One of today's leading astronomers takes readers inside the decades-long search for the first galaxies and the origin of starlight

Astronomers are like time travelers, scanning the night sky for the outermost galaxies that first came into being when our universe was a mere fraction of its present age. When Galaxies Were Born is Richard Ellis's firsthand account of how a pioneering generation of scientists harnessed the world's largest telescopes to decipher the history of the universe and witness cosmic dawn, the time when starlight first bathed the cosmos and galaxies emerged from darkness.

In a remarkable career spanning more than forty years, Ellis has made some of the most spectacular discoveries in modern cosmology. He has traveled the world to conduct observations in locales as beautiful and remote as the Australian outback, the Canary Islands, Hawaii, and the Chilean desert. In this book, he brings to life a golden age of astronomy, describing the triumphs and the technical setbacks, the rivalries with competing teams, and the perennial challenge of cloudy nights. Ellis reveals the astonishing progress we have made in building ever larger and more powerful telescopes, and provides a tantalizing glimpse of cosmic dawn.

Stunningly illustrated with a wealth of dramatic photos, When Galaxies Were Born is a bold scientific adventure enlivened by personal insights and anecdotes that enable readers to share in the thrill of discovery at the frontiers of astronomy.

About the Author
Richard S. Ellis is professor of astrophysics at University College London and a world-renowned observational astronomer who has made numerous discoveries about the nature and evolution of the universe. He lives in Cambridge, UK.

Reviews
"A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year"
"Marvellous. . . . Ellis's explanations of complex scientific and technological challenges faced along the journey are an exemplar of how to bring approachability and clarity to potentially tricky subjects, but it is the fascinating incidental details that really grab the attention. Offering a rare insight into how professional astronomy actually 'gets done', they elevate this to must-read status for anyone interested in the ways of modern science."---BBC Sky at Night Magazine, Giles Sparrow
"[If] astronomy is your thing . . . this is genuinely an essential read and highly recommended."---Brian Clegg, Popular Science
"A wonderful book."---Phillip Helbig, The Observatory



Book Information
ISBN 9780691211305
Author Richard S. Ellis
Format Hardback
Page Count 280
Imprint Princeton University Press
Publisher Princeton University Press