What shape is the universe? Is it curved and closed in on itself? Is it expanding? Where is it headed? Could space be wrapped around itself, such that it produces ghost images of faraway galaxies? Such are the questions posed by Jean-Pierre Luminet in The Wraparound Universe, which he then addresses in clear and accessible language. An expert in black holes and the big bang, he leads us on a voyage through the surprising byways of space-time, where possible topologies of the universe, explorations of the infinite, and cosmic mirages combine their mysterious traits and unlock the imagination. The Wraparound Universe is a general-audience book about the overall topology or shape of the universe. The central question addressed is whether it is possible that the universe is wrapped around in an interesting way, and what impact this would have on astronomical observations and our understanding of cosmology. Along the way many of the general features and much of the history of the modern picture of cosmology are discussed.

Black holes are undoubtedly one of the most fascinating discoveries of modern astronomy, and their description one of the most daring intellectual feats of modern times. They have already become legendary, forming the basis of many myths, fantasies and science fiction movies. Are they really the monsters which devour light and stars; bottomless celestial pits into which all matter is sucked and crushed? Are they an observable reality, or are they just hypothetical objects from the theory of relativity? In answering such questions the author takes us on a fabulous journey through space and time. Dr Jean-Pierre Luminet is an astronomer at Meudon Observatory in France, a specialist on the subject of black holes, and has also acquired a reputation for being a gifted writer and communicator. In this book he makes the subject of black holes accessible to any interested reader, who will need no mathematical background.

Dr. Jean-Pierre Luminet makes the subject of black holes accessible to any interested reader, who will need no mathematical background. The reader of this book will feel that the developments in modern astrophysics are as fascinating to discover and digest as the most fantastic science fiction novels. While answering such questions, the author takes us on a fabulous journey through space and time. We travel into the realms of supernovae, X-ray stars and quasars--a journey to the very edge of the universe and to the limits of contemporary physics.

Schwarze Locher sind die wohl faszinierendsten Objekte, die die moderne Astronomie gefunden hat. Sie sind bereits zur Legende geworden, und es ranken sich Mythen und Fantasien um sie. Sind sie wirklich die Monster im Weltall, die die Sterne und alles um sich herum bedrohen, oder sind sie nur theoretische Modelle, die aus der Relativitatstheorie entspringen, aber nie eine Chance haben, entdeckt zu werden. Auf dem Weg zur Beantwortung dieser Fragen nimmt uns der Autor mit auf eine faszinierende Reise durch Raum und Zeit. Er erklart, wie Sterne geboren werden, aufleuchten und schliesslich sterben. Er fuhrt uns in die seltsame Welt der Supernovae, Rontgensterne und Quasare. Wir reisen bis ans Ende des Universums und an die Grenzen der modernen Physik. Neben den beiden franzosischen Auflagen liegt bereits auch eine englische Auflage vor.
Rezension in "Sirius" Nr.1 S.6
(...) Uber schwarze Locher ist schon viel geschrieben worden doch das vorliegende Buch darf von sich in Anspruch nehmen, dass es wohl zu der kleinen Schar derjenigen Werke zu zahlen ist, die zum Verstandnis schwarzer Locher enorm beitragen konnen. (...)
(...) Das Buch ist in einer fesselnden Art geschrieben, was auch ein Verdienst der deutschen Ubersetzung ist, do dass man kaum noch zu lesen aufhoren kann. (...)"

Stargazers who may have missed the last total solar eclipse of the 20th century this past summer have just been given another chance to observe this "once in a lifetime" occurrence. Inside Glorious Eclipses they will find startling images and rich personal accounts that fully capture this event and other recent eclipses. The book will also insure that readers will not miss another eclipse in the next 60 years! Specially designed in a beautiful, large format, the volume portrays eclipses of all kinds--lunar, solar, and those occurring elsewhere in the Solar System and beyond. Brunier and Luminet have gathered together all aspects of eclipses, and carefully selected a host of lavish images. The authors detail the history of eclipses, the celestial mechanics involved, their observation, and scientific interest. Personal accounts of recent eclipses are also included as well as all relevant information about forthcoming eclipses up to 2060. Complete with NASA maps and data, Glorious Eclipses is the ultimate source for all those interested in these remarkable (and rare) celestial events. Serge Brunier is chief editor of the journal Ciel et Espace, a photo-journalist, and the author of many nonfiction books aimed at both specialists and the general public. Jean-Pierre Luminet is an astrophysicist at the Paris-Meudon Observatory and director of research at the Centre pour la Recherche Scientifique. He is the author of many popular astronomy books, including Black Holes (Cambridge University Press, 1992).