Gravity's Fatal Attraction: Black Holes in the Universe ("Scientific American" Library)

by Martin J . Rees (Author), Mitchell C . Begelman (Author)

• Used

  Paperback
  1998

  $4.33

  'For years, black holes have caught the public's imagination - quite rightly so, for they are extraordinary objects. Now Martin Rees and Mitchell Begelman have provided us with a dramatic, elegant, and fully authoritative account of these remarkable structures, and of how they fit into our modern picture of the universe.' - Roger Penrose With superb illustrations and photographs, Mitchell Begelman and Martin Rees, the Astronomer Royal, describe how black holes were found and what their existence implies for the evolution of our universe.

• Used

  Paperback
  2009

  $3.25

  Richly illustrated with the images from observatories on the ground and in space, and computer simulations, this book shows how black holes were discovered, and discusses our current understanding of their role in cosmic evolution. This second edition covers new discoveries made in the past decade, including definitive proof of a black hole at the center of the Milky Way, evidence that the expansion of the Universe is accelerating, and the new appreciation of the connection between black holes and galaxy formation. There are entirely new chapters on gamma-ray bursts and cosmic feedback. Begelman and Rees blend theoretical arguments with observational results to demonstrate how both approaches contributed to this subject. Clear illustrations and photographs reveal the strange and amazing workings of our universe. The engaging style makes this book suitable for introductory undergraduate courses, amateur astronomers, and all readers interested in astronomy and physics.