One of today's leading astronomers takes readers inside the
decades-long search for the first galaxies and the origin of
starlight
Astronomers are like time travelers, scanning the night sky for the
outermost galaxies that first came into being when our universe was a
mere fraction of its present age. When Galaxies Were Born is Richard
Ellis's firsthand account of how a pioneering generation of scientists
harnessed the world's largest telescopes to decipher the history of the
universe and witness cosmic dawn, the time when starlight first bathed
the cosmos and galaxies emerged from darkness.
In a remarkable career spanning more than forty years, Ellis has made
some of the most spectacular discoveries in modern cosmology. He has
traveled the world to conduct observations in locales as beautiful and
remote as the Australian outback, the Canary Islands, Hawaii, and the
Chilean desert. In this book, he brings to life a golden age of
astronomy, describing the triumphs and the technical setbacks, the
rivalries with competing teams, and the perennial challenge of cloudy
nights. Ellis reveals the astonishing progress we have made in building
ever larger and more powerful telescopes, and provides a tantalizing
glimpse of cosmic dawn.
Stunningly illustrated with a wealth of dramatic photos, When Galaxies
Were Born is a bold scientific adventure enlivened by personal insights
and anecdotes that enable readers to share in the thrill of discovery at
the frontiers of astronomy.
