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Webb's Universe: The Space Telescope Images That Reveal Our Cosmic History
The definitive book on the James Webb Space Telescope, including its stunning images, written by space expert Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock.
Despite the huge advances in space technology in recent decades, much of the universe remains a source of mystery, often provoking more questions than answers. Keen to follow on from the findings of the Hubble telescope, launched in 1990, NASA successfully launched the James Webb Space Telescope in December 2021 to study every phase of the history of our universe. The first stunningly clear images of the very depths of the universe using James Webb’s groundbreaking infrared technology were released in July 2022, forever changing the way we see and understand the origins of our existence.
Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock was one of many British space scientists to work on Webb, bringing her expertise in spectroscophy to the NIRSpec camera element of this amazing telescope. Bringing her passion as well as her expert knowledge of space and the JWST in particular, she demystifies these stunning images and breaks down the essential science behind each picture to show clearly what we’re seeing and learning from the world’s most powerful space telescope.
Despite the huge advances in space technology in recent decades, much of the universe remains a source of mystery, often provoking more questions than answers. Keen to follow on from the findings of the Hubble telescope, launched in 1990, NASA successfully launched the James Webb Space Telescope in December 2021 to study every phase of the history of our universe. The first stunningly clear images of the very depths of the universe using James Webb’s groundbreaking infrared technology were released in July 2022, forever changing the way we see and understand the origins of our existence.
Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock was one of many British space scientists to work on Webb, bringing her expertise in spectroscophy to the NIRSpec camera element of this amazing telescope. Bringing her passion as well as her expert knowledge of space and the JWST in particular, she demystifies these stunning images and breaks down the essential science behind each picture to show clearly what we’re seeing and learning from the world’s most powerful space telescope.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published October 8, 2024
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120 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 30, 2025
3.5 Stars
This was an interesting read, although a little out of my comfort zone! I am not a space geek but do find space and the universe amazing so did enjoy the book but I can't say I was engrossed in the writing.
The information at times was interesting but the images were spectacular and my favourite thing about this book. It was so amazing to see what this telescope has seen.
I am the first to say that although a science and nature reader, space isn't a huge love of mine so I am not the target audience but I still enjoyed it!
This was an interesting read, although a little out of my comfort zone! I am not a space geek but do find space and the universe amazing so did enjoy the book but I can't say I was engrossed in the writing.
The information at times was interesting but the images were spectacular and my favourite thing about this book. It was so amazing to see what this telescope has seen.
I am the first to say that although a science and nature reader, space isn't a huge love of mine so I am not the target audience but I still enjoyed it!
December 21, 2024
An amazing book that explains the beauty of the Cosmo's, all while supporting a female POC academic, easy 5 stars!
October 28, 2024
The Hubble was the space telescope that launched a thousand picture books destined for the coffee table, such as Hubble Legacy. Inevitably, its new, more capable brother, the Webb is following suit. Thankfully, though, this is more than just a picture book as you can only marvel so much over pretty pictures from space.
The book is structured into three sections - the first is about the telescope itself, beginning with its predecessors, including, for instance, some interesting material on the pros and cons of using a Lagrange point for a telescope. The second looks at Webb's mission - what it's intended to capture and how it will do that. And the final section, around twice as big as the other two added together, takes us through the already impressive range of Webb imagery.
That final section is where many such books descend into pure picture book territory, but Maggie Aderin-Pocock continues to include pages of informative text with diagrams showing, for example, how the solar system formed in a section featuring solar system images such as Jupiter and an impressive picture of the rings of Uranus. We then get a section on exoplanets (don't get too excited - the only detailed image is an artist's impression) before moving on to Webb's piece de resistance - nebulae (including the inevitable Pillars of Creation), stars and galaxies.
To achieve perfection, this book would have to have had more text still. For example, there's a tantalising mention of the discrepancy between the rate of expansion of the universe predicted from the cosmic microwave background and spectral analysis, but it's only a paragraph or two - it would have meant more to the reader if it had been expanded. And although big pages makes for bigger pictures, given that this is more than a coffee table book, it's distinctly heavy to hold to read. (Also, I almost docked it a star for putting 'Dr' in front of the author's name - decidedly cringeworthy.) Even so, it's one of the best of the bunch: it is, indeed, a collection of wonders.
The book is structured into three sections - the first is about the telescope itself, beginning with its predecessors, including, for instance, some interesting material on the pros and cons of using a Lagrange point for a telescope. The second looks at Webb's mission - what it's intended to capture and how it will do that. And the final section, around twice as big as the other two added together, takes us through the already impressive range of Webb imagery.
That final section is where many such books descend into pure picture book territory, but Maggie Aderin-Pocock continues to include pages of informative text with diagrams showing, for example, how the solar system formed in a section featuring solar system images such as Jupiter and an impressive picture of the rings of Uranus. We then get a section on exoplanets (don't get too excited - the only detailed image is an artist's impression) before moving on to Webb's piece de resistance - nebulae (including the inevitable Pillars of Creation), stars and galaxies.
To achieve perfection, this book would have to have had more text still. For example, there's a tantalising mention of the discrepancy between the rate of expansion of the universe predicted from the cosmic microwave background and spectral analysis, but it's only a paragraph or two - it would have meant more to the reader if it had been expanded. And although big pages makes for bigger pictures, given that this is more than a coffee table book, it's distinctly heavy to hold to read. (Also, I almost docked it a star for putting 'Dr' in front of the author's name - decidedly cringeworthy.) Even so, it's one of the best of the bunch: it is, indeed, a collection of wonders.
February 17, 2025
The photographs in this book are breathtaking and the text is illuminating. It's mind boggling to learn how much scientists are able to deduce about the Universe we live in and it is extraordinarily humbling to realize what a microscopic part of it we occupy.
I recommend Webb's Universe unequivocally - but NOT the Kindle Edition!!
Reading on my brand new iPad with its M4 chip allows for enlarging and scrolling around the already astounding images in this book - unlike even my MacMini computer utilitizing 5K resolution monitors.
BUT - - there are, of necessity, frequent references made to said images in the text but the original text has been retained without change. This results in references such as "... the image above" or "... on the opposite page" and others - with no allowance made for the very nature of an electronic book copy which relocates images and text to accommodate display size. This, very often, makes the references difficult (or impossible) to understand. This failure to deal with the differences between a paper book and an electronic version was increasingly aggravating as I progressed through the book.
Also, there are - for my tastes - a few too many examples of each type of celestial object photographed by the Webb Telescope - exoplanets, nebulae, stars and galaxies.
Finally, the author ended her book with neither a "bang" nor a "whimper" - no summary comments of any kind. She just stopped writing after a short few paragraphs about a black hole. The next page contains Picture Credits, followed by a Table of Contents.
No expression of what we can hope to see from the JWST in the future. No concluding remarks whatsoever. Very dissapointing.
I recommend Webb's Universe unequivocally - but NOT the Kindle Edition!!
Reading on my brand new iPad with its M4 chip allows for enlarging and scrolling around the already astounding images in this book - unlike even my MacMini computer utilitizing 5K resolution monitors.
BUT - - there are, of necessity, frequent references made to said images in the text but the original text has been retained without change. This results in references such as "... the image above" or "... on the opposite page" and others - with no allowance made for the very nature of an electronic book copy which relocates images and text to accommodate display size. This, very often, makes the references difficult (or impossible) to understand. This failure to deal with the differences between a paper book and an electronic version was increasingly aggravating as I progressed through the book.
Also, there are - for my tastes - a few too many examples of each type of celestial object photographed by the Webb Telescope - exoplanets, nebulae, stars and galaxies.
Finally, the author ended her book with neither a "bang" nor a "whimper" - no summary comments of any kind. She just stopped writing after a short few paragraphs about a black hole. The next page contains Picture Credits, followed by a Table of Contents.
No expression of what we can hope to see from the JWST in the future. No concluding remarks whatsoever. Very dissapointing.
October 11, 2025
The images were awe-inspiring as expected, and I really enjoyed the author's clear & concise explanations for every image. Her passion for the subject is incredibly obvious and made this book an absolute joy to read!
March 30, 2025
😂 Most interested in our solar system
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews