Journey to the Black Hole
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Summary
The author of this book, Heino Falcke, is the initiator of this feat. In the book he recounts astrophysics, black hole research, and the secrets of the universe one by one, and documents in detail how generations of scientists, through a century of effort, pushed past the boundaries of human knowledge and imagination and finally, on April 10, 2019, completed the first-ever black hole image in human history.
This is an adventure in exploring the universe; by the end of the journey, black holes will no longer be mysterious, and the future will be within reach. If you fall into a black hole, don't give up—you can get out. —Stephen Hawking.
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- General science readers curious about black holes and cosmic exploration
- Readers interested in how large-scale scientific projects are organized and coordinated
- Students and teachers seeking astronomy popular science books to broaden their horizons
- Readers of documentary-style narratives who enjoy scientists' firsthand accounts of research journeys
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking systematic astrophysics training in textbook form
- Professional learners looking only for extensive formula derivations and exercises
- Readers uninterested in cosmic topics who prefer humanities and social science subjects
Reading tips
- Start with the chapters related to the release of the black hole image to establish an event timeline, then go back and fill in the theoretical background.
- Don't stop to look up technical concepts; follow the narrative first, then review them after finishing a chapter.
- Read alongside simple diagrams of cosmic scale to help build a sense of distance and magnitude.
- After finishing, summarize in one paragraph "why we wanted to photograph a black hole" to check whether you grasped the main thread.
About the publisher
Founded in May 1978, the press was originally affiliated with the Shanghai Institute of Scientific and Technical Information and now operates under Shanghai Century Publishing Group, entrusted to the management of Shanghai Library. It publishes in science and technology popularization, medicine and health, and documentary and cultural works, drawing on the library's rich collections.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 前言
- 序语：我们真的看到它们了
- 关于本书
- 第一部分 穿越时空的旅行
- 1 人类、地球与月球
- 2 太阳系和不断发展的宇宙模型
- 第二部分 宇宙的奥秘
- 3 爱因斯坦最快乐的想法
- 4 银河系及其恒星
- 5 死亡的恒星和黑洞
- 6 星系、类星体和大爆炸
- 第三部分 为黑洞拍照
- 7 银河系中心
- 8 可以拍到黑洞
- 9 建造全球性望远镜
- 10 踏上征程
- 11 解析了一张照片
- 第四部分 超越极限
- 12 超越想象力的极限
- 13 超越爱因斯坦？
- 14 无所不知与有所不知
- 附录
- 鸣谢
- EHT作者列表
- 词汇表
FAQ
Can I understand this book without a physics background?
Does the book cover black hole theory or the process of taking the photograph?
Is this book suitable as an introductory astronomy read?
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About the author
Heino Falcke, born in 1966, is a German astrophysicist who has long worked on black holes and radio astronomy. He is chair of the Event Horizon Telescope Science Council and a core member of the research that produced the first image of a black hole, a result that turned black holes from theoretical constructs into visible evidence. One work by him is available here: the popular science book Journey to the Black Hole, in the science popularization category. The book centers on black hole astronomy and uses real observations and research threads to turn complex astrophysical concepts into a narrative general readers can follow. Drawing on frontline research experience, Falcke emphasizes observational detail and scientific reasoning; his writing is rigorous yet readable, suited to readers interested in the universe and cutting-edge science. Public information about his personal background is limited, so no further details are given here.
Jörg Römer is a German science editor and popular-science author who works as a science editor at the German weekly Der Spiegel. Public information about his personal life, such as his year of birth, educational background and honors, is limited; his confirmed identity comes mainly from his editorial and writing work. Together with Heino Falcke, he co-authored the popular-science book Journey to the Black Hole, which explores black holes and the universe. The book centers on black holes, a core concept of modern astrophysics, and translates frontier scientific questions into a narrative accessible to general readers. It is classified as science popularization. Based on the available material, Römer's writing focuses on cosmology and astrophysics; drawing on his experience as a news editor, he emphasizes accurate transmission of knowledge and readability, seeking a balance between scientific rigor and popular appeal. For Chinese readers, his work offers an accessible and reliable introduction to black hole research.
Yan Wenchi is an author about whom little public information is currently available. He is known only as a writer of popular science books, with one title held in the collection: A Journey Through Black Holes. Judging from the title and its categorization, the book likely centers on black holes, a core concept in astrophysics, and is intended for general readers. Writing of this kind usually requires translating abstract theories and observational findings into accessible language, balancing scientific accuracy with readability so that non-specialist readers can engage with topics in modern cosmology. A Journey Through Black Holes is the main basis for understanding his writing orientation and reflects his attempt to introduce astrophysical knowledge to a broad audience through the subject of black holes. Because no reliable records are available regarding his nationality, dates of birth and death, education, or writing career, this introduction makes no inferences on those points; a fuller picture of the author awaits further public information.
