From Publishers Weekly
At the center of the Milky Way galaxy, 28,000 light-years from Earth, lies a true heart of darkness, a supermassive black hole containing the equivalent of almost three million suns in an area smaller than the orbit of Mars. Lying between the constellations Sagittarius and Scorpio, this black hole, labeled by scientists Sagittarius A*, cannot be seen with the largest visible-light telescopes because dark dust clouds hide it from our view. In recent years, however, with the advancement of radio and X-ray imaging, scientists are breathtakingly close to "seeing" a black hole. Astrophysicist Melia sys that most galaxies with a central bulge, like the Milky Way, have such a black hole at their center; he also says such black holes are scattered throughout galaxies as well, but unless we someday discover one wandering through space close to Earth-not a comforting thought-Sagittarius A* remains our best bet for exploring this mysterious phenomenon. If a star makes a wrong turn into the neighborhood of a black hole, Melia explains, it is not necessarily doomed to be captured by the latter's gravitational handcuff and dragged to oblivion. Melia uses well-chosen earthbound metaphors to explain these arcane concepts, and he lays out the theoretical underpinnings with mathematics simple enough for readers with basic college algebra or physics to follow. Astronomy buffs will find this account both engrossing and informative. 40 color, 2 b&w illus.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
A delightful book containing wonderful images and illustrations portraying the center of our galaxy as a region with a personality and character worthy of great study. The sort of book you would read on a cold rainy night by the fireside--with your imagination marveling at the journey the author takes you on. . . . You generally come away feeling you have learned some fresh physics and are compelled to agree that supermassive black holes are a reality. -- Kevin Long, Astronomy
Professional and armchair astronomers alike will delight in [Melia's] scientific erudition, lucid style, and sophisticated charm. . . . After all, anyone who can quote St. Augustine on the quixotic nature of time while simultaneously explaining how event horizons and singularity in black holes eliminate time must be a master teacher. -- Jim Bencivenga, The Christian Science Monitor
Astronomy buffs will find this account both engrossing and informative. -- Publishers Weekly
Space enthusiasts, and people interested in the nature of our universe, who want some light reading material will enjoy Melia's little book about a huge discovery in astrophysics. -- Linda Rowan, Science
Astronomers call it Sagittarius A*, but that hardly paints a vivid picture of the star-swallowing, light-bending, time-slowing monstrosity lurking a mere 28,000 light years from your front door. -- Marcus Chown, New Scientist
Interested in black holes? This is the book for you! . . . Melia takes readers on a tour unlike any other--to the very heart of our galaxy, the Milky Way. . . . He also provides an excellent primer on basic gravitational theory, particle physics, and relativity--not a mean feat for a book aimed at the layperson. -- Choice
Melia is a gifted astrophysicist and a compelling storyteller who mixes beautiful language with the jargon of astrophysics to tell a riveting tale of discovery and exploration at the heart of the Milky Way. . . . [This is] a gripping, well-told tale by a scientist whose work is at the forefront of black-hole research. What Melia has crafted here is nothing short of a scientific detective story. . . . If you're in the mood for a good astronomical detective tale to read on a dark and stormy night, this well-written, nicely illustrated work will keep you riveted to the page. -- Carolyn Collins Peterson, Sky & Telescope
The Black Hole at the Center of Our Galaxy is the story of the discovery of an astonishing object that has presented yet another new challenge to our understanding of astronomy, specifically galactic evolution. -- Terrell Kent Holmes, Mercury
The mind- and spacetime-bending subject of this timely book is bound to have a broad appeal, and Melia amplifies that appeal with a carefully crafted lyrical writing style and a striking collection of handsome color images. . . . Fortunately, Melia is an excellent wordsmith. His book is aimed at the lay public and is ideally suited as a supplemental reading for students in a general education course in physics or astronomy. -- Mark R. Morris, Physics Today
