The Sky at Einstein's Feet - by William C Keel (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The impact of Einstein's relativity is perhaps most dramatic in astronomy, radically altering our interpretation of the observations of the stars and galaxies. Astronomers now encounter challenging phenomena that Einstein never lived to see, in which the bizarre effects of relativity played out on a cosmic scale. This accessible overview explains to general readers the many applications of relativity that have not been shown in earlier popular-level books. Using no mathematics beyond e=mc2, it explains how deeply relativistic ways of viewing the Universe have informed our interpretations of it, and how many of the amazing discoveries of these decades have made sense only as part of Einstein's universe. Some principal observers provide fresh commentary on their discoveries, accompanied by illustrations, newly produced from data in the archives of such observatories as Hubble and Chandra.

Review Quotes

From the reviews:

"One hundred years ago Albert Einstein published his special theory of relativity. In the century following his breakthrough, his insights have illuminated astronomical discovery. Keel's book shows how deeply relativity has informed our interpretation of the Universe, and how many of the amazing discoveries of the last century can be properly interpreted only with the use of the special and general theories of relativity." Mercury Jan-Feb 2006

[T]his book is a pleasant surprise in most respects... [T]his is the best and most accessible summary of relativistic effects in astronomy that I have had the pleasure of reading. I'm sure I'll inevitably dip back into it again.

--Roger Feasey, in Journal of the Auckland Astronomical Society

"In 'The Sky at Einstein's feet', William Keel follows a different path and instead considers the impact that Einstein's relativity has had on astrophysics. This is an enormous task, but Keel successfully covers several seemingly disparate areas ... . Keel has done a good job of summarising Einstein's impact. Noteworthy is his dedication to those who 'have been unjustly forgotten' ... . this broad overview and historical content will appeal to the popular science market ... ." (Geraint F Lewis, Australian Physics, Vol. 43 (2), 2006)

"The aim of this interesting book is to describe at a popular level how relativity theory has influenced the development of astronomy. ... The style is lively and engaging. There are plenty of interesting anecdotes, some from the author's own experience, which give a real idea of both the rigours and the excitement of astronomical research. ... The book is copiously illustrated, with some stunning images ... . the book would make excellent motivational background reading for students struggling with a first relativity course." (Andrew King, The Observatory, Vol. 126 (1194), 2006)

"Keel, in his book, wants to share witha wide audience the impact of relativity on astronomy. ... clear, concise explanations introduce most new terms ... . This, together with descriptive introductions to chapters and a good selection of illustrations make the book a well detailed, enjoyable read for the average amateur astronomer and those interested in the physics behind the pretty pictures of the night sky. With this book, Keel should achieve his objective ... ." (Mark Mortimer, www.universetoday.com, May, 2006)

"This book is a review of current observational astronomy and the contribution of Einstein's thought to our present understanding. It possesses considerable depth of coverage and insight and, generally, reads very well. ... If you want the title explained, you must read the book. William Keel is a talented writer and that is about all I know about him. ... For a general reader this book provides insight and information in an entertaining manner." (Roger O'Brien, Journal of the British Astronomical Association, Vol. 116 (4), 2006)

About the Author

Bill Keel, the author of The Road to Galaxy Formation (Springer-Praxis 2002), has been involved in many areas of extragalactic astronomy, and for the last 18 years has worked at the University of Alabama. Of particular relevance to this book is his study of gravitational lensing since 1980, early calculations on microlensing of quasars, and an ongoing Hubble survey for gravitational lensing effects in silhouetted galaxies as a constraint on massive dark-matter candidates. His experience in serving on 16 NASA review committees for various space-astrophysics missions and higher-level programmatic issues has broadened his view of relativity in astronomy triggering the idea for this book.