Astrophysics and Life in the Universe

The book takes the reader on a journey of discovery ranging from the planets of our solar system to stars and distant solar systems in the Milky Way, our home galaxy, and beyond to the ends of the universe. It proposes a reader-friendly introduction to astrophysics and the physics of stars and planets, accompanied by over one hundred illustrations. The book explains concepts, distances and phenomena from other worlds, very different from our everyday experience.

Throughout its journey through the universe the book introduces the science of astrobiology: the search for biological life in space. It also accompanies the course "Astrobiology and Life in the Universe" presented by the author and recorded for the benefit of the public in the "Cornerstones" program of the Hebrew University.

The book deals with topics that have received widespread media coverage in recent years, such as NASA's research missions to Mars and their Kepler and James Web space telescopes. While the Kepler mission led in 2010-2015 to a breakthrough in discovering numerous worlds suitable for life outside the Solar System, James Web, whose launch is expected in 2021, will provide to humanity for the first time the ability to detect signs of life in these worlds.