The road to galaxy formation

More about the book

The formation of galaxies remains one of astronomy's greatest puzzles, with implications for our understanding of the universe. This book explores the origins of galaxy formation through cosmological observations and calculations, examining the broad features that need explanation and what we know about their subsequent history. It compares competing theories and anticipates advancements from new, powerful telescopes on Earth and in space. In this second edition, the author maintains the observationally-based approach praised in the first edition. Carlton Baugh noted in Nature that it is refreshing to find a book on galaxy formation grounded in observations rather than theory. The New Scientist highlighted the author's ability to balance observational evidence with relevant theoretical possibilities. Sepehr Arbabi-Bidgoli remarked in Astronomische Nachrichten that reading the book feels like attending an engaging lecture by an expert. Each chapter concludes with a bibliography summarizing books, selected research papers, and web resources for further exploration, making it a valuable primer for graduate students, advanced undergraduates, and theorists hesitant to engage with telescopes.