Publisher Description

Julia Ward Howe Award Finalist
NBC News "Top Science and Tech Books of the Year" selection
Scientific American/FSG "Favorite Science Books of the Year" selection
Nature.com "Top Reads of the Year" selection
Kirkus Reviews "Best Books of the Year" selection
Discover magazine "Top 5 Summer Read"
"A masterful balance of science, history and rich narrative." -Discover magazine
"Hirshfeld tells this climactic discovery of the expanding universe with great verve and sweep, as befits a story whose scope, characters and import leave most fiction far behind." -Wall Street Journal
"Starlight Detectives is just the sort of richly veined book I love to read-full of scientific history and discoveries, peopled by real heroes and rogues, and told with absolute authority. Alan Hirshfeld's wide, deep knowledge of astronomy arises not only from the most careful scholarship, but also from the years he's spent at the telescope, posing his own questions to the stars." -DAVA SOBEL, author of A More Perfect Heaven: How Copernicus Revolutionized the Cosmos and Longitude
In 1929, Edwin Hubble announced the greatest discovery in the history of astronomy since Galileo first turned a telescope to the heavens. The galaxies, previously believed to float serenely in the void, are in fact hurtling apart at an incredible speed: the universe is expanding. This stunning discovery was the culmination of a decades-long arc of scientific and technical advancement. In its shadow lies an untold, yet equally fascinating, backstory whose cast of characters illuminates the gritty, hard-won nature of scientific progress.
The path to a broader mode of cosmic observation was blazed by a cadre of nineteenth-century amateur astronomers and inventors, galvanized by the advent of photography, spectral analysis, and innovative technology to create the entirely new field of astrophysics. From William Bond, who turned his home into a functional observatory, to John and Henry Draper, a father and son team who were trailblazers of astrophotography and spectroscopy, to geniuses of invention such as Lon Foucault, and George Hale, who founded the Mount Wilson Observatory, Hirshfeld reveals the incredible stories-and the ambitious dreamers-behind the birth of modern astronomy.
Alan Hirshfeld, Professor of Physics at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and an Associate of the Harvard College Observatory, is the author of Parallax: The Race to Measure the Cosmos, The Electric Life of Michael Faraday, and Eureka Man: The Life and Legacy of Archimedes.

Author Biography

Alan Hirshfeld, Professor of Physics at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and an Associate of the Harvard College Observatory, received his undergraduate degree in astrophysics from Princeton and his Ph.D. in astronomy from Yale. He is the author of Parallax: The Race to Measure the Cosmos, The Electric Life of Michael Faraday, and Eureka Man: The Life and Legacy of Archimedes. He is a regular book reviewer for the Wall Street Journal and has contributed to Sky & Telescope, the American Journal of Physics, BBC History Magazine, and American Scientist. He has made radio and television appearances on NPR, PBS, and C-SPAN and lectures nationwide about science history and discovery.

Table of Contents

IntroductionProloguePart I: Picturing the Heavens1. Writing with Light2. True Eye and Faithful Hand3. The Ingenious Mechanic of Dorchester4. Summits of Silver5. The Man with the Oil-Can6. The Evangelists7. The Aristocrat and the Artisan8. Passion is Good, Obsession is Better9. From Closet to Cosmos10. Leaves of Glass11. The Grandest Failure12. An Uncivil WarPart II: Seeing the Light13. The Odd Couple14. What's My Line?15. Laboratory of Light16. Deconstructing the Sun17. A Strange Cryptography18. Trumpets and Telescopes19. Burn This Note20. A Spectacle of Suns21. The Cloud That Wasn't There22. The Union of Two AstronomiesPart III: Money, Mirrors, and Madness23. Mr. Hale of Chicago24. The Universe in the Mirror25. Threads to a WebPart IV: Expanding Horizons26. Size Matters27. A Night to Remember28. Oculis subjecta fidelibusAppendixNotesBibliographyAcknowledgementsIndex

Review

Julia Ward Howe Award Finalist NBC News "Top Science and Tech Books of the Year" selection Scientific American/FSG "Favorite Science Books of the Year" selection Nature.com "Top Reads of the Year" selection Kirkus Reviews "Best Books of the Year" selection Discover magazine "Top 5 Summer Read" "A masterful balance of science, history and rich narrative." --Discover magazine "Astrophysicist Hirshfeld chronicles the radical changes in our conception of the cosmos." --Scientific American (recommended feature review) "Tales of pioneering skywatchers and their discoveries in the 19th century show how modern astronomy was born." --Science News "Hirshfeld tells this climactic discovery of the expanding universe with great verve and sweep, as befits a story whose scope, characters and import leave most fiction far behind." --Wall Street Journal "Even today, amateurs trade images over the Internet that professional astronomers incorporate into their work. This abundant crossplay informs Starlight Detectives ... Author Alan Hirshfeld explains how 'the human eye itself was a fundamental roadblock to progress' and how the heroes are the ones who made higher-quality telescopes and photographs. Those who applied substances like collodion, and then gelatin, to create crisper photographic negatives, are key here. And because of mounting technological advances, our era boasts great gains and great excitement. Hirshfeld sums it up: 'The classical astronomer's question, 'Where is a star?' evolved into the astrophysicist's more profound inquiry, 'What is a star?'" --Boston Globe "Th[e] race to see deep space is told with palpable relish... No less rousing is Hirshfeld's rendition of the coda, as Edwin Hubble--using the 2.5-metre reflector telescope at Mount Wilson, California--discovered the expansion of the Universe and opened up the cosmos." --Nature: International Weekly Journal of Science "A tour-de-force... Eminently well written, the story lines immerse the reader in situations and events that provide real insight into the roles of numerous amateur (here meaning not formally trained) astronomers in moving the field forward, as well as how professional astronomers have worked with amateurs to the advantage of both. Hirshfeld's writing style brings the 19th century back to life and provides a rich tapestry of astronomical history." --American Journal of Physics "Wonderfully describes this era of astronomical innovation... [Hirshfeld] paints vivid portraits of the people, both professionals and amateurs, in Europe and the United States who drove th[e] shift from basic observational astronomy to more advanced astrophysics." --Space Review "Fascinating... Starlight Detectives is the story of an astronomical upheaval as profound as the Copernican revolution." --Planetary Society "An enjoyable and informative contribution to the history of astrophysics... [Hirshfeld] is a fine writer not only in the macro sense--his overall tale is a compelling one--but also in the micro sense--he writes terrific sentences, sometimes slyly witty, sometimes filled with interesting metaphors." --International Astronomical Union "Highly illuminating... A delightful, detailed chronicle of great men (and a rare woman) whose fascination with the night sky and the technology necessary to study it led to today's dramatic discoveries." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "This comprehensive rundown of the great names in astronomical detection makes for compelling biographical reading... Every researcher presented in this book is as lively in the text as if they were still personally scouring the heavens." --Foreword Reviews (5-star review) "A well-written and enjoyable title for astronomers--professional and amateur alike--as well as science history fans." --Library Journal "Reveal[s] the persistence and imagination required for scientific progress." --Princeton Alumni Weekly "Beautifully written, Starlight Detectives reminds us how the wonders of the modern universe would never have been possible without the ingenious advances made by pioneering scientists in the nineteenth century. They were the ones who first learned how to read the messages hidden within a star's radiations. With his poetic eye on the nighttime sky, Alan Hirshfeld engagingly shows how science arrived, step by step, at its revolutionary discovery that we live in but one galaxy amid multitudes flying outward in an expanding universe. A must-read for astronomy and history of science aficionados alike." --MARCIA BARTUSIAK, author of The Day We Found the Universe and Archives of the Universe "Hirshfeld documents how the practice of astronomy changed between 1840 and 1940 thanks to innovative pioneers whose efforts made it possible to capture and preserve otherwise faint and fleeting images, and to decipher the cryptographic messages found in the light of celestial bodies. His riveting narrative brings to life their challenges, failures, and successes. It will captivate all who have observed the night sky." --BARBARA J. BECKER, author of Unravelling Starlight: William and Margaret Huggins and the Rise of the New Astronomy "Writing this book would ideally require an author with an extensive knowledge of astronomy, including astronomical instruments, a deep understanding of the ways of thought of astronomers, a broad range of historical knowledge, and an exceptional skill at making astronomical ideas clear and engaging. Alan Hirshfeld possesses all of these skills. His Starlight Detectives is remarkable." --MICHAEL J. CROWE, author of The Extraterrestrial Life Debate, 1750--1900 "A thrilling historical account of the rise of astrophysics, the early years of astronomical photography and spectroscopy, and the innovations that transformed the astronomical telescope in the nineteenth century. Alan Hirshfeld's thoroughly researched narrative is accessible, entertaining, and scholarly, and includes many pioneers who have been overlooked until now. I greatly admire this outstanding contribution to the history of astronomy." --SIMON MITTON, co-author of Heart of Darkness: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Invisible Universe and author of Fred Hoyle: A Life in Science "Starlight Detectives is just the sort of richly veined book I love to read--full of scientific history and discoveries, peopled by real heroes and rogues, and told with absolute authority. Alan Hirshfeld's wide, deep knowledge of astronomy arises not only from the most careful scholarship, but also from the years he's spent at the telescope, posing his own questions to the stars." --DAVA SOBEL, author of A More Perfect Heaven: How Copernicus Revolutionized the Cosmos and Longitude

Promotional

Co-op availableSignificant galley printingPublicity outreach will include national print, public radio and TV, commercial radio, and online campaignsTour will include academic lectures, library talks, and bookstore appearances throughout Massachusetts as well as an appearance at the American Astronomical Society semiannual meeting in Boston (June 1-5, 2014)Teacher's guide development and academic and amateur astronomy club outreach, including Consortium subject catalog and Required Reading newsletter advertising and FYE/ Common Book program outreachSimultaneous eBook publication and promotionPostcards availableSerial adaptations from the book will likely appear in Sky & TelescopePossible promotion through the Scientific American and BOMC2 book clubsGiveaways through Goodreads and LibraryThingPromotion through BLP's website and social media networks (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube)Blurbs solicited from Neil deGrasse Tyson, Dava Sobel, Owen Gingerich, Marcia Bartusiak, David Levy, and Chet RaymoMarketing and publicity efforts supported by Molly Mikolowski of A Literary Light

Long Description

Julia Ward Howe Award Finalist NBC News "Top Science and Tech Books of the Year" selection Scientific American /FSG "Favorite Science Books of the Year" selection Nature.com "Top Reads of the Year" selection Kirkus Reviews "Best Books of the Year" selection Discover magazine "Top 5 Summer Read" "A masterful balance of science, history and rich narrative." -- Discover magazine "Hirshfeld tells this climactic discovery of the expanding universe with great verve and sweep, as befits a story whose scope, characters and import leave most fiction far behind." -- Wall Street Journal " Starlight Detectives is just the sort of richly veined book I love to read--full of scientific history and discoveries, peopled by real heroes and rogues, and told with absolute authority. Alan Hirshfeld's wide, deep knowledge of astronomy arises not only from the most careful scholarship, but also from the years he's spent at the telescope, posing his own questions to the stars." -- DAVA SOBEL , author of A More Perfect Heaven: How Copernicus Revolutionized the Cosmos and Longitude In 1929, Edwin Hubble announced the greatest discovery in the history of astronomy since Galileo first turned a telescope to the heavens. The galaxies, previously believed to float serenely in the void, are in fact hurtling apart at an incredible speed: the universe is expanding. This stunning discovery was the culmination of a decades-long arc of scientific and technical advancement. In its shadow lies an untold, yet equally fascinating, backstory whose cast of characters illuminates the gritty, hard-won nature of scientific progress. The path to a broader mode of cosmic observation was blazed by a cadre of nineteenth-century amateur astronomers and inventors, galvanized by the advent of photography, spectral analysis, and innovative technology to create the entirely new field of astrophysics. From William Bond, who turned his home into a functional observatory, to John and Henry Draper, a father and son team who were trailblazers of astrophotography and spectroscopy, to geniuses of invention such as L

Review Quote

Beautifully written, Starlight Detectives reminds us how the wonders of the modern universe would never have been possible without the ingenious advances made by pioneering scientists in the nineteenth century. They were the ones who first learned how to read the messages hidden within a star's radiations. With his poetic eye on the nighttime sky, Alan Hirshfeld engagingly shows how science arrived, step by step, at its revolutionary discovery that we live in but one galaxy amid multitudes flying outward in an expanding universe. A must-read for astronomy and history of science aficionados alike."

Competing Titles

The Particle at the End of the Universe: How the Hunt for the Higgs Boson Leads Us to the Edge of a New World Sean Carroll 9780525953593 $27.95 Penguin/Dutton 2012 A More Perfect Heaven: How Copernicus Revolutionized the Cosmos Dava Sobel 9780802717931 $25 Macmillan/ Walker & Company 2011 The Day We Found the Universe Marcia Bartusiak 9780375424298 $27.95 Random House/Pantheon 2009 Edge of the Universe: A Voyage to the Cosmic Horizon and Beyond Paul Halpern 9780470636244 $27.95 Wiley 2012

Description for Sales People

Entertaining popular astronomy that fills a gap in the presentation of scientific history, namely the remarkable transformation of classical observational astronomy into modern astronomy. At a time when astronomy was exemplified by the tedious accountancy of star positions and movements, an intrepid few--mostly amateurs--strove to apply new technologies to the exploration of the heavens. Their stunning discovery: that the universe is expanding and the galaxies, previously believed to float serenely in the void, are in fact hurtling apart at incredible speed. From the dawn of photography through the discoveries of Edwin Hubble and the heroic contributions of unsung inventors and stargazers, Hirshfeld reveals the incredible stories behind the birth of modern astronomy. Picks up where Hirshfeld's Parallax: The Race to Measure the Cosmos left off. Parallax, a chronicle of astronomy's early history, sold 10,000 copies when it was first published by Macmillan/Holt and is being reissued by Dover Publications in August 2013. Alan Hirshfeld is a highly-regarded popular astronomy expert who regularly reviews books for the Wall Street Journal, writes for Sky & Telescope, the American Journal of Physics, BBC History Magazine, and American Scientist, and has made radio and television appearances on NPR, PBS, and C-SPAN.

Details