Planet Hunters: The Search for Extraterrestrial Life (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781780238142)

Astronomers are on the verge of answering one of our most profound questions: are we alone in the universe? The ability to detect life in remote solar systems is at last within sight, and its discovery--even if only in microbial form--would revolutionize our self-image. Planet Hunters is the rollicking tale of the search for extraterrestrial life and the history of an academic discipline.

Astronomer Lucas Ellerbroek takes readers on a fantastic voyage through space, time, history, and even to the future as he describes the field of exoplanet research, from the early ideas of sixteenth-century heretic Giordano Bruno to the discovery of the first exoplanet in 1995 to the invention of the Kepler Space Telescope. We join him on his travels as he meets with leading scientists in the field, including Michel Mayor, who discovered the first exoplanet, and Bill Borucki, principal investigator for NASA's Kepler mission. Taken together, the experiences, passion, and perseverance of the scientists featured here make the book an exciting and compelling read.

Presenting cutting-edge research in a dynamic and accessible way, Planet Hunters is a refreshing look into a field where new discoveries come every week and paradigms shift every year.


Author: Lucas Ellerbroek
ISBN-10: 1780238142
ISBN-13: 9781780238142
Publisher: Reaktion Books
Language: English
Published: 10/15/2017
Pages: 248
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.00lbs
Size: 8.60h x 5.70w x 1.10d

Review Citation(s):
Shelf Awareness 09/22/2017
Choice 06/01/2018