Astronomy elicits awe and wonder from those who gaze into the vastness of the universe. Religion elicits even greater awe and wonder of the infinite Creator of such vastness. This book beautifully balances both experiences of wonder.
J OHN M ICHAEL T ALBOT , bestselling musician and author
This book is an engaging and personal tour of the universe from a respected astronomer who also loves the Bible. Come along for the ride!
D EBORAH H AARSMA , astronomer and president of BioLogos
This book declares the glory of God and invites us to see in the heavens his handiwork. This is a great resource for anyone who wants to help young people see that science and faith can share the same space!
D R . D UFFY R OBBINS , professor of youth ministry, Eastern University
A sweeping account of how the heavens and heaven go hand in hand. Even if you dont completely accept the authors theological worldview, you will encounter many intriguing insights you wont find expressed so clearly elsewhere.
O WEN G INGERICH , professor emeritus of astronomy and of the history of science, Harvard University
A close read of this inviting book will open your mind to see the amazing work of God in an amazingly massive universe. Youll be dually awed by the majesty of creation and the action of the Creator.
A NDREW R OOT , Carrie Olson Baalson Professor of Youth and Family Ministry, Luther Seminary
Too many people see science and faith in conflict. Leading astronomer David Bradstreet explodes that myth in this outstanding, highly readable book that shows how science has enriched his faith and how Christian faith has enriched science.
D AVID W ILKINSON , author and professor of theology and religion, Durham University
This book combines an engaging and informed romp through the cosmos with a deep conviction that the heavens declare the glory of God. Bradstreet and Rabey make the case that we live on a privileged planet in a remarkably designed universe.
K ARL G IBERSON , scholar-in-residence in science and religion, Stonehill College
We live in a time when cosmologist Sean Carroll claims that the evidence is pretty incontrovertible for atheism. This book reminds us that for those who ask why theres any beauty in the universe, the heavens still declare the glory of God.
D OUGLAS L E B LANC , author, Tithing: Test Me in This
This book will capture the imagination of all who hunger to see Gods majesty, creativity, power, and love with fresh eyes. Read this book and youll never see the heavens the same way.
T ERRY L INHART , author and professor of Christian ministries, Bethel College
This book is a celebration of wonder. In plain, accessible language, Bradstreet and Rabey show us how beautiful and mysterious the universe is. This book helps us love the artistry of our great cosmic canvas.
D EAN N ELSON , coauthor, Quantum Leap: How John Polkinghorne Found God in Science and Religion
This book is a primer on the current best science on the universe. It illumines our thinking, helps us grasp our Creators comets, stars, and meteors, and shows us how we may better love God, the scientific enterprise, and the detailed wonders of the heavens and earth that this enterprise reveals.
R OBERT G. D UFFETT , president, Eastern University
Ive always looked forward to the new earth. This enjoyable book makes me look forward to the new heavens more than ever. For this Im deeply thankful!
K EVIN F LANNERY , senior pastor, Church of the Saviour
ZONDERVAN
Star Struck
Copyright 2016 by David Hart Bradstreet and Steve Rabey
Requests for information should be addressed to:
Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546
ePub Edition August 2016: ISBN 978-0-310-34419-3
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Bradstreet, David (Professor), author.
Title: Star struck : seeing the creator in the wonders of our cosmos / Dr. David Bradstreet and Steve Rabey.
Description: Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 2016. | Includes bibliographical references.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016012910 | ISBN 9780310344063 (softcover)
Subjects: LCSH: Astronomy--Religious aspects--Christianity. | Cosmology--Religious aspects--Christianity. | Physics--Religious aspects--Christianity.
Classification: LCC BL253 .B73 2016 | DDC 261.5/5--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016012910
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.
Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.
Cover design: Faceout Studio
Cover photo: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
Interior design: Denise Froehlich
First printing July 2016
A s a professor of astronomy and astrophysics for decades, I never know what my former students will be up to next. In the case of David Bradstreet, hes been busy collaborating on a tour de force journey through the most interesting people and most important discoveries in the development of astronomy.
Nearly every aspect of astronomy is covered, including the nature of stars, life on Earth, planets (in our solar system and beyond), comets and asteroids, black holes, galaxies, cosmology, dark matter, the Big Bang, and the future of Earth and the universe. The authors also explore the possibility of alien life in the solar system and beyonda topic I too have studied.
The scope of the book is as broad as the heavens. From the earliest Babylonian and Greek astronomers to todays billion-dollar space race, the authors show how men and women of deep faith in God have explored the farthest reaches of our universe, unraveling some of its biggest mysteries.
I can imagine some of you saying, But Ive never studied astronomy. No worries. Everything is clearly explained and illustrated. Star Struck isnt a stuffy read. Its a very engaging and well-written book that requires little or no scientific background. Youll be helped along by enticing chapter titles and subtitles, relevant biblical references, humor, and plentiful pop-culture references to sci-fi books, TV shows, and movies. The photos and illustrations help reveal what words alone cant describe.
Even better, the book takes us along on the personal journey of a contemporary astronomer. Dave was first star-struck as a child, viewing the myriad stars and planets during all seasons, scanning the skies from his Massachusetts home through bug-filled summer nights and long, bone-chilling winter evenings. His fascination with the stars, the Moon, and planets propelled him to become a professional astronomer. Today, hes a professor at Eastern University, where he has taught astronomy and physics for forty years. Hes published more than one hundred scholarly papers and articles and has established a planetarium and an astronomical observatory at his school. David is also well-known internationally because of his computer program, Binary Maker, which is used by many astronomers to analyze eclipsing binary star systems.