Product Description

Now available as a mini paperback, Heaven & Earth charts an awe-inspiring voyage of discovery through the infinite world of science - from the smallest particles on the earth's surface to tiny dots in galaxies that are light years away. Featuring the extensive range of matter contained in the cosmos, the book navigates an unfamiliar world and celebrates the beauty and boundless mysteries of planet earth and the universe. These beautiful photographs are presented in sequence according to scale and distance within distinct chapters, and are accompanied by extended captions. Through the lens of a microscope or the shaft of a telescope exists a universe of life and beauty that is unknown to many. Hidden from sight because of the restricted ability of the human eye, atoms, ice crystals, grains of pollen, snowflakes, butterfly wings, cloud formations, searing comets, and showers of stars are born, live and die. Heaven & Earth charts an awe-inspiring voyage of discovery through this infinite world that is science - from the smallest particles on the earth's surface to tiny dots in galaxies that are light years away. Featuring the extensive range of matter contained in the cosmos, the book navigates a fascinating trajectory through an unfamiliar world and celebrates the beauty and boundless mysteries of planet earth and the universe. The images are presented in sequence according to scale and distance within distinct chapters. All the images are taken with some form of camera or instrument used to view these fragments of life and nature - microscope, x-ray, satellite, telescope, etc. - and nothing can be seen with the naked eye. Presented as art, these beautiful but unfamiliar images are accompanied by extended captions. The captions explain what we are looking at, how small or far away it is, how it was photographed and where it can be found, as well as offering an interesting snippet of scientific information that enables us to associate with it on a human scale. A glossary of scientific terms is also included.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #189821 in Books
• Published on: 2004-09-17
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 392 pages

About the Author
David Malin is a well-known astronomer and a leader in astronomical photography. He was formerly Photographic Scientist at the Anglo-Australian Observatory in New South Wales and is currently Adjunct Professor of Scientific Photography at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. Recent winner of the prestigious Lennart Nilsson prize, Malin's pioneering photographs of space have revolutionized our knowledge and understanding of the universe. Widely published, Malin has written numerous scientific papers and books. He has also lectured on science, astronomy and photography at institutions worldwide. Katherine Roucoux is a freelance science writer and a Research Fellow at the University of Leeds. She has a PhD in Quaternary palaeoecology from the University of Cambridge and an MSc in Science Communication from Imperial College, London. As well as acting as editorial researcher on Heaven & Earth, Roucoux has written the image captions and glossary for the book.

Customer Reviews

Better than 'Earth from the Air in 365 Days' !!
On first opening this book I was amazed by the sheer variety of the photos it contains. 'Heaven & Earth' covers everything from the smallest to the largest objects in the known universe in gorgeously detailed, full-page pictures. From Carbon-dioxide crystals to supernovae the photos are presented in one of four sections according to the size of the subject.

Each photo is accompanied by a brief but interesting description of the processes behind each photo written by a highly qualified science journailst.

I chose this book hoping it would be similar to Arthus-Bertrand's excellent 'Earth from the Air...'. In fact 'Heaven & Earth' is in my opinion a better buy, due to the variety of subjects the photos cover and the fascinating image captions. Unlike 'Earth from the Air...' there is almost no repetition of the subjects for the photos.

In short, this is a book that has photos to interest absolutely anyone and would be a perfect christmas / birthday present. Or you could use it to keep the relatives quietly absorbed for a while!

Stunning
I bought this as a present for a close friend who was a bit stressed.

more than did the job! the pictures in this are simply beautiful. a chance to look at the world/universe in a way no human could ever do unaided.

Now that's a gift we all could do with.

Unbelievable
This book is astounding in everyway. It takes you on a journey from the subatomic to the unimaginably immense. The pictures in this book are second to non, it is perfect for stiking up conversation when you have visitors. I was bought this book for christmas and could not have asked for a better present. Anybody with the slightest interest in science will love this book, even my mum loved it!