The Violent Universe. Joyrides Through the X-ray Cosmos

The Universe is filled with extreme events : galactic collisions, supernova eruptions, and stellar implosions. Although not always visible through optical telescopes, these processes generate x-rays, high-energy particles that travel at the speed of light. The violent Universe reveals how astronomers use color to understand the energy and intensity of these x-rays - in the process transforming invisible particles into gorgeous images of the cosmos - and how these scientists discover more about the exotic objects that produce them. Kimberly Weaver traces the development of x-ray astronomy from the 1950s, when the first artificial satellites began transmitting information from deep space. By juxtaposing a selection of images from optical telescopes with those of cutting-edge x-ray telescopes, she illustrates the way x-ray astronomy captures energy and activity that cannot be seen in visible light. The book includes stunning four-color images of galaxies, quasars, pulsars, and black holes captured by Chandra, an enormous x-ray satellite that orbits Earth from a distance Zoo times higher than that of the Hubble Space Telescope. The violent Universe makes plain the amazing new astronomy that has unmasked the thunderous cosmos - a dynamic science that daily creates breathtaking art.