Postcards from the Edge of the Universe: Book Review

24 November 2010

Review by: Dave Reneke (News Editor: Astro-Space News; Writer/Publicist: Australasian Science Magazine)

Postcards from the Edge of the Universe

Absolutely brilliant is the best way to start to describe this amazing project which ended up as this book you can sit back, read and enjoy from cover to cover. As a coffee table book it is also perfect…just to browse through during those introspective moments of 'cosmic reflection' we all go through from time to time. For the dedicated astro buff it's another collectable gem for the library.

From sunspots to black holes to extrasolar planets, stars and supernovae etc, Postcards from the Edge of the Universe takes the reader on a wondrous journey across the known universe using some of the best astronomical photographs I've ever seen in 40 years of writing about and teaching astronomy. You won't be disappointed with this work.

The talents of 24 frontline astronomers from around the world explain their science in a simple, yet poetic way, which allows the reader to become absorbed into their world as they explain the inner meaning of the images you see. This is today's science – cutting edge technology that delivers the feeling behind the image. The photographic reproductions are first rate and the text is easy to understand, even for the most inexperienced lay person. The overall quality of the hard cover book is equal to the best you'll see on any bookstand anywhere in the world. You can, of course, download the free PDF versions from the ESO website.

This book is based on a hand-picked selection of the best posts and science writing from the astronomy blog Cosmic Diary, one of the twelve Cornerstone projects of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009). There's something for everyone and what a fitting way to pay tribute to the IYA which opened up a whole vista for people who had no prior knowledge or exposure to the wonders of the night sky.

Do yourself a favour and purchase or download this amazing book, but be prepared to spend at least a few hours with it first up. Like me, you won't put it down in a hurry. Congratulations to the authors, the photographers and to the ESO for bringing such a stunning work into the public domain. Oh, by the way, don't ask to borrow my copy – it's tucked away again for another rainy day.

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