Cosmic Odyssey vividly captures one of the greatest eras in the history of astronomy. Rich in scientific detail and written with an engaging flair, this account by Linda Schweizer—who played a role in the journey—reveals both the triumphs and foibles as 20th-century observers discovered a violent universe never before imagined. This should be required reading for every astronomer-in-training.
Marcia Bartusiak, author of The Day We Found the Universe and Einstein's Unfinished Symphony
In this extremely well-researched biography of one of astronomy's 'sacred mountains,' Schweizer charts—in vivid and captivating detail—the many discoveries of the near and far universe and the minds and hands that propelled them.
Priyamvada Natarajan, Professor of Astronomy and Physics, Professor, Yale University; author of Mapping the Heavens: The Radical Scientific Ideas That Reveal the Cosmos
Majestically told, lavishly illustrated, and meticulously documented, Linda Schweizer's vivid portrayal of the personalities that brought the cosmos into focus—most notably Palomar Mountain, the renowned cosmic cathedral and the book's protagonist—reads like a novel and is impossible to put down.
Brian Keating, Chancellor's Distinguished Professor of Physics, University of California, San Diego; author of Losing the Nobel Prize
The 200-inch telescope at Palomar Mountain ruled as the world's premier astronomical instrument for 40 years. In Cosmic Odyssey, Linda Schweizer goes beyond the masterful technology to show what this marvel was used for, who was doing it, and what they achieved.
Robert P. Kirshner, Professor of Science, Harvard University; author of The Extravagant Universe
Cosmic Odyssey is an important book that tells the story of the Palomar Observatory, one of the most important groups of scientific instruments in history. Schweizer gives us crystalline detail, deep knowledge of the process of science, and intimate portraits of great astronomers, deepened by years of conducting interviews with them. Cosmic Odyssey is an achievement and a treasure.
Richard Preston, author of The Hot Zone and First Light: The Search for the Edge of the Universe
“Linda Schweizer's Cosmic Odyssey is a thrilling account of the cosmological discoveries of the past century that 'pulls back the curtain' on the brilliant, eccentric scientists who achieved those breakthroughs…A comprehensive and gripping achievement, Cosmic Odyssey is destined to be a landmark work on the history of astronomy.”
ForeWord Reviews, STARRED
"For those unfamiliar with how George Ellery Hale's 200-inch Big Eye Telescope at Palomar observatory forever changed astronomy, Linda Schweizer's recent book will be a revelation...Schweizer offers a very readable and understandable summary of our astronomical progress over the last 75 years as primarily seen through the lens of this one optical observatory. It's not an easy task to offer up such an historical survey to the general public, but Schweizer does it with aplomb."
Forbes
“In Cosmic Odyssey, Linda Schweizer has perfectly encapsulated its rich history and astonishing discoveries in a book which will thrill astronomers and engineers alike…While some hardback astronomy publications can be oversized and cumbersome, Schweizer's easy-to-handle hardback takes it from a 'coffee-table flick-through' book to a 'pick up, take anywhere and delve in' title so, during a time when travel is restricted, sit back and allow yourself to be transported to this beautiful art deco observatory and deep into the Universe.”
BBC Sky at Night Magazine
"Schweizer's style is clear, intelligent and informative. I'd heartily recommend the book to anyone with an interest in astronomy that goes deeper than gazing at pretty pictures"
Popular Science (UK)
"The book examines how Palomar—not just its 200-inch telescope but also a 60-inch telescope and two wide-field Schmidt telescopes—played a major role in discoveries from solar system science to cosmology."
The Space Review
