When galaxies were born : the quest for cosmic dawn /

"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 it...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ellis, Richard S. (Richard Salisbury), 1950-
Published: Princeton University Press,
Publisher Address: Princeton :
Publication Dates: [2022]
Literature type: Book
Language: English
Subjects:
Summary: "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"--
Carrier Form: xviii, 223 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color) ; 24 cm
Bibliography: Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN: 9780691211305
0691211302
Index Number: QB857
CLC: P157.9
Call Number: P157.9/E476
Contents: Out into space -- Grand time machines -- Palomar : the perfect machine -- The Anglo-Australian revolution -- La Palma : la isla bonita -- A golden era : synergies with Hubble Space Telescope -- The mighty Keck telescopes : lifting the curtain -- Entering the reionisation era -- The arrival of the euro : a glimpse of cosmic dawn.