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About the Book
This book "combines the exciting travels of ... astronomer Emily Levesque with the misunderstood antics of a scrappy (and shrinking) crew of scientists working with stars and telescopes. She dissects both the romance and the real human curiosity that is so important to our exploration of space. Amidst the lonely quiet of stargazing to wild bears loose in the observatory, these love stories of astronomy show how scientists are going beyond the machines to infuse important creativity and intimate passion into the stars, inspiring future generations to peer skyward in pursuit of the universe's secrets"--Book Synopsis
The story of the people who see beyond the stars--an astronomy book for adults still spellbound by the night sky.
Humans from the earliest civilizations through today have craned their necks each night, using the stars to orient themselves in the large, strange world around them. Stargazing is a pursuit that continues to fascinate us: from Copernicus to Carl Sagan, astronomers throughout history have spent their lives trying to answer the biggest questions in the universe. Now, award-winning astronomer Emily Levesque shares the stories of modern-day stargazers in this new nonfiction release, the people willing to adventure across high mountaintops and to some of the most remote corners of the planet, all in the name of science.
From the lonely quiet of midnight stargazing to tall tales of wild bears loose in the observatory, The Last Stargazers is a love letter to astronomy and an affirmation of the crucial role that humans can and must play in the future of scientific discovery.
In this sweeping work of narrative science, Levesque shows how astronomers in this scrappy and evolving field are going beyond the machines to infuse creativity and passion into the stars and space and inspires us all to peer skyward in pursuit of the universe's secrets.
Review Quotes
The awesome endeavours and intellectual adventures in the physical practice and gains in understanding that are the heart and passion of astronomers are gloriously portrayed from the mind of a wonderful practitioner, Emily Levesque. Her range of experiences and insights through the recent period of rapid developments and future planning in this progressive human effort gloriously reach out to everyone. - Professor Alec Boksenberg, former director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory
The perfect primer for a future astronomer or an amateur astronomy buff, it captures the highlights, lowlights, and day-to-day life of the professional stargazer. - Zach Weinersmith, New York Times bestselling author/illustrator of Soonish and Open Borders
[A]ny stargazer would enjoy this joyous adventure through modern astronomy. - Publishers Weekly, STARRED review
An astronomy professor captures the human stories--from the quirky to the luminous--of her discipline...entertaining, ardent tales from an era of stargazing that may not last much longer. - Kirkus Reviews
Astronomy is dangerous. Wild (sometimes venomous) animals, thin air, heavy equipment, hazardous chemicals... Dr. Levesque captures all this with amusement and personal experience, making this a delightful read for everyone. - Phil Plait, astronomer and author of Bad Astronomy
Emily Levesque is smart and funny, and her insider's tale of stars and the astronomers who study them bursts with color and energy. - Edward Dolnick, author of The Clockwork Universe
Emily's book is a compulsive read. It demonstrates what being an observational astronomer is really like--the highs, the lows and the unscheduled things that can happen at telescopes around the world! Give this book to every young person (especially the girls!) that you know who likes math and science. - Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Astrophysicist, Oxford
If you've ever wondered what astronomers do--what they really do--and the human journey from the era of eyepieces to gigantic robotic cameras, The Last Stargazers puts you there with compelling honesty, following the scientists and students with hundred-ton telescopes as backdrop. - Erik Asphaug, author of When the Earth Had Two Moons
It's like catching a glimpse of the magic behind the curtain galaxies away and leaves you hanging on every spectacular word. A must read for anyone who has looked up at the sky and felt a sense of wonder as well as those considering the world of astrophysics and astronomy. - Tamara Robertson, host of Mythbusters: The Search, STEM speaker
Through captivating stories, Levesque gives us both a vivid and accessible inside look at the enigmatic mountain-top astronomers. A unique and engaging read. - Sara Seager, professor of astronomy at MIT