The Discovery of Cosmic Voids

The large-scale structure of the Universe is dominated by vast voids with galaxies clustered in knots, sheets, and filaments, forming a great 'cosmic web'. In this personal account of the major astronomical developments leading to this discovery, we learn from Laird A. Thompson, a key protagonist, how the first 3D maps of galaxies were created. Using non-mathematical language, he introduces the standard model of cosmology before explaining how and why ideas about cosmic voids evolved, referencing the original maps, reproduced here. His account tells of the competing teams of observers, racing to publish their results, the theorists trying to build or update their models to explain them, and the subsequent large-scale survey efforts that continue to the present day. This is a well-documented account of the birth of a major pillar of modern cosmology, and a useful case study of the trials surrounding how this scientific discovery became accepted.

ISBN:	9781108491136
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Imprint:	Cambridge University Press
Published date:	10 Dec 2020
DEWEY:	523.01
DEWEY edition:	23
Language:	English
Number of pages:	325
Weight:	700g
Height:	176mm
Width:	249mm
Spine width:	20mm

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