Cosmos.Light.Colours

Cosmos.Light.Colours is a very vivid astronomy book, inspiring for laypeople and exciting for beginners and amateur astronomers." — Dr. Julia Weratschnig, Astrophysicist "Colour is the language in which the cosmos reveals its secrets." Why do interstellar gas clouds glow in deep red? What does the cool blue of young star clusters tell us about the creation of matter? And why does this magnificence remain hidden from the human eye when looking through a telescope? In Volume 1 of his monumental Cosmos.Light pentalogy, astrophotographer and author Franz Rettenbacher opens the prism of the universe. He takes you on a visual journey of discovery through the wavelengths of the cosmos. Using state-of-the-art technology, he gathers the faint light of distant photons, rendering visible physical processes that occur billions of kilometers away. What awaits you in this volume: The Aesthetics of Emission: Immerse yourself in glowing hydrogen clouds (H-alpha) and ionized oxygen. Reflection and Dust: Experience how primordial interstellar matter scatters the light of distant suns, illuminating them in a deep blue. Physics meets Photography: Every image is complemented by its "Cosmic Context" – sound astrophysics explained in an accessible and captivating way. Masterpieces of Astrophotography: High-resolution images that push the boundaries of the visible. Cosmos.Light.Colours is more than a photobook – it is the foundation of a journey that teaches us not merely to look at the night sky, but to understand it. An indispensable work for astronomy enthusiasts, aesthetes, and anyone seeking the origins of our existence within the colors of the stars. Note on the digital reading experience: To enjoy the astrophotography in this photobook to the fullest, we highly recommend activating Dark Mode in your reading app or or best on your tablet. This allows the images to merge seamlessly with the black background.