An astonishing tour of the key astronomical events of the past century, and of all the accidents and human error involved in our pursuit of asteroids, radio waves, new stars and alien life. Our view of the Universe is changing. The timeless heavens, turning ceaselessly above us, have been revealed to be dynamic and ever-changing, requiring a new kind of astronomy. On mountaintops and in deserts around the world, new telescopes are being built to show us this changing sky. But amongst all this technological development, the major astronomical events of the past century have largely come about by accident - found not by careful experiment but as surprises when we were looking for something else entirely. - The most promising habitat for life beyond Earth turns out to be Saturn's tiny moon Enceladus, whose oceans were revealed as NASA's Cassini probe happened to swing by. - Pulsars, the remnants of long-dead massive stars, were originally just 'scruff' in the data of radio astronomers looking at distant galaxies. - Telescopes around the world sprung into action to follow the visit of our first, unexpected, interstellar visitor, an asteroid from another system. - And we get the most from the Hubble Space Telescope by pointing it at nothing ... Chris Lintott takes us on an astonishing tour of accidents and human error in pursuit of asteroids, pulsars, radio waves, new stars and alien life. On the threshold of opening a new window on the cosmos through new surveys and instruments, his book is an urgent argument for how keeping an open mind can benefit us all - whatever might still be out there for us to find. ....................... Praise for Chris Lintott 'Superbly written insights.' - Professor Brian Cox 'Chris Lintott is a modest genius. He has quietly revolutionized modern astronomy.' Brian May 'Lintott deftly interweaves personal experience and more philosophical ruminations.' Michael West, Nature

Details

ISBN13: 9781911709183
Format: Hardback
Number of Pages: 272
Edition:
Publication Date: 21 Apr 2024
Publisher: Transworld Publishers Ltd
Publication City, Country: United Kingdom
Dimensions (cm): 240(H)x162(L)x27(W)480
Weight (gm): 480

Author Biography

Chris Lintott is a Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Oxford, where his research ranges from understanding how galaxies form and evolve, to predicting the properties of visiting interstellar asteroids. He is Principal Investigator of the Zooniverse citizen science platform, which provides opportunities for anyone to contribute to scientific research, and which was the topic of his first book, 'The Crowd and the Cosmos'. Lintott is best known as presenter of the BBC's long-running Sky at Night program, and as an accomplished lecturer and performer in venues from music festivals to planetaria. In 2023, he was appointed the 39th Gresham Professor of Astronomy, a post that dates back to the 16th century. Away from work, he cooks, plays real tennis and spends time with a rescued lurcher, Mr Max, with whom he presents the Dog Stars podcast.

Reviews

A riveting real-life Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. -- Simon Ings * The Telegraph *
Highly approachable and elegantly explained ... a splendid book. -- Steven Poole * Spectator *
An enjoyable tour of astronomical discoveries…His excellent book is a layman’s guide to the surprises. -- Nick Rennison * Daily Mail *
Entertaining and enlightening. * The Idler *
Dense with information, Our Accidental Universe is also light-hearted and funny, thanks to Lintott’s nerdy humour, especially in the many footnotes. But most of all, his boundless enthusiasm for everything cosmic makes it hard to put this book away once you start reading. -- Govert Schilling * BBC Sky at Night Magazine *
Chris Lintott has an eye for the most entertaining astronomical stories and the experience to take us behind the scenes. Highly recommended. -- Tristan Gooley
Chris Lintott’s extravagantly entertaining book is a real eye-opener for those who, like me, struggle to know the difference between a pulsar and a comet. Warmly informative, and underpinned with wry, self-deprecating humour and deep expertise, it’s an indispensable addition to any science-lover’s library. -- Lev Parikian, author of Taking Flight
I really enjoyed this. A fascinating book full of lively anecdotes and expert insight: Our Accidental Universe opens up a world of possibilities. As the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence continues, perhaps we are the ones who will be discovered first? -- Professor Helene Courtois, astrophysicist and author of Finding Our Place in the Universe
Grab a front row seat! Chris Lintott’s Our Accidental Universe is wonderfully engaging, full to bursting with remarkable, celestial tales of the unexpected. -- Ananyo Bhattacharya, science writer and author of The Man from the Future
A fascinating look at the strange and alien side of space from a wonderfully human astronomer. -- Dr Lucy Rogers