ight from the Void: Twenty Years of Discovery with NASA’s Chandra X-Ray Observatory, by Kimberly Arcand, Grant Tremblay, Megan Watzke, Martin C. Weisskopf, and Belinda J. Wilkes, Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Books, 2019, ISBN 978-1-5883-46698, hardbound, $45.00, U.S.
Reviewed by Francine Jackson
One of the more wonderful aspects of astronomy is the beauty of the universe. Breathtaking details reveal the mysteries of what can, and often can’t, be seen. Such is the case with this incredible collection of images from the “workhorse” X-ray observatory, Chandra.
An X-ray telescope of such proportions was proposed decades earlier, and although this isn’t the first of its kind launched into space, Chandra has shown itself as an excellent complement to the telescopes of other wavelengths: the Hubble Space telescope, the Compton Gamma-Ray observatory, and the Spitzer Space telescope, for infrared.
Launched from Space Shuttle Columbia on July 23, 1999, Chandra has, in its unique orbit that takes it partially to the Moon, been sending a plethora of computer language that translates into incredible information, from the birth and death of stars, to black holes, both from star death and within the center of our own galaxy, to northern and southern lights on Jupiter.
Many of us don’t normally think of what is over our heads in anything but the visible, yet there is so much else that we must take into account, and Light from the Void certainly reminds us to think of the sky in another way.
The authors have, in addition to introducing the reader to the history of this instrument, shown some of the awesome images that have been downloaded from it. Some of them have also been layered with information from the other telescopes, but they all show the majesty of the X-ray universe. Although some of the images in Light from the Void are familiar to us, such as the Rosette, M42, and the beautiful galaxy M51, many of them are objects that don’t readily come to mind, but are just as incredible in this wavelength. Each image is described, and given its size and distance from Earth, including recognizable objects from the Large Magellanic Cloud, and clusters of galaxies described in beautiful detail.
The authors, who all are intimately involved in the workings of Chandra, have introduced the reader to a craft that has very quietly been doing its work and showing such detail for 20 years, reminding us that the universe is much more than what the eye can see. Chandra has been performing for 2 decades; it is believed it can continue its mission for at least another, if not longer.
Many will probably just enjoy the vivid details of the images, and keep it as a beautiful coffee table book; however, whether the reader is interested in just looking at the “pictures,” a perfectly good reason to have this book in your library, or actually wants to become familiar with the history of Chandra, this book is an incredible experience.
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From the Publisher
A must read for every executive - inspiration for finding new markets in the void.
I am a retired an executive. But when I worked, it was to define new business and products that will grow the company and provide future prosperity for our employees, our investors, and the world. In doing market analysis, we look at “black space” and attempt to see if there is any opportunity in it. Of course I am using that as a metaphor for this book, but the inspiration could help propel people to new heights.For example, these photos are taken by pointing an X-ray telescope at the black space. But then we learn that the space is not really black. It is filled with these amazing astronomical phenomena that are truly inspiring as much as they are wonderful to see.I only list one example in the way that this book can inspire the reader. My teenage son sees these images and has memories of the Star Trek movie series.In any and all cases, it is very nice to have such a beautifully designed book on my coffee table.
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- Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2020
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The photographs in this book are out of this world!
I got this coffee table book for a kid who dreams of being an astronaut, something to continue inspiring her and keep the dream alive, and the moment I started flipping through it, my mind was blown. This is so much more... impressive and spectacular than what I was hoping for.
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