Galaxy Facts by Eleanor Hawking

Galaxy Facts embarks on a cosmic journey to explore galaxies, the universe's fundamental building blocks. This book tackles the complexities of galaxy formation, galactic structure, and evolution, offering a comprehensive understanding of our place in the cosmos. One intriguing aspect covered is how supermassive black holes, residing at the centers of most galaxies, influence galactic environments. Readers will also discover how dark matter, an invisible substance, plays a crucial role in galaxy formation and evolution. The book differentiates itself by synthesizing observational data from telescopes like Hubble and theoretical models, demonstrating how these vast star systems are dynamic entities constantly changing through gravity, gas dynamics, and star formation. Galaxy Facts begins with cosmology basics and galactic astronomy history, progressing through galaxy formation processes, different galaxy types (spirals, ellipticals, irregulars), and the impact of active galactic nuclei. This approach ensures that readers gain a thorough appreciation for the scale and wonder of galaxies.