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Expanding Universe. Photographs from the Hubble Space Telescope
Come face to face with the most breathtaking images from the Hubble Telescope, one of the greatest tools in the history of science. Updated with 30 new images to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the telescope’s launch, these epic pictures have answered some of the most compelling questions of time and space while also revealing new mysteries. Features texts by photography critic Owen Edwards, Hubble astronauts Charles F. Bolden, Jr. and John Mace Grunsfeld, and Zoltan Levay.
260 pages, Hardcover
First published April 15, 2015
12 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
About the author
Charles F. Bolden Jr.
3 books3 followersCharles Frank Bolden Jr. is a former Administrator of NASA, a retired United States Marine Corps Major General, and a former astronaut who flew on four Space Shuttle missions. A 1968 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he became a Marine aviator and test pilot.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 15, 2024
Het eerste infoboek van 2024 is ook al gepasseerd. Waar ik meestal infoboeken lees over natuur, dieren of geschiedenis verliet ik voor mijn volgende infoboek de aarde.
Als Wannabee fotograaf probeer ik alles wat zich rond mij beweegt of zichtbaar maakt op de gevoelige plaat vast te leggen. Van een berg tot een eekhoorn, van een kind tot een oudere dame, van een modern gebouw tot een oud herenhuis. Noem maar op en ik fotografeer het.
Maar wat ik niet kan fotograferen is wat zich boven ons hoofd bevind. Nee, niet de vliegtuigen of vogels, maar de planeten en sterrenstelsels. Tja, mijn camera is niet geschikt om zulke verre zaken op beeld ze brengen. Maar er is een ietwat extremere camera die dat wel gedaan heeft. En die exposeert zijn foto’s sinds 2015 in het boek…..
Expanding Universe bundelt foto’s genomen door de Hubble telescoop. Voor wie de telescoop niet kent even wat details.
Hubble werd vernoemt naar Edwin Hubble en draait sinds 1990 rond de aarde. Na een paar weken na de lancering bewerkt men een afwijking in de primaire spiegel. De foto’s die Hubble stuurde waren niet scherp genoeg. De spiegel had een afwijking van 2.2 micrometer. In 1993 werd dit euvel opgelost en kon de Hubble terug fotograferen. Hubble werkt nog altijd en wie anders dan Elon Musk van Space X gaat de krachten bundelen om de levensduur van Hubble nog te verlengen.
Hubble neemt foto’s in zwart-wit maar voor dit boek werden ze door specialisten in kleur gezet. Gassen en andere samenstellingen hebben een specifieke kleur. Door de samenstelling vast te stellen kon men de zwart-wit opnames in kleur zetten.
Dit is bizar om naar te kijken. Vele foto’s zijn een mengeling van verschillende tinten van hetzelfde kleur. Tinten rood, geel, blauw en alle mengelingen hiervan. Sommige foto’s zouden zeker passen op de covers van sci-fi of fantasie verhalen. Voeg er nog wat ruimteschepen aan toe en we zijn er.
Ik ben zo één van die rare mensen die niet geloven dat we de enige zijn die in het universum te vinden zijn. Ooit, ga het waarschijnlijk niet meer meemaken, vinden we een andere levensvorm.
Geen alien, aub. Die laten we in de films met Sigourney Weaver. Prachtige films over aliens. Voor zij die ze nog niet moesten kennen. Zoek ze even op a.u.b. Echt de moeite waard.
Maar nu terug naar het boek. Geen buitenaardse wezens gezien tussen de sterrenstelsels.
Maar ik heb genoten van het bekijken van de beelden. Daar ga ik weer goeie dromen van hebben.
De beelden zijn één ding maar het ambetante is dat je heel naar achter in het boek moet om te weten wat je nu net aan het bekijken bent. Had het liever bij de foto zelf gezien.
Tussendoor worden we nog getrakteerd met extra info over de Hubble en zijn manier van werken. Maar ook over het ontstaan van de kleurenfoto’s. Hoe ging men te werk.
De tekst is mooi verdeeld onder Engels, Duits en Frans. Geen Nederlandse tekst maar mijn Engels is goed genoeg om het mooi te volgen.
Alles samengenomen is dit een mooi en interessant boek. Het geeft wat inzicht in wat er lichtjaren van onze Aarde rondvliegt of aan het uitdeinen is. Ooit hopen ze het centerpunt van het universum te vinden, waar vermoedelijk de big bang zicht voltrokken heeft.
Zeer blij dat ik dit boek gevonden heb in de bib. Even een extremere vorm van fotograferen. Beelden die misschien vragen oproepen maar die ook doen dromen om daar door te vliegen met een ruimteschip. Expanding Universe is een aanrader voor wie geïnteresseerd is in dit onderwerp. We weten nog veel niet van wat er op onze Aarde allemaal gebeurt en zich bevind maar wat er in het Universum nog allemaal langs zal komen is ook nog maar de vraag. Maar zolang we mensen als Elon Musk en Richard Bransson en consorten hebben zal het wel uitgezocht worden.
Dit is dus mijn eerste blog over een informatief boek. Nog niet in definitieve vorm van hoe ik het wil maar zal het ooit wel definitief zijn?
Ik heb genoten van dit boek en dat is het voornaamste. Allemaal nog veel leesplezier gewenst.
Als Wannabee fotograaf probeer ik alles wat zich rond mij beweegt of zichtbaar maakt op de gevoelige plaat vast te leggen. Van een berg tot een eekhoorn, van een kind tot een oudere dame, van een modern gebouw tot een oud herenhuis. Noem maar op en ik fotografeer het.
Maar wat ik niet kan fotograferen is wat zich boven ons hoofd bevind. Nee, niet de vliegtuigen of vogels, maar de planeten en sterrenstelsels. Tja, mijn camera is niet geschikt om zulke verre zaken op beeld ze brengen. Maar er is een ietwat extremere camera die dat wel gedaan heeft. En die exposeert zijn foto’s sinds 2015 in het boek…..
Expanding Universe bundelt foto’s genomen door de Hubble telescoop. Voor wie de telescoop niet kent even wat details.
Hubble werd vernoemt naar Edwin Hubble en draait sinds 1990 rond de aarde. Na een paar weken na de lancering bewerkt men een afwijking in de primaire spiegel. De foto’s die Hubble stuurde waren niet scherp genoeg. De spiegel had een afwijking van 2.2 micrometer. In 1993 werd dit euvel opgelost en kon de Hubble terug fotograferen. Hubble werkt nog altijd en wie anders dan Elon Musk van Space X gaat de krachten bundelen om de levensduur van Hubble nog te verlengen.
Hubble neemt foto’s in zwart-wit maar voor dit boek werden ze door specialisten in kleur gezet. Gassen en andere samenstellingen hebben een specifieke kleur. Door de samenstelling vast te stellen kon men de zwart-wit opnames in kleur zetten.
Dit is bizar om naar te kijken. Vele foto’s zijn een mengeling van verschillende tinten van hetzelfde kleur. Tinten rood, geel, blauw en alle mengelingen hiervan. Sommige foto’s zouden zeker passen op de covers van sci-fi of fantasie verhalen. Voeg er nog wat ruimteschepen aan toe en we zijn er.
Ik ben zo één van die rare mensen die niet geloven dat we de enige zijn die in het universum te vinden zijn. Ooit, ga het waarschijnlijk niet meer meemaken, vinden we een andere levensvorm.
Geen alien, aub. Die laten we in de films met Sigourney Weaver. Prachtige films over aliens. Voor zij die ze nog niet moesten kennen. Zoek ze even op a.u.b. Echt de moeite waard.
Maar nu terug naar het boek. Geen buitenaardse wezens gezien tussen de sterrenstelsels.
Maar ik heb genoten van het bekijken van de beelden. Daar ga ik weer goeie dromen van hebben.
De beelden zijn één ding maar het ambetante is dat je heel naar achter in het boek moet om te weten wat je nu net aan het bekijken bent. Had het liever bij de foto zelf gezien.
Tussendoor worden we nog getrakteerd met extra info over de Hubble en zijn manier van werken. Maar ook over het ontstaan van de kleurenfoto’s. Hoe ging men te werk.
De tekst is mooi verdeeld onder Engels, Duits en Frans. Geen Nederlandse tekst maar mijn Engels is goed genoeg om het mooi te volgen.
Alles samengenomen is dit een mooi en interessant boek. Het geeft wat inzicht in wat er lichtjaren van onze Aarde rondvliegt of aan het uitdeinen is. Ooit hopen ze het centerpunt van het universum te vinden, waar vermoedelijk de big bang zicht voltrokken heeft.
Zeer blij dat ik dit boek gevonden heb in de bib. Even een extremere vorm van fotograferen. Beelden die misschien vragen oproepen maar die ook doen dromen om daar door te vliegen met een ruimteschip. Expanding Universe is een aanrader voor wie geïnteresseerd is in dit onderwerp. We weten nog veel niet van wat er op onze Aarde allemaal gebeurt en zich bevind maar wat er in het Universum nog allemaal langs zal komen is ook nog maar de vraag. Maar zolang we mensen als Elon Musk en Richard Bransson en consorten hebben zal het wel uitgezocht worden.
Dit is dus mijn eerste blog over een informatief boek. Nog niet in definitieve vorm van hoe ik het wil maar zal het ooit wel definitief zijn?
Ik heb genoten van dit boek en dat is het voornaamste. Allemaal nog veel leesplezier gewenst.
January 29, 2016
I have only one word to describe this book: breathtaking.
As a great image compilation, the book keeps you undeniably thrilled throughout the whole page-turning, which I devoured in probably less than 20 minutes (there's less than 200 hundred pages of images). The beauty of the images cannot be put into words, Hubble takes images that push the boundaries of human knowledge, in the beautiful meaning of these words. The books has a lot of the best images taken from the Hubble and some that are not so known.
The only downfalls regarding the book are that some pages are unexplicably blank and that in a few times the image on the right zooms in the image on the left. The Hubble's images don't have the ability to zoom in, you can't add more resolution to the one that came from the telescope. Therefore, by zooming in, the images get blurred, and don't fulfill the zoom's purpose - to see more detail, because it gets blurred. So I didn't comprehend why the writers had that effort.
Overall, the book delivers what it promises - a handful of glorious and astonishing pictures from Hubble Telescope. My purpose of buying the book was to keep in my drawer beautiful big images from Hubble, so I didn't have to see them through the small-sized pc screen, and I for sure am not minimally disappointed. I can grab the book anytime and marvel upon the gorgeous images of what lied ahead, with all the details.
As a great image compilation, the book keeps you undeniably thrilled throughout the whole page-turning, which I devoured in probably less than 20 minutes (there's less than 200 hundred pages of images). The beauty of the images cannot be put into words, Hubble takes images that push the boundaries of human knowledge, in the beautiful meaning of these words. The books has a lot of the best images taken from the Hubble and some that are not so known.
The only downfalls regarding the book are that some pages are unexplicably blank and that in a few times the image on the right zooms in the image on the left. The Hubble's images don't have the ability to zoom in, you can't add more resolution to the one that came from the telescope. Therefore, by zooming in, the images get blurred, and don't fulfill the zoom's purpose - to see more detail, because it gets blurred. So I didn't comprehend why the writers had that effort.
Overall, the book delivers what it promises - a handful of glorious and astonishing pictures from Hubble Telescope. My purpose of buying the book was to keep in my drawer beautiful big images from Hubble, so I didn't have to see them through the small-sized pc screen, and I for sure am not minimally disappointed. I can grab the book anytime and marvel upon the gorgeous images of what lied ahead, with all the details.
October 12, 2025
cosmic caterpillar and cassiopeia a have now entered the favs
January 8, 2021
"Do you think it would be legitimate to look at the photographs as art first and science second?
[Zoltan Levay] Well, we have done a small number of images just for pure visual aesthetics, and we always hope to produce powerful pictures, but these are real photographs of real places. If someone wants to see art, it's important to realize that we are trying to present reality, not an artistic vision.
So how do you recommend a non-astronomer approach these pictures without being mystified?
I sometimes tell people to look at them as they might look at landscape photographs. That can help to create a more familiar context."
***
O meu fascínio por Astronomia empurrou-me para esta compra compulsiva: o livro saíra há meses e eu não lhe conseguia resistir; desde o momento em que o segurei e comecei a folhear até ao momento em que leio os textos e observo as imagens ainda com mais atenção, constato que a compra impulsiva não me desapontou. Tornou-se um favorito imediato e, mesmo vendo-lhe algumas imperfeições (tinha lido que a qualidade das imagens podia ser melhor: e podia, em alguns casos a impressão deixa um bocado a desejar; e não compreendo o motivo de umas páginas terem um papel mais acetinado e outras terem um papel mais rugoso, ainda não consegui descortinar esta questão da estranheza do toque), acho que é um livro absolutamente indispensável para quem morre de amores pelo tema.
O excerto da entrevista a Zoltan Levay que seleccionei relaciona-se muito com aquilo que começou por me atrair na Astronomia: é como ver toda a Humanidade a mapear o que a rodeia, dá-me um sentido de unidade, de espécie, de um todo que se reúne para aperfeiçoar técnicas e metodologias que lhe permita compreender onde está, o que já aconteceu e o que está para acontecer. De certa forma sim, vejo estas imagens como paisagens, são pontos geográficos, bem demarcados no espaço-tempo - esta viagem solitária do Hubble pelo espaço é quase como a época dos Descobrimentos, em que os navegadores partiam de um ponto conhecido e se preparavam para explorar, criar mapas do que existia para lá do que lhes era familiar, e trazer imagens e descrições de mundos distantes (é romântico, eu sei... mas pesa-me esta analogia, por motivos que não vou expor aqui mas que qualquer humanista poderá deduzir). Ao mesmo tempo é inquestionável que estas imagens podem ter outro peso para um não cientista (e para cientistas, arriscaria) - é uma recordação constante da nossa raridade e dimensão; é a memória presente e constante do acaso, da imensa surpresa que é estar aqui, quase às duas da manhã, consciente, a escrever, a comunicar, com outros seres da minha espécie... creio que boa parte deste amor e deste espanto vem de Carl Sagan...
[Zoltan Levay] Well, we have done a small number of images just for pure visual aesthetics, and we always hope to produce powerful pictures, but these are real photographs of real places. If someone wants to see art, it's important to realize that we are trying to present reality, not an artistic vision.
So how do you recommend a non-astronomer approach these pictures without being mystified?
I sometimes tell people to look at them as they might look at landscape photographs. That can help to create a more familiar context."
***
O meu fascínio por Astronomia empurrou-me para esta compra compulsiva: o livro saíra há meses e eu não lhe conseguia resistir; desde o momento em que o segurei e comecei a folhear até ao momento em que leio os textos e observo as imagens ainda com mais atenção, constato que a compra impulsiva não me desapontou. Tornou-se um favorito imediato e, mesmo vendo-lhe algumas imperfeições (tinha lido que a qualidade das imagens podia ser melhor: e podia, em alguns casos a impressão deixa um bocado a desejar; e não compreendo o motivo de umas páginas terem um papel mais acetinado e outras terem um papel mais rugoso, ainda não consegui descortinar esta questão da estranheza do toque), acho que é um livro absolutamente indispensável para quem morre de amores pelo tema.
O excerto da entrevista a Zoltan Levay que seleccionei relaciona-se muito com aquilo que começou por me atrair na Astronomia: é como ver toda a Humanidade a mapear o que a rodeia, dá-me um sentido de unidade, de espécie, de um todo que se reúne para aperfeiçoar técnicas e metodologias que lhe permita compreender onde está, o que já aconteceu e o que está para acontecer. De certa forma sim, vejo estas imagens como paisagens, são pontos geográficos, bem demarcados no espaço-tempo - esta viagem solitária do Hubble pelo espaço é quase como a época dos Descobrimentos, em que os navegadores partiam de um ponto conhecido e se preparavam para explorar, criar mapas do que existia para lá do que lhes era familiar, e trazer imagens e descrições de mundos distantes (é romântico, eu sei... mas pesa-me esta analogia, por motivos que não vou expor aqui mas que qualquer humanista poderá deduzir). Ao mesmo tempo é inquestionável que estas imagens podem ter outro peso para um não cientista (e para cientistas, arriscaria) - é uma recordação constante da nossa raridade e dimensão; é a memória presente e constante do acaso, da imensa surpresa que é estar aqui, quase às duas da manhã, consciente, a escrever, a comunicar, com outros seres da minha espécie... creio que boa parte deste amor e deste espanto vem de Carl Sagan...
February 28, 2016
Amazing photos from Hubble. In color, but not the color you would see: instead, they're in the colors you might see if you could see ultraviolet and infrared.
There are captions--but only at the end of the book, and only name and location--nothing descriptive.
Hubble was launched in 1990, repaired in 1993. A final maintenance was done 2009. It's expected to last until 2019. It will be allowed to crash to Earth. By then, a better telescope is planned, for far beyond the orbit of the moon.
Although NASA administrators and astronauts write the text, and of course all the photos are NASA photos, the text is in English, German, and French. Bizarre choice. If any other language than English should be used, it's Spanish. For a NASA work to be published in just French, German, and English is a gesture of disrespect to 25 million hardworking Spanish-speakers in the U.S. whose taxes help fund the work.
There are captions--but only at the end of the book, and only name and location--nothing descriptive.
Hubble was launched in 1990, repaired in 1993. A final maintenance was done 2009. It's expected to last until 2019. It will be allowed to crash to Earth. By then, a better telescope is planned, for far beyond the orbit of the moon.
Although NASA administrators and astronauts write the text, and of course all the photos are NASA photos, the text is in English, German, and French. Bizarre choice. If any other language than English should be used, it's Spanish. For a NASA work to be published in just French, German, and English is a gesture of disrespect to 25 million hardworking Spanish-speakers in the U.S. whose taxes help fund the work.
August 4, 2020
This is a wonderful coffee-table book of high quality images from the most spectacular camera ever created. If you even have a passing interest in the work of the HST or our history of imaging the universe in general then you will find much to love here. I would have loved for more extended commentary that actually pertains to each specific photo, but that is not the format the authors chose. Their commentary is generally very helpful and most useful to those for whom a lot of the concepts generated by the Hubble images would be brand new at an expository level. One of the more educational coffee-table books you could purchase while also containing a singular kind of beauty.
May 19, 2021
Disappointing...
I love Taschen: their monumental Marvel, DC Comics and Muhammad Ali books... **NAY!** Creations. Were mesmerizing. Stunning. Jaw dropping publishing masterpieces.
This? Meh. Granted, the photos are beautiful, no doubt. But if you have - you know - the internet, you can see all of them (in more detail, even) online. I got the book not only for the photos, but expecting a fleshed out story; some kind of narrative to tie the images together. Unfortunately, all I got was a few scattered comments and a glossary.
A lackluster coffee table book.
I love Taschen: their monumental Marvel, DC Comics and Muhammad Ali books... **NAY!** Creations. Were mesmerizing. Stunning. Jaw dropping publishing masterpieces.
This? Meh. Granted, the photos are beautiful, no doubt. But if you have - you know - the internet, you can see all of them (in more detail, even) online. I got the book not only for the photos, but expecting a fleshed out story; some kind of narrative to tie the images together. Unfortunately, all I got was a few scattered comments and a glossary.
A lackluster coffee table book.
December 26, 2018
Première fois que je vois une version imprimée de ces images! C'est un très beau livre qui cela dit n'est peut-être pas assez fourni en terme de savoir. L'interview à la fin est intéressante car elle spécifie le traitement des données de Hubble pour la création des images mais ne donne pas beaucoup d'éléments non plus. Les images ne sont pas accompagnées d'une vraie légende non plus, j'aurais aimé plus de contenus je pense. Cela dit, le reste est très beau et impressionnant!
December 20, 2024
a breathtaking exploration of the cosmos, showcasing the stunning images captured by one of humanity’s most remarkable tools. As someone who has always enjoyed gazing at the stars and capturing their beauty through my camera, this book resonates deeply with me. The vivid photographs, combined with insightful commentary, offer both an artistic and scientific perspective of the universe.
November 1, 2025
Par of the course for Taschen, the big coffee table sized book was definitely the right choice for the Hubble images, especially the foldouts. I only wish there was actually more content to read, I enjoyed the interview section but would have loved a more comprehensive biography of Hubble and the repair missions
August 16, 2020
The photos are breathtaking, but the quality of the book editing is quite poor with respect to Taschen standards. There are blank pages now and there for no obvious reason. And the beholder won't know what he's or she's looking at unless the photo index is consulted.
November 1, 2018
Breathtaking photos. However, the book lacks brief descriptions of what exactly your are looking at. Written more for the art than the science.
June 3, 2019
2018/6/7
August 9, 2019
I FUCKIN LOVE OUTER SPACE
January 15, 2023
An incredibly beautiful compilation of astonishing pictures taken by the Hubble Space Telescope throughout the years, with insightful information and interviews. Absolutely recommended!
February 13, 2024
It is such a comprehensive and gorgeous book.
I was wanting names and explanations while looking at the pictures and was pleasently surprised when exactly that appeared at the end of the book.
I was wanting names and explanations while looking at the pictures and was pleasently surprised when exactly that appeared at the end of the book.
February 5, 2017
Absolutely stunning and mind blowing photos, also a great insight into how the photos we see are created from the original monochrome photos and data from the Hubble. Only downside to the book is the lack of description for each of the photos stating where they are and what they are, however I highly recommend taking the time to read this book.
September 19, 2021
This big book is a beautiful collector's item, and a must have for all space lovers. Unfortunately it has one major flaw.
"Expanding Universe" will immerse you like no other in the hidden depth of the Cosmos through the lens of the Hubble Telescope. Each page will demonstrate in high quality gorgeous pictures of planets, stars, galaxies and nebulas etc... As you flip each page you will be an awe and will only want to keep looking.
Sadly, the binding of the book is really weak, I have barely opened it a few times now and the binding already came off and at the center of the book you could see and feel the pages are hardly holding together. I am very VERY careful with my books especially collector's items, and I don't mind paying an extra few bucks if that means it will hold together longer.
Nevertheless the book is awesome and I'm happy with it. I's a perfect companion for a reading night lit by a full moon.
"Expanding Universe" will immerse you like no other in the hidden depth of the Cosmos through the lens of the Hubble Telescope. Each page will demonstrate in high quality gorgeous pictures of planets, stars, galaxies and nebulas etc... As you flip each page you will be an awe and will only want to keep looking.
Sadly, the binding of the book is really weak, I have barely opened it a few times now and the binding already came off and at the center of the book you could see and feel the pages are hardly holding together. I am very VERY careful with my books especially collector's items, and I don't mind paying an extra few bucks if that means it will hold together longer.
Nevertheless the book is awesome and I'm happy with it. I's a perfect companion for a reading night lit by a full moon.
September 12, 2015
Loved it! A book filled with awe inspiring photos from the Hubble space telescope.
While I should warn you that there is very little text in this book, this was actually a plus for me, as it allows you to focus purely on the photos.
I wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone!
While I should warn you that there is very little text in this book, this was actually a plus for me, as it allows you to focus purely on the photos.
I wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone!
February 14, 2016
These photos are amazing! So cool to see the universe through the lens of Hubble.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews