Best Selling Books by J. Richard Gott

A Princeton astrophysicist explores whether journeying to the past or future is scientifically possible in this “intriguing” volume (Neil deGrasse Tyson). It was H. G. Wells who coined the term “time machine”—but the concept of time travel, both forward and backward, has always provoked fascination and yearning. It has mostly been dismissed as an impossibility in the world of physics; yet theories posited by Einstein, and advanced by scientists including Stephen Hawking and Kip Thorne, suggest that the phenomenon could actually occur. Building on these ideas, J. Richard Gott, a professor who has written on the subject for Scientific American, Time, and other publications, describes how travel to the future is not only possible but has already happened—and contemplates whether travel to the past is also conceivable. This look at the surprising facts behind the science fiction of time travel “deserves the attention of anyone wanting wider intellectual horizons” (Booklist). “Impressively clear language. Practical tips for chrononauts on their options for travel and the contingencies to prepare for make everything sound bizarrely plausible. Gott clearly enjoys his subject and his excitement and humor are contagious; this book is a delight to read.” —Publishers Weekly

An essential companion to the New York Times bestseller Welcome to the Universe Here is the essential companion to Welcome to the Universe, a New York Times bestseller that was inspired by the enormously popular introductory astronomy course for non science majors that Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michael A. Strauss, and J. Richard Gott taught together at Princeton. This problem book features more than one hundred problems and exercises used in the original course—ideal for anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of the original material and to learn to think like an astrophysicist. Whether you’re a student or teacher, citizen scientist or science enthusiast, your guided tour of the cosmos just got even more hands-on with Welcome to the Universe: The Problem Book. The essential companion book to the acclaimed bestseller Features the problems used in the original introductory astronomy course for non science majors at Princeton University Organized according to the structure of Welcome to the Universe, empowering readers to explore real astrophysical problems that are conceptually introduced in each chapter Problems are designed to stimulate physical insight into the frontier of astrophysics Problems develop quantitative skills, yet use math no more advanced than high school algebra Problems are often multipart, building critical thinking and quantitative skills and developing readers’ insight into what astrophysicists do Ideal for course use—either in tandem with Welcome to the Universe or as a supplement to courses using standard astronomy textbooks—or self-study Tested in the classroom over numerous semesters for more than a decade Prefaced with a review of relevant concepts and equations Full solutions and explanations are provided, allowing students and other readers to check their own understanding

Semi-autobiographical discussion of astronomy and astronomers, and history of astronomy and cosmology.--

"This is a condensed edition of Welcome to the Universe - essentially a pocket-sized version of the original "astrophysical tour" of the cosmos. In 8 chapters (compared to the original 24 chapters), the reader learns the essential astrophysics everyone should know -- about the size and scale of the universe; the solar system; the lives/deaths of stars; the search for life in the galaxy; our Milky Way; galaxies, the Big Bang and the expanding universe; inflation and the multiverse; and our future in the cosmos. For those who may have felt that Welcome to the Universe was a bit beyond them, this book covers all the essentials in an even more accessible and concise fashion, while imparting real physical insight into how the universe works by the book''s end"--

Presenting a rich array of stereoscopic color images, which can be viewed in 3D using a special stereo viewer that folds easily out of the cover of the book, this book reveals your cosmic environment as you have never seen it before. Journey into the vast depths of the observable universe by visualising the most spectacular images in astronomy in stereoscopic 3D. Welcome to the Universe in 3D takes you on a grand tour of the observable universe, guiding you through the most spectacular sights in the cosmos a in breathtaking 3D. Astronomy is the story of how humankind''s perception of the two-dimensional dome of the sky evolved into a far deeper comprehension of an expanding three-dimensional cosmos. This book invites you to take part in this story by exploring the universe in depth, as revealed by cutting-edge astronomical research and observations. You will journey from the Moon through the solar system, out to exoplanets, distant nebulas, and galaxy clusters, until you finally reach the cosmic microwave background radiation (or CMB), the most distant light we can observe. The distances to these celestial wonders range from 1.3 light-seconds to 13.8 billion light-years. Along the way, the authors explain the fascinating features of what you are seeing, including how the 3D images were made using the same technique that early astronomers devised to measure distances to objects in space. The dramatic 3D images in this one-of-a-kind book will astonish you, extending your vision out to the farthest reaches of the universe. You will never look up into the night sky the same way again.

Using space photographs and scaled maps, demonstrates the actual size of objects in the cosmos, from Buzz Aldrin''s historic footprint on the Moon to the entire visible universe, with a gatefold of the Gott-Juric Map of the Universe.

Un giro mozzafiato del cosmo, dai pianeti alle stelle, dalle galassie ai buchi neri e ai loop temporali; una visione e una prospettiva cosmiche offerte attraverso una narrazione avvincente. Come vivono e muoiono le stelle? Ci sono altre possibilità di vita intelligente da qualche parte nell''universo? Come ha avuto inizio l’universo? Perché si sta espandendo e sta accelerando? E il nostro universo è unico oppure parte di un multiverso infinito? Gli autori di best-seller e famosi astrofisici Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michael A. Strauss e J. Richard Gott guidano il lettore in un indimenticabile viaggio di esplorazione che rivela come realmente funziona il nostro universo.

«La ragnatela cosmica non è solamente una storia ben raccontata sulle frontiere della conoscenza del cosmo. È anche uno stimolo per continuare a esplorarle». Michael Blanton, Nature «Con lo sguardo tipico di chi le cose le conosce dall’interno, Gott ci racconta come gli scienziati siano riusciti a rivelare la struttura macroscopica dell’Universo. Mescolando scienza, succosi aneddoti e storie personali, Gott ci offre una descrizione completa, vivace e affascinante della ragnatela cosmica che costituisce il nostro mondo». Publishers Weekly La Via Lattea ha circa 300 miliardi di stelle. Di fronte a numeri di questa impensabile enormità la mente vacilla, ma non è che l’inizio della storia di questo libro. J. Richard Gott è stato uno dei primi cosmologi a proporre un modello nel quale la struttura del nostro universo somiglia a una spugna, fatta da ammassi di galassie connessi tra loro attraverso filamenti di galassie, a formare una gigantesca «ragnatela cosmica» che si sviluppa attorno a immensi spazi vuoti. Negli anni questa ragnatela è stata effettivamente mappata e questo libro è il racconto di prima mano, da parte di un protagonista assoluto della vicenda, di come una generazione di teorici e di astronomi sia riuscita a svelare la struttura macroscopica del cosmo. La storia prende piede con un mondo diviso in due dalla guerra fredda, nel quale la scuola americana si era concentrata su un modello basato su una struttura ad ammassi isolati, mentre quella sovietica descriveva una struttura fatta a nido d’ape, con le galassie disposte geometricamente attorno a grandi spazi privi di materia. Il lavoro di Gott si inserì in questa contesa, grazie a un’idea che l’autore aveva già iniziato a elaborare durante il liceo. In seguito, Gott misurò assieme a Mario Juric´ la Grande Muraglia Sloan, la più grande struttura di galassie mai mappata fino ad allora, coi suoi 1,37 miliardi di anni-luce di lunghezza (entrarono nel Guinness dei primati per questo). Mappando l’estremo confine dell’universo conosciuto, La ragnatela cosmica ci racconta i dettagli di questa affascinante ricerca e segna la via per una comprensione più accurata del cosmo che, grazie alla struttura di questa gigantesca ragnatela, ci appare sempre più chiara.

En el universo newtoniano, el viaje en el tiempo era una fantasía inconcebible. Sin embargo, en determinadas condiciones, en el universo de Einstein esta paradoja puede hacerse realidad. Richard Gott, astrofísico de la Universidad de Princeton y uno de los más destacados investigadores de esta materia, nos acompaña en un fascinante periplo hasta los límites más sorprendentes de la imaginación y la ciencia: ¿qué haríamos si dispusiéramos de una máquina del tiempo?, ¿nos lanzaríamos a un recorrido turístico por los siglos futuros?, ¿podríamos regresar al pasado y alterar el curso de la historia? Richard Gott comienza describiendo cómo algunas obras clásicas de ciencia-ficción —desde La máquina del tiempo de H.G. Wells hasta la serie televisiva Star Trek — anticiparon, con gran agudeza, algunas propuestas de la física contemporánea. Explica a continuación que los viajes al futuro no sólo son posibles (tal como Einstein demostró), sino que ya han sucedido realmente, pues los astronautas que hasta ahora han salido al espacio de hecho han envejecido ligeramente menos que el resto de los humanos. El autor examina después si, dadas determinadas circunstancias, es posible viajar al pasado. Pero quizá lo más sorprendente de este libro, tan apasionante como riguroso, radica en el hecho de que el estudio de los viajes en el tiempo puede aportar datos para una nueva teoría sobre el origen del universo.

Un pasaporte para acceder a las maravillas de nuestro cosmos cambiante. Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michael A. Strauss y J. Richard Gott, reconocidos astrofísicos, proponen un recorrido de exploración por el universo para conocer su verdadero funcionamiento. ¿Cómo se forman y extinguen las estrellas? ¿Cuál es la probabilidad de que haya vida inteligente en otros lugares? ¿Cómo empezó el universo? ¿Por qué está en expansión acelerada? La respuesta a estos interrogantes y muchos más convierte a esta obra en un pasaporte para acceder a las maravillas de nuestro cosmos cambiante.

Das Universum für die Hosentasche bietet eine atemberaubende Tour durch den Kosmos – von Planeten, Sternen und Galaxien bis hin zu schwarzen Löchern und Zeitschleifen. Die Bestsellerautoren und renommierten Astrophysiker Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michael A. Strauss und J. Richard Gott laden zu einer unvergesslichen Entdeckungsreise ein, die zeigt, wie unser Universum tatsächlich funktioniert. Dieses Buch führt von unserem heimischen Sonnensystem bis zu den äußersten Grenzen des Weltraums und erweitert den kosmischen Einblick und die eigene Perspektive durch eine wunderbar unterhaltsame Erzählung. Wie leben und sterben Sterne? Wie sind die Aussichten auf intelligentes Leben anderswo im Universum? Wie hat das Universum begonnen? Warum dehnt es sich aus und beschleunigt sich? Ist unser Universum allein oder Teil eines unendlichen Multiversums? Mit diesen und vielen anderen Fragen beschäftigt sich dieses handliche Buch, das mit der kürzesten Reise durch die Astrophysik einen Einblick in die Wunder unseres Kosmos gibt.

Uma Breve Saudação ao Universo embarca-nos numa arrebatadora viagem pelo cosmos, levando-nos a visitar planetas, estrelas e galáxias, a conhecer o interior dos buracos negros e a compreender os chamados laços temporais. Os aclamados astrofísicos Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michael A. Strauss e J. Richard Gott guiam-nos ao longo de uma inesquecível viagem de exploração para nos revelarem como o nosso universo realmente funciona. Catapultando-nos desde o nosso sistema solar até às derradeiras fronteiras do espaço, este livro ajuda-nos a criar uma perspetiva cósmica através de uma narrativa maravilhosamente divertida. Como é que as estrelas vivem e morrem? Quais são as expectativas de encontrar vida inteligente noutras partes do universo? Como é que o universo começou? Porque é que se está a expandir e a acelerar? O nosso universo está sozinho ou faz parte de um multiverso infinito? Explorando estas e muitas outras questões, este livro é o seu passaporte para as maravilhas do nosso cosmos em evolução.

Companion to Welcome to the Universe, a New York Times bestseller that was inspired by the enormously popular introductory astronomy course for non science majors that Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michael A. Strauss, and J. Richard Gott taught together at Princeton. This problem book features more than one hundred problems and exercises used in the original course-ideal for anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of the original material and to learn to think like an astrophysicist. Whether you''re a student or teacher, citizen scientist or science enthusiast, your guided tour of the cosmos just got even more hands-on with Welcome to the Universe: The Problem Book. The problems used in the original introductory astronomy course for non science majors at Princeton University organized according to the structure of Welcome to the Universe, empowering readers to explore real astrophysical problems that are conceptually introduced in each chapter. Problems are designed to stimulate physical insight into the frontier of astrophysics. Problems develop quantitative skills, yet use math no more advanced than high school algebra. Problems are often multipart, building critical thinking and quantitative skills and developing readers'' insight into what astrophysicists do. Ideal for course use-either in tandem with Welcome to the Universe or as a supplement to courses using standard astronomy textbooks or self-study. Tested in the classroom over numerous semesters for decades. Prefaced with a review of relevant concepts and equations. Full solutions and explanations are provided, allowing students and other readers to check their own understanding.