Seeing in the Dark: How Amateur Astronomers Are Discovering the Wonders of the Universe

Summary

There is a major revolution sweeping astronomy as amateur astronomers, linked by the Internet, make important discoveries that are the envy of the professionals. In Seeing in the Dark, Timothy Ferris invites us all to become stargazers, capturing the exquisite experience when ancient starlight strikes the eye and incites the mind. He reports from around the globe—from England to the Chilean Andes—on the popular movement that's putting millions in touch with the night sky. Ferris offers a magical description of what is out there to be seen—from the rings of Saturn to remote quasars whose light is older than Earth—and how to find them. Reminding us that the universe is accessible to all, Seeing in the Dark is a poetic love letter to science and the skies, encouraging us to make the glories of the stars a part of our lives.