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Liepman Literary Agency
Marc Koralnik
Original language
English
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http://aftar.uaa.alaska.edu/

COLORING THE UNIVERSE: An Insider's Look at Making Spectacular Images of Space

Travis Rector Kimberley Arcand Megan Watzke

We are in what many consider a golden age of astronomy. Modern telescopes produce terabytes of information that lead to thousands if not millions of images a year—some of which make their way onto billboards, commercials, and tablet screens, walking the tightrope between science and art. But are these images “real”? Coloring the Universe will delve deep into how space images come to be, opening a window into this confluence of science and art for novices and veteran astronomers alike. Readers will learn the basics of light, how astronomers and their telescopes capture data from cosmic objects, the meaning colors can have physiologically and psychologically, and how data is translated into beautiful images. Ultimately, the book reveals how our remarkable vision of the universe impacts our place right here on Earth. DR. TRAVIS RECTOR is a professor of astrophysics at the University of Alaska whose space images have been featured in National Geographic and The New York Times. KIMBERLY ARCAND and MEGAN WATZKE work with NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and are co-authors of Light: Beyond the Bulb (Black Dog & Leventhal, Fall 2015) and Your Ticket to the Universe (Smithsonian, 2013). Their writings have appeared in the New York Times online, the Christian Science Monitor online, National Geographic online, SEED magazine online, Mercury magazine, Sky and Telescope's Beautiful Universe annual publication, and numerous professional journals. They are widely recognized as creative leaders in reaching out to the public and exposing new audiences to the wonders of astronomy.
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Published 2015-11-01 by University of Alaska Press

Comments

“What singles this book out is how it lifts the curtain on the processes by which these spectacular images are made. There are explanations of the astrophysics of celestial objects, how telescopes and cameras capture and record light, as well as the software techniques used to create these striking images After reading it you'll probably never look at an astronomy image in quite the same way again.”

Review BBC Sky at Night Magazine

“What's really remarkable about this...is how much this one book, with no equations or equipment lessons, can teach the reader about the art and science of observational astronomy...it's a peek behind-the-scenes at how astronomers are creatively and artistically enabling humanity to see the full extent of what's present. You'll never ask, “is this what my eyes would see?” at another image after reading this book. Instead, you'll be thankful for how much more modern astronomy can show us.”

Review Forbes

“The dozens of gorgeous astronomical images herein make a feast for astronomy lovers...Coloring the Universe...is a treasure...will make thousands of astronomy enthusiasts very happy this holiday season.”

Review Astronomy Magazine

“Few things in life are more vibrant, more beautiful and more majestic than images of space. Thankfully, Coloring the Universe presents everything from nebulae, supernovas, distant galaxies and beyond in one jaw-dropping book.”

Review Chicago Tribune

“Excellent...brings a photographer's sensibility to the book, explaining just how NASA made some of the stunning photos we too often take for granted.”

Review Wired