Galactic Encounters Our Majestic and Evolving Star-System, From the Big Bang to Time's End

“It is certainly a well-researched, compelling survey of sidereal astronomy, with an emphasis on galactic structure. … The stories of the characters and the well-researched nature of the narrative make Galactic Encounters a pleasure to read, especially if one is interested in a survey of some of the primary figures in the twentieth-century American astronomical community. … the text could work well as supplemental reading for a history of astronomy course.” (Stephen Case, Journal for the History of Astronomy, Vol. 46 (4), 2016)

“Burrowing into the prose, one finds an engaging, accessible survey of the history of astronomy.  … it is certainly a well-researched, compelling survey of sidereal astronomy, with an emphasis on galactic structure. … The stories of the characters and the well-researched nature of the narrative make Galactic Encounters a pleasure to read, especially if one is interested in a survey of some of the primary figures in the twentieth-century American astronomical community.” (Stephen Case, Journal for the History of Astronomy, Vol. 46 (6), November, 2015)

“With many great photographs – from Edwin Hubble to the Hubble Space Telescope – a robust approach to the science which is (usually) very well explained, and detailed footnotes, this is a history of galactic astronomy that should definitely find space on your bookshelf.” (Andy Sawers, Astronomy Now, September, 2015)

“There are 186 illustrations, including many not often seen, and the production is of high quality. Sheehan & Conselice have produced a meticulously researched masterpiece on the talented individuals who first explored the extragalactic Universe.” (Simon Mitton, The Observatory, Vol. 135 (1247), August, 2015)

“Galactic Encounters consists of three distinct parts, each with its own voice. … the material is written at a level accessible to enthusiasts looking for a narrative introduction. … If you enjoy reading stories about astronomers, or if you want an excellent introduction to galaxies and cosmology, then much of Galactic Encounters is perfect: fun to read and full of information.” (Louise Edwards, Physics Today, June, 2015)

“Sheehan (astronomy historian/writer;psychiatrist) and Conselice (astronomer, Univ. of Nottingham, UK) do this in an informative and engaging style by choosing prominent scientists who made significant contributions and then giving biographical information about these individuals. In this way, the authors not only maintain the scientific standard of the writing at a high level but also convey a flavor of how research is undertaken. … Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates and general readers.” (D. E. Hogg, Choice, Vol. 52 (8), April, 2015)

“Galactic Encounters … is a beautifully written and illustrated compilation of our progressive understanding of the cosmos since Galileo first pointed his telescope at the Milky Way and saw multitudes of stars. … Galactic Encounters is an informative and enjoyable read … .” (Klaus Brasch, The Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Vol. 109 (1), February, 2015)

“The book follows a roughly chronological timeline from the late eighteenth century to the present day. … The text is aimed at the general reader, though there are plenty of references to scholarly sources for those who want to explore further. … All in all, Galactic Encounters is an excellent work that will appeal to everyone interested in the deep sky, as well as to historians of astronomy.” (Lee Macdonald, Journal of the British Astronomical Association, Issue 3, 2015)

“The book is written starting from the earliest observations and scientists and continues all the way to twenty first century. … The book is also suitable for general readers with maybe less background in physics or astronomy, as you don’t need any mathematics to fly through the book and observations described within. … ‘Galactic Encounters’ is very interesting, thorough and well-illustrated.” (Kadri Tinn, AstroMadness.com, December, 2014)