
Starlight Detectives
How Astronomers, Inventors, and Eccentrics Discovered the Modern Universe
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Narrated by:
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Joe Barrett
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By:
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Alan Hirshfeld
About this listen
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 19th-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.
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Critic reviews
Horrible voice
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Good narration. Clearly Barrett put in a lot of effort to get the pronunciation of foreign words and names correct. I like his variety of accents as well.
For the astronomy buff
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Most of the book's focus is on the 1800s. Of the 13+ hours, perhaps a half-hour or so of it delves into the early 1900s, and that's where it ends. I found that disappointing, as my primary interest was in learning about advancements from the 1900s to present.
None of this should be deemed as a critique of this well written book. They're simply observations to help readers determine whether or not this is what they're looking for.
Very well done, but not for the casual listener
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Highly recommended
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Excellent and very Readable History of Astronomy
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Inspiring... But a bit dry.
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interesting history of astronomy
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The story is really more about the improvements in imaging the universe than of the discoveries themselves. There is more than I ever imagined about the competitive approaches to photographing through telescopes. (I use the word photographing generically - I know that it not inclusive, as is exhaustively discussed in this book). I was surprised at the resistance to using anything other than the human eye to document what has been seen in the skies.
Astronomy and astrophysics have always drawn my curiosity and sense of discovery, but this book, sadly did not take me on that journey.
As noted in other reviews, Joe Barrett is a fine narrator but not the best for this book. His skills are probably better suited for fiction.
For something more comprehensible in an audiobook, try anything by Stephen Hawking or Neil deGrasse Tyson or look at the highest rated books in the astronomy category. This one is a bit of a snooze that should probably be left for those with a special interest in its narrow focus.
A story of imaging stars
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Experience the discovery of most of the universe.
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What made the experience of listening to Starlight Detectives the most enjoyable?
I found the history of the characters behind the evolution of the telescope and the camera the most interesting. Although the story behind the spectrograph was surprisingly well told. The reader is perfect.What other book might you compare Starlight Detectives to and why?
LongitudeWhich scene was your favorite?
Louis Daguerre and the invention of the camera. The history behind the modern and old observatories.Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
NoTelescopes, cameras and Spectographs
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