Gravity's Fatal Attraction
Black Holes in the Universe

This lavishly illustrated text, by two leading experts, presents all the current evidence for black holes and their cosmic context.

Mitchell Begelman (Author), Martin Rees (Author)

9781108819053, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 5 November 2020

350 pages
24.6 x 19 x 2 cm, 0.9 kg

'Gravity's Fatal Attraction is an ideal book for those wanting to learn more about the fascinating physics of black holes and the Universe in a way that is technical rather than science fiction, but still readable and never condescending or needlessly mathematical.' Katie Sawers, Astronomy Now

Richly illustrated with the images from observatories on the ground and in space, and computer simulations, this book shows how black holes were discovered, and discusses what we've learned about their nature and their role in cosmic evolution. This thoroughly updated third edition covers new discoveries made in the past decade, including the discovery of gravitational waves from merging black holes and neutron stars, the first close-up images of the region near a black hole event horizon, and observations of debris from stars torn apart when they ventured too close to a supermassive black hole. Avoiding mathematics, the authors blend theoretical arguments with observational results to demonstrate how both have contributed to the subject. Clear, explanatory illustrations and photographs reveal the strange and amazing workings of our universe. The engaging style makes this book suitable for introductory undergraduate courses, amateur astronomers, and all readers interested in astronomy and physics.

Preface to the Third Edition
1. Gravity Triumphant
2. Stars and Their Fates
3. Black Holes in Our Backyard
4. Galaxies and Their Nuclei
5. Quasars and Kin
6. Jets
7. Blasts from the Past
8. Black Holes in Hibernation
9. Cosmic Feedback
10. Postcards from the Edge
11. Gravitational Waves
12. Through the Horizon
Appendix: Gravity and Cosmic Dimensions
Further Reading
Index.

Subject Areas: Astrophysics [PHVB], Cosmology & the universe [PGK]