Product Description

Through the lens of a microscope or the shaft of a telescope exists a universe of boundless life and beauty, that is entirely invisible to the naked eye. Atoms, ice crystals, grains of pollen, snowflakes, butterfly wings, cloud formations, searing comets, and showers of stars are born, live and die. The unprecedented scope of "Heaven & Earth" offers 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 billions of light years away. Revealing the extensive range of matter contained in the cosmos, this book navigates a fascinating trajectory through an unexplored world, to celebrate the immeasurable beauty and countless mysteries of planet earth and the universe. It charts - chapter by chapter - intricate landscapes of increasing scale and distance, captured by microscope, x-ray, satellite and telescope. Each magnificent photograph is accompanied by an extended caption that explains it in detail, offering a dose of scientific information that enables us to associate with it on a human scale. This volume presents a unique and richly illustrated insight into the momentous relation between aesthetics and nature, in the light of nature's magnitude and its complexity of life. The result is the ultimate fusion of art and science, through a sequence of images that are as subtle as they are stupendous.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #37653 in Books
• Published on: 2007-04-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

About the Author
David Malin was formerly Photographic Scientist at the Anglo-Australian Observatory, New South Wales and currently Adjunct Professor of Scientific Photography at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. Winner of the prestigious Lennart Nilsson prize, his pioneering photographs of space have revolutionized our knowledge and understanding of the universe. Katherine Roucoux is a freelance science writer and a Research Fellow at the University of Leeds.

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!