Royal Observatory Greenwich Illuminates – serie

Black holes seem like the stuff of science fiction, but the reality behind these astronomical objects is even more peculiar. So strong is the gravity within a black hole not even light can escape it, but that is just one piece of the puzzle.The science behind black holes is notoriously complex, but this concise introduction reveals how some general principles form the basis of our understanding of them, before exploring the possibilities of time travel, wormholes and spaghettification (not as tasty as it sounds!).Astronomer Dr Ed Bloomer gives you a whistle-stop guide to the fate of the Universe, the mechanics of a black hole and, most importantly, instructions for what to do should you fall into one! Discover how scientists detect these amazing phenomena and why you should probably avoid them at all costs.

The enormous significance of the Sun to our lives has been felt ever since ominous eclipses and mysterious sunspots were observed many thousands of years ago. Scientists and astronomers from many different fields have contributed over the centuries to the rich knowledge we have of the Sun and its relationship with the Earth.What is the Sun made of? What is the solar wind? What could magnetism have to do with the Sun? How have scientists madethese discoveries, and what does it all mean for us here on Earth? And what of the deep scientific mysteries that remain unresolved? Understanding our closest star has never been more important.Delve into the secrets of the Sun in this guide from Brendan Owens, Astronomer Emeritus for Royal Observatory Greenwich and Open Science Coordinator at Science Gallery at Trinity College Dublin.

Space is far bigger than humanity can conceive. Although our ancestors visually examined the skies to make sense of the Universe for centuries, space exploration in its truest sense is just a moment in this historical timeline, yet it is how we've significantly improved our understanding of the cosmos.This book begins with the evolution of astronomy, including notable characters, scientific breakthroughs and pinnacle moments. It delves into the development of robotic spacecraft and what uncrewed and crewed missions have uncovered. It questions how this knowledge will aid us in our future space adventures, and highlights the myriad questions that remain unanswered.From stargazing to stepping on the Moon, and from space stations to the prospect of commercial spaceflight, learn more in Dhara Patel's concise history of space exploration.

Given that it includes literally everything in existence, it’s not surprising that the Universe is the source of some of the greatest mysteries in physics. How big is it? How did it begin? And, perhaps more worryingly, how will it end?Through cosmology, the study of the evolution and structure of the Universe, experts have been attempting to untangle these tricky topics for centuries. They have found the faint traces of the Big Bang and shown that our Universe is expanding at a phenomenal rate. However, while their efforts have forged our core understanding of physics and earned them a number of Nobel Prizes, there is much that eludes us still.Explore the secrets of the cosmos with astronomer Dr Greg Brown as he entertains our fascination with impossible questions inthis pocket guide to everything that ever was and ever will be.

Have you ever looked up at the night sky and thought, 'is there anybody out there?' The stars you see are the suns of other solar systems, each system with its own complex story of formation and evolution, perhaps leading to an environment where life can exist. The Search for Life explores the possibility of other life in the Universe, from the prospect of ancient bacteria locked away in dried up lakebeds on Mars to the likelihood of contacting an interstellar civilisation on the far side of the galaxy. Delve into extra-terrestrial possibilities, from the first suggestions of alien life to cutting edge missions actively seeking to answer one of life's biggest questions - are we alone?

As one of the five planets that can be seen in the night sky without the aid of a telescope, Mars has been a source of fascination for millennia. What is it about this dusty, dry world that has captured our imaginations so completely? Astronomer Patricia Skelton investigates our relationship with Mars, beginning with the earliest observations and the curious conundrums they generated and ending with our ambitious plans for future space missions. She explores how the Red Planet helped solve the mysteries of planetary motion, sparked furious debates about the possibilities of other life in the Solar System, became an early target of space exploration and has since been a testing ground for remarkable new technologies. Over the past 60 years, Mars has played host to a succession of spacecraft, landers and rovers that continue to expand our knowledge and have alsoinspired us to venture further. As we look to the future, how long will it be before astronauts join them on the distant planet's surface?

Moons come, quite literally, in all shapes and sizes. Our Moon is just one of more than 200 moons in the Solar System that we've identified so far. Scientists have discovered moons made of rock, others of ice. There are moons with atmospheres or with oceans hidden beneath their surfaces, and even some with active volcanoes. Others could perhaps be suitable for life!Astronomer Anna Gammon-Ross of Royal Observatory Greenwich travels through the Solar System, hopping from one moon to the next, to discover not only what these natural satellites have in common, but also what makes each one unique. Learn about the moons that can be found in and around Saturn's rings (and the many others we suspect there could be), the objects orbiting the distant dwarf planets and the curious theory of moon-moons.