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The Cosmic Keyhole

How Astronomy Is Unlocking the Secrets of the Universe

  • Book
  • © 2009

Overview

Authors:
  1. William J.H. Gater

    1. Newton Abbot, United Kingdom

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  • A friendly style which doesn’t assume a great amount of knowledge
  • Focuses on some of the most important discoveries but also discoveries which people are most interested in
  • Interviews with the people who made the discoveries with their own insight and analysis
  • Asks some important questions on the prevalence of life, the future of modern astrophysical problems and what we might discover in the far off reaches of our Solar System
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: Astronomers' Universe (ASTRONOM)

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Table of contents (11 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xxiv
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  2. Water and the Search for Life in our Solar System

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 2-2
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    2. The Hardiest Microbes on Earth

      • Will Gater
      Pages 3-11

    3. The Hunt for Life Begins

      • Will Gater
      Pages 13-25

    4. Where Does Water Flow?

      • Will Gater
      Pages 27-48

  3. Our Active Solar System

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 50-50
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    2. Cassini and Its Saturnian Adventure

      • Will Gater
      Pages 51-76

    3. The Hidden Wanderers and a Cometary Meeting

      • Will Gater
      Pages 77-96

  4. Worlds Around Other Stars

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 98-98
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    2. Planetary Nurseries and Dusty Discs

      • Will Gater
      Pages 99-114

    3. The Discovery of Extrasolar Planets

      • Will Gater
      Pages 115-133

  5. The Universe at Large

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 136-136
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    2. The Universe on a Grand Scale

      • Will Gater
      Pages 137-153

    3. The Era of Hubble – From Disaster to Deep Field

      • Will Gater
      Pages 155-170

    4. Star Life in Starlight

      • Will Gater
      Pages 171-186

    5. Exotic Space

      • Will Gater
      Pages 187-212

  6. Back Matter

    Pages 213-239
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Keywords

About this book

In the last thirty years humans have probed the Universe, explored the Solar System and visited with spacecraft some of the most incredible places humans have ever laid eyes upon. We have expanded our knowledge slowly and surely, but still now only see a glimpse of the bigger picture. The Cosmic Keyhole explores the big discoveries of recent years and asks what’s next? How prolific is life in the Universe? How far back to the Big Bang can we probe? And what hidden treasures still await us in the hidden corners of our Solar System?

Reviews

From the reviews: “This is a journey through astronomical discoveries past, and what we have learned from and since. … The text is very up-to-date in terms of the latest science … . For those who have a curiosity about the Universe and would like to catch-up with all that has been happening in the past few years, then this book really is a must-buy.” (John Rowlands, Astronomy Now, April, 2010) “This is a series of short essays of topics of interest in modern astronomy. … This experience manifests itself in the ability to take cutting-edge research topics and present them at a level which is both clearly explained and informative without being too simplistic … . On the whole, this is a considered, well-written, and informative book which can be dipped into as the fancy takes one.” (Robert Argyle, The Observatory, Vol. 130 (1214), June, 2010) “The Cosmic Keyhole is an absorbing volume that presents recent developments in the fields of planetary science and astronomy at a level that is understandable to general readers and undergraduate students. … The work’s strengths include the author’s selection of subjects that will intrigue readers interested in astronomy; his engaging writing style; and the well-researched chapters … . Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates and general readers interested in astronomy and planetary studies.” (S. A. Russell Gonzalez, Choice, Vol. 47 (8), April, 2010)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Newton Abbot, United Kingdom

    William J.H. Gater

About the author

Will Gater has written for the UK’s top astronomy magazines and has appeared on television and radio (including the BBC’s The Sky At Night) to promote astronomy and science. He has worked for the European Space Agency's Hubble Space Telescope press office, the European Southern Observatory’s public outreach department and is a former News Editor of Astronomy Now magazine in the UK. He holds a degree in astrophysics from University College London. Today Gater writes for the BBC’s Sky At Night magazine. He regularly blogs about astronomy on his website www.willgater.com.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: The Cosmic Keyhole

  • Book Subtitle: How Astronomy Is Unlocking the Secrets of the Universe

  • Authors: William J.H. Gater

  • Series Title: Astronomers' Universe

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0513-0

  • Publisher: Springer New York, NY

  • eBook Packages: Physics and Astronomy, Physics and Astronomy (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Springer-Verlag New York 2009

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4419-0512-3Published: 15 September 2009

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-1-4899-8140-0Published: 18 September 2014

  • eBook ISBN: 978-1-4419-0513-0Published: 18 September 2009

  • Series ISSN: 1614-659X

  • Series E-ISSN: 2197-6651

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XXIV, 254

  • Topics: Popular Science in Astronomy, Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology, Planetology

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