Description
The first-ever image of a black hole was captured by the Event Horizon Telescope in 2019 with the help of an astounding international team of astronomers. Although this feat made the phenomenon visible to the human eye for the first time, it came with countless questions that the image itself was not able to answer.
Heino Falcke, the German astrophysicist who announced this extraordinary achievement, takes readers on an insightful journey in Light in the Darkness: Black Holes, the Universe, and Us. Presented in common language that’s easily digestible even for those without a scientific background, this book has become an international bestseller for good reason. Explore the history and science that led to the image of the black hole, Falcke’s journey to being involved, and a look into his personal philosophy regarding the unanswered questions of the universe.
Author: Heino Falcke
Size: 6x9
Pages: 368
Table of Contents
Foreword vii
Prologue: And We Really Can See Them xi
About This Book xvii
PART I Journey Through Space and Time
1 Humankind, the Earth, and the Moon 3
2 The Solar System and Our Evolving Model of the Universe 19
PART II The Mysteries of the Universe
3 Einstein's Happiest Thought 47
4 The Milky Way and Its Stars 73
5 Dead Stars and Black Holes 81
6 Galaxies, Quasars, and the Big Bang 107
PART III The Journey to the Image
7 The Galactic Center 131
8 The Idea Behind the Image 153
9 Building a Global Telescope 167
10 Striking Out on Expedition 193
11 An Image Resolves 215
PART IV Beyond the Limits
12 Beyond the Power of Our Imagination 239
13 Beyond Einstein? 249
14 Omniscience and Limitations 267
Acknowledgments 295
List of EHT Authors 297
Glossary 301
Image Credits 313
Notes 315
Index 335