Cosmic Chronicles: A user's guide to the Universe

by Fred Watson

Are we alone in the Universe? Where did the Moon come from? How do we know what stars are made of? Could there really be a future in asteroid mining? In Cosmic Chronicles, Fred Watson – Australia’s Astronomer-at-Large and bestselling author – explores the hottest topics in space science and astronomy. Watson presents the most up-to-date knowledge on everything from light echoing around the cosmos, the mechanics of black holes and how to navigate the hidden delights of nightfall, to the most profound questions facing humankind. With mind-bending stories from the frontiers of science, Cosmic Chronicles is an expert’s view of what we know and how we know it. ‘Despite the complexity of the Universe, you feel as though you’ve always been part of unravelling its mysteries as you read Fred Watson’s entertaining new book. You will explore its history, spot things in the night sky you’ve never noticed before, and if you’re hoping for a wild new travel adventure, you’ll learn how to go to space without contaminating the cosmos with pesky earthly microbes. Bonus!’ — Amanda Bauer, head of education and public outreach, Large Synoptic Survey Telescope ‘Fred Watson's new book, Cosmic A user’s guide to the Universe, is a superb romp through the historical, cultural and scientific astronomical phenomena that surround us every day. Fred is a national treasure for his witty and incisive descriptions of science, fun and interesting to all. The book spans medieval astronomers to NASA deep space missions and even includes Goldilocks and The Terminator (revealed as serene and even romantic). Enjoy!’ — Col. Pamela A. Melroy, USAF (ret.), former NASA Astronaut ‘Full of science and wonder, this book will leave you looking upwards.’ — Richard Glover, ABC Radio 'Watson sifts and orders a most extensive range of material, then makes it all readily understandable...This book genuinely deserves a readership spanning all ages and many levels of prior expertise.' — Mark Thomas, Canberra Times 'This is a great read! Twenty chapters, each a self-contained gem, exploring today's hot topics in astronomy and space research. It is, of course, right up-to-date and, like his broadcasts, both clear and entertaining. A great way to get up to speed with developments in astronomy such as gravitational waves and fast radio bursts. Highly recommended!' — Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Chancellor of the University of Dundee and Visiting Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Oxford

Genres: Science, Space, Nonfiction

256 pages, paperback

First published October 1, 2019

Reviews

[Ash Mason]

Readers who are familiar with the likes of Douglas Adam or H.P Lovecraft will have some idea of how truly small we humans are. Well, Fred Watson, asks you to please disregard your previous ideas, so he can explain to you truly, how small and insignificant we actually are.

Or rather, how incomprehensibly huge the universe is.

Watson, current astronomer and former pioneer, is more than qualified to talk to us on the subject of the universe, though he never relies on the reader having a scientific background and incorporates explanations, where necessary, well throughout the pages. Cosmic Chronicles never crosses the threshold where leisure reading turns into a lecture session and remains as it claims; a user’s guide.

And guidance is a good word to use for this book, as the writing style is that of a friendly and charismatic tour guide who takes you through space at light speed, making various pit-stops to point out one or another notable feature. Though the universe may be incomprehensibly big and empty, you certainly don’t feel alone while reading this book.

Astrology, geology and biology might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but Watson seems to understand this, and it feels like the material has been through a few ‘enjoyment’ filters. As the majority of the content inspires ‘wow that’s cool’ moments instead of making your eyes glass over. Topics range from everyday ideas like meteors, stars and nightfall. While the more obscure sections go over interstellar property and space bugs (yes, space-bugs).

Fred Watson has an asteroid named after him, but he explicitly claims no responsibility if it ever hits the earth. Overall, I’d recommend this book to anyone outer-space minded, and any age from young adult upwards. The chapters make it easy to learn and become familiar with a new idea in one sitting. Be prepared to look up and see the sky in a whole new way.

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[JayElle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up from my library's "Out of this world" display, and wasn't disappointed.

Fred takes us through the history to present day of astronomy and astrophysics. He does well in simplifying complex ideas without completely dumbing them down.

I knew the universe was huge... but it is so, so much bigger than I could have imagined.

[Shattered Anthologies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cosmic Chronicles is a science book that stands out for its exceptional clarity and accessibility. The author explains complex topics in a way that is both engaging and easy to follow, without oversimplifying or talking down to the reader, a pitfall of many other books about space. This makes it an excellent introduction for beginners, while still offering enough substance to appeal to those with some prior interest in astronomy.
The writing style is light, humorous, and sprinkled with anecdotes, which keeps the narrative lively. Accounts of scientific discoveries, debates, and rivalries make the book as entertaining as it is informative. A particular strength is the attention given to women in astronomy, highlighting their often-overlooked contributions to the field.
Some chapters place more emphasis on the social significance of astronomy than on the detailed mechanics of celestial phenomena, which may leave more advanced readers wanting a deeper dive. Still, the book delivers exactly what good popular science should: clarity, authority, and an engaging voice.

Verdict: An enjoyable, insightful, and highly readable guide to the cosmos.

[Carole Hazell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fred writes as he speaks: with great authority, with a lovely sense of humour, and great modesty.
His sense of wonder about our Universe makes this a most readable book. Highly recommended.