Gravity's Fatal Attraction: Black Holes in the Universe - Softcover

Begelman, Mitchell; Rees, Martin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521717930 ISBN 13: 9780521717939

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2009

Synopsis

Richly illustrated with the images from observatories on the ground and in space, and computer simulations, this book shows how black holes were discovered, and discusses our current understanding of their role in cosmic evolution. This second edition covers new discoveries made in the past decade, including definitive proof of a black hole at the center of the Milky Way, evidence that the expansion of the Universe is accelerating, and the new appreciation of the connection between black holes and galaxy formation. There are entirely new chapters on gamma-ray bursts and cosmic feedback. Begelman and Rees blend theoretical arguments with observational results to demonstrate how both approaches contributed to this subject. Clear illustrations and photographs reveal the strange and amazing workings of our universe. The engaging style makes this book suitable for introductory undergraduate courses, amateur astronomers, and all readers interested in astronomy and physics.

About this title

Book Description:

Richly illustrated in colour, this book is suitable for introductory undergraduate courses, amateur astronomers, and all readers interested in astronomy and physics. It shows how black holes were discovered, and discusses current understanding of their role in cosmic evolution. This second edition covers new discoveries made in the past decade.

From the Back Cover:

The Unexplored Frontier

Gravity is the dominant force in our universe. In Gravity's Fatal Attraction, two renowned astrophysicists explore gravity where it is infinitely strong: in black holes. These mind-boggling structures can have a mass up to billions of times that of our sun, but remain detectable only by the evidence of a powerful gravitational force swallowing everything in its vicinity.

Gravity's Fatal Attraction describes how these massive, invisible objects were found and what their existence implies for the evolution of our universe. Updated to include the latest discoveries, and featuring superb illustrations and photographs, this account of black holes and the associated phenomena of quasars and cosmic jets reveals the workings of our strange and amazing universe.

Winner of the 1996 American Institute of Physics Science Writing Award in Physics and Astronomy

"Martin Rees and Mitchell Begelman are probably the world's leading authorities on the astrophysics of black holes."
--Stephen W. Hawking

"Martin Rees is one of the great astronomers of our generation, and this felicitous collaboration with Mitchell Begelman brings alive a subject replete with wonder and mystery-- without losing the hard edge of scientific rigour. An exhilarating read!"
--Paul Davies, author of The Mind of God: The Scientific Basis for a Rational World

"Martin Rees and Mitchell Begelman have provided us with a dramatic, elegant, and fully authoritative account of [black holes], and of how they fit into our modern picture of the Universe."
--Roger Penrose, author of The Emperor's New Mind

"A terrific book. I doubt that you could find a more comprehensive and authoritative popular account of this spectacular subject."
--New Scientist

"An excellent beginner's account of the discovery of black holes and their importance in astrophysics today."
--Sky and Telescope

About the Authors
Mitchell Begelman is Professor of Astrophysics and Chairman of the Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Martin Rees is Royal Society Professor at Cambridge University; he also holds the title of Astronomer Royal. He is also the author of Before the Beginning.

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About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0521717930
• ISBN 13: 9780521717939
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 312