Our Universe: an astronomer’s guide

Most of us have heard of black holes and supernovas, galaxies and the Big Bang. But few of us understand more than the bare facts about the universe we call home. Jo Dunkley combines her expertise as an astrophysicist with her talents as a writer and teacher to present an exceptionally clear and elegant introduction to the structure and history of the universe, and to enduring mysteries about some of the deepest questions humans have ever asked. What is out there? How did it all begin? Where are we going? Dunkley begins in Earth’s neighborhood, explaining the nature of the Solar System, the stars in our night sky, and the Milky Way. She moves out past nearby galaxies—and back in time—to the horizon of the observable universe, which contains over a hundred billion galaxies, each with billions of stars, many orbited by planets, some of which may host life. These visible objects in space sit in a web of dark matter, mysterious stuff we cannot see or yet understand. She traces the evolution of the universe from the Big Bang fourteen billion years ago, past the birth of the Sun and our planets, to today and beyond. Among the cutting-edge, perplexing phenomena discussed are the accelerating expansion of the universe and the possibility that our universe is only one of many. Our Universe conveys with authority and grace the thrill of scientific discovery and a contagious enthusiasm for the endless wonders of space-time.