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The Last Stargazers: The Enduring Story of Astronomy's Vanishing Explorers

The Last Stargazers: The Enduring Story of Astronomy's Vanishing Explorers

by Emily M. Levesque

Sourcebooks ·2020 ·336 pages
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About This Book

The story of the people who see beyond the stars Humans from the earliest civilizations were spellbound by the night sky-craning their necks each night, they used the stars to orient themselves in the large, strange world around them. Stargazing is a pursuit that continues to fascinate us: from Copernicus to Carl Sagan, astronomers throughout history have spent their lives trying to answer the biggest questions in the universe. Now, award-winning astronomer Emily Levesque shares the stories of modern-day stargazers, the people willing to adventure across high mountaintops and to some of the most remote corners of the planet, all in the name of science. From the lonely quiet of midnight stargazing to tall tales of wild bears loose in the observatory, The Last Stargazers is a love letter to astronomy and an affirmation of the crucial role that humans can and must play in the future of scientific discovery. In this sweeping work of narrative science, Levesque shows how astronomers in this scrappy and evolving field are going beyond the machines to infuse creativity and passion into the stars and inspires us all to peer skyward in pursuit of the universe's secrets.


Reviews

"This will particularly appeal to young women interested in science, but any stargazer would enjoy this joyous adventure through modern astronomy."

Publishers Weekly Read review ↗ Top of the Pile

"Levesque knows how to tell a story, and her conversational style and clear, easygoing prose bring readers into the action, whether it's her own first experience of a total eclipse or another astronomer's discovery of a supernova with the naked eye."

Deborah Hopkinson· BookPage Read review ↗ Top of the Pile

"In a bright voice, Levesque covers wide ground, observing details both atmospheric...and mundane ..."

Kirkus Read review ↗ Top of the Pile

"Levesque charts a course through the rapidly evolving field of astronomy."

Katie Noah Gibson· Shelf Awareness Read review ↗ Top of the Pile

"Rudimentary physics knowledge will enhance the reading experience, but it is not necessary."

Pauline Moll· Booklist Read review ↗ Top of the Pile

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