Einstein's Monsters

Black holes are the best known and least understood objects in the universe. These enigmatic giants, which scientists have discovered are at the center of every galaxy, continue to astound and challenge us. In Einstein’s Monsters, distinguished astronomer Chris Impey takes readers on a vivid tour of these cosmic wonders. He weaves a fascinating tale out of the fiendishly complex math of black holes and the colorful history of their discovery. Impey blends this history with a poignant account of the phenomena scientists have witnessed while observing black holes: stars swarming like bees around the center of our galaxy; black holes performing gravitational waltzes with visible stars; the cymbal clash of two back holes colliding, releasing ripples in space time.

Author Biography

Chris Impey is a distinguished professor in the Department of Astronomy at the University of Arizona and the critically-acclaimed author of Beyond, How It Began, and How It Ends, and four other books, as well as two astronomy textbooks. He lives in Tucson, Arizona.