that power and shape our universe.
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