This book reveals the science behind Star Trek’s beloved fictions about the universe, inviting readers to gaze up at the night sky and observe where the Starfleet has gone. Many of the galactic destinations featured in Star Trek over the years—multiple star systems, alien worlds, supernova explosions, emission nebulae, voracious black holes—are scientifically valid, so much so that one can step out and view them in the night sky. In this book astronomy educator Andrew Fazekas, “The Night Sky Guy,” takes you on that journey, starting with specific Star Trek voyages, explaining the science behind them, and guiding you in observing and learning more about the real-universe corollaries of planets and places in the Star Trek universe.
With a foreword from William Shatner and stunningly illustrated with hundreds of full-color images—some artists’ interpretations and some real images generated by the most recent NASA missions—plus stills of favorite Star Trek scenes and characters, Star Trek The Official Guide to Our Universe uses Star Trek to teach astronomy, taking every reader on a voyage of discovery. From Altair to Vega, from red giants to white dwarfs, from our solar system to exoplanets we are only beginning to imagine, the book visits dozens of celestial objects, spotlighting some 20 in careful scientific detail and offering easy-to-follow star-gazing instructions to find them in the night sky.
No warp-driven starship, not even a telescope is required to go on these voyages: Most destinations are bright enough to be seen with the naked eye. For Star Trek fans and budding stargazers who are ready to launch their own space mission, this inventive book blends science and fiction, making learning fun and making Star Trek’s 50th all the more worthy of celebration.
"The handsomely illustrated compendium looks at space, intergalactic travel, the possibility of alien life and dozens of other topics through the prism of the characters, plots, themes, weaponry, gadgets and other ideas interwoven into Star Trek." --Parade
"This book is excellent....It's thorough and clever, and just fun." —Revolution Science Fiction
“This guide is for anyone ready to launch their own mission into space—the final frontier. Your personal voyage to explore strange new worlds begins here.”-StarTrek.com
“For Star Trek fans and budding stargazers who are ready to launch their own space mission, this inventive book blends science and fiction, making learning fun.”-Able Greenspan Review
“…compact and clearly explained charts show how you can beam yourself up and join the crew on their voyages—at least in spirit.”- The Jersey Journal
“The blend of real astronomy and bits of Star Trek lore and information is really charming, and will put any Trekkie (or Trekker) into some form of long-term astronomical hypnosis.”-Astronomy Online
“Stunningly illustrated with hundreds of full-color images—artists’ interpretations, images generated by NASA missions, and stills of favorite Star Trek scenes and characters—here is an incomparable voyage toward the final frontier.”-Libraryofscience.net
“National Geographic…tackles the topic with its strengths: Great photos, mind-blowing color graphics and strong layout and design.”-Wilmington Star News
ANDREW FAZEKAS, aka The Night Sky Guy, is a science writer, broadcaster, and lecturer who shares his passion for the wonders of the universe through all media. He is a regular contributor to National Geographic News and is the national cosmic correspondent for Canada's Weather Network TV channel, space columnist for CBC Radio network, and a consultant for the Canadian Space Agency. As an active member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Andrew has given hundreds of public talks and workshops, and has been observing the heavens from Montreal for over a quarter century and has never met a clear night sky he didn't like.
This book reveals the science behind Star Trek’s beloved fictions about the universe, inviting readers to gaze up at the night sky and observe where the Starfleet has gone. Many of the galactic destinations featured in Star Trek over the years—multiple star systems, alien worlds, supernova explosions, emission nebulae, voracious black holes—are scientifically valid, so much so that one can step out and view them in the night sky. In this book astronomy educator Andrew Fazekas, “The Night Sky Guy,” takes you on that journey, starting with specific Star Trek voyages, explaining the science behind them, and guiding you in observing and learning more about the real-universe corollaries of planets and places in the Star Trek universe.
With a foreword from William Shatner and stunningly illustrated with hundreds of full-color images—some artists’ interpretations and some real images generated by the most recent NASA missions—plus stills of favorite Star Trek scenes and characters, Star Trek The Official Guide to Our Universe uses Star Trek to teach astronomy, taking every reader on a voyage of discovery. From Altair to Vega, from red giants to white dwarfs, from our solar system to exoplanets we are only beginning to imagine, the book visits dozens of celestial objects, spotlighting some 20 in careful scientific detail and offering easy-to-follow star-gazing instructions to find them in the night sky.
No warp-driven starship, not even a telescope is required to go on these voyages: Most destinations are bright enough to be seen with the naked eye. For Star Trek fans and budding stargazers who are ready to launch their own space mission, this inventive book blends science and fiction, making learning fun and making Star Trek’s 50th all the more worthy of celebration.
Praise
"The handsomely illustrated compendium looks at space, intergalactic travel, the possibility of alien life and dozens of other topics through the prism of the characters, plots, themes, weaponry, gadgets and other ideas interwoven into Star Trek." --Parade
"This book is excellent....It's thorough and clever, and just fun." —Revolution Science Fiction
“This guide is for anyone ready to launch their own mission into space—the final frontier. Your personal voyage to explore strange new worlds begins here.”-StarTrek.com
“For Star Trek fans and budding stargazers who are ready to launch their own space mission, this inventive book blends science and fiction, making learning fun.”-Able Greenspan Review
“…compact and clearly explained charts show how you can beam yourself up and join the crew on their voyages—at least in spirit.”- The Jersey Journal
“The blend of real astronomy and bits of Star Trek lore and information is really charming, and will put any Trekkie (or Trekker) into some form of long-term astronomical hypnosis.”-Astronomy Online
“Stunningly illustrated with hundreds of full-color images—artists’ interpretations, images generated by NASA missions, and stills of favorite Star Trek scenes and characters—here is an incomparable voyage toward the final frontier.”-Libraryofscience.net
“National Geographic…tackles the topic with its strengths: Great photos, mind-blowing color graphics and strong layout and design.”-Wilmington Star News
Author
ANDREW FAZEKAS, aka The Night Sky Guy, is a science writer, broadcaster, and lecturer who shares his passion for the wonders of the universe through all media. He is a regular contributor to National Geographic News and is the national cosmic correspondent for Canada's Weather Network TV channel, space columnist for CBC Radio network, and a consultant for the Canadian Space Agency. As an active member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Andrew has given hundreds of public talks and workshops, and has been observing the heavens from Montreal for over a quarter century and has never met a clear night sky he didn't like.
