Searching for the Oldest Stars: Ancient Relics from the Early Universe

(Paperback)

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Description

A leading astronomer takes readers behind the scenes of the thrilling science of stellar archaeology Astronomers study the oldest observable stars in the universe in much the same way archaeologists study ancient artifacts on Earth. Anna Frebel takes readers into the far-flung depths of space and time to provide a gripping firsthand account of the cutting-edge science of stellar archaeology. Weaving the latest findings in astronomy with her own compelling insights as one of the world's leading researchers in the field, she explains how sections of the night sky are "excavated" in the hunt for these extremely rare, 13-billion-year-old relic stars and how this astonishing quest is revealing tantalizing new details about the origins and evolution of the cosmos. Along the way, Frebel recounts her own stories of discovery, offering an insider's perspective on this exciting frontier of science.

Reviews

"Frebel's narrative provides a rich picture of the understandings astronomers have gleaned from studies of the elements in stars."Laurence A. Marschall, Natural History
"A delight."Matt Sutherland, Foreword Reviews
"The core of Frebel's book, and the source of its appeal, is the joy it conveys."Brian Bethune, Maclean's
"An excellent description of how a scientist approaches and works through a research project and how her cutting-edge project fits into the larger view of modern astronomy."Choice
"A gripping account of astronomy and the thrill of scientific discovery."Dave Pugl, Library Journal

Author Bio

Anna Frebel is associate professor in the Department of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Twitter @annafrebel