The Universe Around Us

Abstract

THIS book is an attempt to picture, in language which any intelligent reader can follow, the universe around us, from its greatest to its minutest features. Astronomy has undergone, in the last generation, a peaceful development which is greater than a revolution. It has become universal. The change of base from the solar system to the stars is a greater change than the change from the earth to the sun, and the consequences are not the less momentous because in this case the change has been made without conflict or opposition. That some such change must be taken, at some future time, has been obvious. In the past, guess and forecast have always fallen short of the facts, and in any case they are repugnant to those who value facts and see how the impressive scheme of astronomy has been built up by following the rule of never saying more than we know. But the means of gaining knowledge seemed wholly inadequate to cope with the question. There seemed no hope of getting a trustworthy outline in our time, or in any other time that we could look forward to. But this is now changed.

The Universe Around Us.

By Sir James Jeans. Pp. x + 352 + 24 plates. (Cambridge: At the University Press, 1929.) 12s. 6d. net.