With the discovery in 1995 of the first planet orbiting another
來源:香港大書城megBookStore,http://www.megbook.com.hk star, we know that planets are not unique to our own Solar System.
For centuries, humanity has wondered whether we are alone in the
Universe. We are now finally one step closer to knowing the answer.
The quest for exoplanets is an exciting one, because it holds the
possibility that one day we might find life elsewhere in the
Universe, born in the light of another sun. Written from the
perspective of one of the pioneers of this scientific adventure,
this exciting account describes the development of the modern
observing technique that has enabled astronomers to find so many
planets orbiting around other stars. It reveals the wealth of new
planets that have now been discovered outside our Solar System, and
what this means in terms of finding other life in the Universe.
目錄:
Preface;
1. The quest begins
2. Infinity and beyond
3. New arrivals in the Solar System
4. Why stars wobble
5. Neutron planets
6. Brown dwarfs in the headlines
7. Sirens in the cosmos
8. Foreign planets different to our home-grown ones
9. Destination: earths!
0. Further yet: life