Under The Microscope

IMAGES OF THE COSMOS, by Barrie Jones, Robert Lambourne and David Rothery; Hodder & Stoughton 1994; 160 pp; $64.95

Reviewed by Vicki Hyde

This book was originally published in conjunction with the Open University for people studying astronomy and planetary science, but it will interest more than just the student. It is packed with magnificent colour photos, accompanied by explanatory captions that are informative without being overly technical. Anyone with a passing interest in astronomy could cheerfully spend time dipping through it.

The three sections cover stars, planets and galaxies; their formation, development, processes and future. I particularly liked the planetary section which juxtaposed images of volcanic eruptions and lava flows on Earth, the Moon, Venus and Io, giving a feeling for the things we share in common with our solar system neighbours. This would provide an interesting supplement to any lesson on physical geography, or simply an enjoyable afternoon marvelling at how much (and how little) we know. From this relatively familiar territory, the images range far out to galaxies and superclusters of galaxies to finally arrive back at the beginning of it all with computer simulations and graphics explaining the Big Bang and the evolution of cosmic structure.

If this "textbook" is anything to judge by, the astronomy course must have been a fascinating one.

Vicki Hyde is the editor of New Zealand Science Monthly.