Astronomer Lucas Ellerbroek is a researcher in comets and planet formation at the University of Amsterdam. He has written a number of popular articles on space exploration and is well known for his television appearances and TedX talks.
"We are living in an exceptional epoch. Thanks to the development
of technology, the ancient dreams of Greek philosophers have become
an exciting field of modern astronomy. In this timely book, the
characters who have participated in the discovery of these other
worlds share their personal stories. Discoveries are made by
individuals, thanks to their vision, enthusiasm, and perseverance,
and also through friendship, collaboration, and competition. Planet
Hunters is a lively fresco of that international endeavor."--Michel
Mayor, discoverer of the first exoplanet and emeritus professor of
astrophysics, University of Geneva
Twenty years ago, humankind did not know whether most stars have
planets or whether our Sun was unique with its array of orbiting
planets. Today we know that most stars have planets ('exoplanets'),
many of the planets are Earth-size, and that there are billions of
Earth-size planets orbiting in the habitable zone where life might
evolve. Planet Hunters provides dozens of delightful (and sometimes
humorous) histories of individuals who thought and wrote about
planets and life around other stars before the recent discoveries
provided facts. . . . Planet Hunters is both informative and a
pleasure to read. I highly recommend it."--William J. Borucki,
Kepler Principal Investigator, NASA Ames Research Center
"Planet Hunters traces the history of exoplanet discovery back to a
time when the idea of planets beyond our solar system was just
science fiction--or heresy. Ellerbroek describes the field of
exoplanet research in all its historical context, from Giordano
Bruno's heretical burning at the stake for suggesting that stars
had planets of their own, to Bill Borucki's dedication to making
the Kepler mission a reality. By uncovering the centuries of
courage and creativity it took to make revolutionary discoveries in
astronomy, Ellerbroek hopes readers will feel less intimidated by
the sciences and more encouraged to innovate."--Doris Elin Salazar
"Space.com"
"Are we alone in the universe? In Planet Hunters, Lucas Ellerbroek
traces the story of this question from its beginnings during the
age of Copernicus and Galileo to the present day, teaching us the
relevant science as he goes. Ellerbroek is particularly skilled at
inserting the 'astronomy backstory, ' giving accessible
introductions to both historical ideas and cutting-edge research,
and showing how big questions are teased into empirical science."--
"Science"
"Ellerbroek examines how the first astronomers gazed at the
stars--with the naked eye and then with early telescopes--and
shares their thoughts and discoveries. As he does, he provides
great examples to help readers understand the immense distances in
space and the difficulties inherent in studying the 'wobbles' of
stars and planets so many millions of miles away. . . . Meticulous
and well-researched, but not dull, Planet Hunters is infused with
the enthusiasm of the many people who have devoted their lives to
searching for a potential neighbor in the enormity of space."--
"Shelf Awareness"
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