Rating: 
Summary: ASTOUNDING
Review: A star among the galaxy of other books on this subject! I bought it for myself as my own Christmas gift! The sheer size of the images are beautiful. I wish I had a SLIDE set of the same images! A GREAT GIFT FOR YOURSELF OR ANYONE!
Rating:
Summary: **Excellent gift for astronomy lovers! **
Review: I bought this book as a surprise for my boyfriend's birthday on 10th March... He loves astronomy very very much,and i knew he will love this book as much as i love him :> . Well, this book is really fantastic, it caught my eyes in the bookstore. The hard cover, large size constellation photos and wonderful descriptions are just perfect! I feel so happy when i saw my him reading it with joy. I also enjoy a lot when he described those constellations' origins to me. ** So Sweet** . Although it was heavy to carry it to his house, it worths, as we gained happiness. The photos are so beautiful, just like my boyfriend's eyes. This book will certainly kindle your interest in astronomy and the mysterious universe even you know nothing about it.Check this out immediately if you are a manic to beautiful photos.
Rating:
Summary: **Excellent gift for astronomy lovers! **
Review: I bought this book as a surprise for my boyfriend's birthday on 10th March... He loves astronomy very very much,and i knew he will love this book as much as i love him :> . Well, this book is really fantastic, it caught my eyes in the bookstore. The hard cover, large size constellation photos and wonderful descriptions are just perfect! I feel so happy when i saw my him reading it with joy. I also enjoy a lot when he described those constellations' origins to me. ** So Sweet** . Although it was heavy to carry it to his house, it worths, as we gained happiness. The photos are so beautiful, just like my boyfriend's eyes. This book will certainly kindle your interest in astronomy and the mysterious universe even you know nothing about it.Check this out immediately if you are a manic to beautiful photos.
Rating:
Summary: Its size does justice to the its subject
Review: I gave my husband a telescope for his birthday last summer, and have since become an astronomy widow - better than being a football widow! I wanted to give him a Christmas gift of something spectacular that wasn't technological, since I know nothing about it, and saw a review of this book. So I took a chance and bought it. What a success! The book is cumbersome because of its size, but the upside of that is that it forces you to sit down at a table and really LOOK at it - this is not a browsing book. Each image is more spectacular than the previous, and the photographs are so beautifully done, so artistic, that they look almost painterly. The realization that this stuff actually exists, is really out there, in all this color and glory, is tremendously exciting. A "normal"-sized book could never do the photographs justice - this book had to be this size. The Horsehead Nebula is so other-worldly, so amazing, that words fail me and only photos like these can describe it. This book, more than any other I've seen, transports me off the planet and makes me realize how unimaginably vast the universe really is - and fills me with awe that we silly humans with our puny little machines can actually see this much! I recommend this book without reservation to anyone with an interest in astronomy, art, photography... I sure am glad I gave it to US!
Rating:
Summary: Its size does justice to the its subject
Review: I gave my husband a telescope for his birthday last summer, and have since become an astronomy widow - better than being a football widow! I wanted to give him a Christmas gift of something spectacular that wasn't technological, since I know nothing about it, and saw a review of this book. So I took a chance and bought it. What a success! The book is cumbersome because of its size, but the upside of that is that it forces you to sit down at a table and really LOOK at it - this is not a browsing book. Each image is more spectacular than the previous, and the photographs are so beautifully done, so artistic, that they look almost painterly. The realization that this stuff actually exists, is really out there, in all this color and glory, is tremendously exciting. A "normal"-sized book could never do the photographs justice - this book had to be this size. The Horsehead Nebula is so other-worldly, so amazing, that words fail me and only photos like these can describe it. This book, more than any other I've seen, transports me off the planet and makes me realize how unimaginably vast the universe really is - and fills me with awe that we silly humans with our puny little machines can actually see this much! I recommend this book without reservation to anyone with an interest in astronomy, art, photography... I sure am glad I gave it to US!
Rating:
Summary: A big treasure of a book...
Review: I recently bought a copy of 'The Invisible Universe' for myself and I was blown away by each and every one of these astounding images that David Malin assembled and finally published in an appropriate format (finally a book whose size dares to do the content justice!). I am not (yet!) an expert on this subject matter, but it also proved to be a very interesting read with lots of interesting quotes and references. The oversized images convey the beauty of the subject matter as well as the purpose of science. They're not only very precise documentary photographs of constellations, nebulas and supernovas, but also a very poetic and artistic look (some of the images even reminded me of Ross Bleckner's paintings) at the vast universe that inspired me to let my imagination run wild. I applaud the people who made this book. It's a treasure! I especially appreciate the contrast of the vivid and saturated large photographs and the historic drawings and maps (and the juxtapositions of the two), which makes it more than just a pretty book but also a great reference for people like me, who are just starting to get into astronomy. I recommend this book for everyone who looks up at the stars and wonders if there is anything else out there. Carl Sagan would have loved this one! Ps: read the appendix to find out how these pictures were taken. -> My favorite one is called 'Storm of Orion'
Rating:
Summary: Not your average coffee-table book!
Review: I think one of the reviewers has his wires a little crossed. The book quite clearly states that the photographs were all taken by David Malin using the Anglo-Australian Telescope, NOT by the Hubble Space Telescope! There are several other excellent publications covering HST photographs if that's your desire. How anyone can possibly complain about the photos being grainy and repetitive is totally beyond me(?) This is a magnificent publication by the world's foremost GROUND-BASED Astro-photographer. No more, no less. Spend 10 minutes just staring at the photo of the Trifid Nebula. It has a depth to it that no amount of digital manipulation could possibly produce or duplicate; Hubble or otherwise. It makes me feel proud that these pictures were taken less than 40 kilometres from my old hometown. I agree with one of the other reviewers concerning this and Ken Croswell's book. Buy both of 'em!
Rating:
Summary: An excellent book
Review: I wasn't sure if Malin's "Invisible Universe" or Croswell's "Magnificent Universe" was the one to buy, so I bought both. For people who have wondered which of the two might be better, perhaps my review will help. Each book has its own strengths. Croswell's are the dark, glossy pages and the multitude of images from different sources. Malin's is image quality and size. Approximately 20 images are the same in both books (Croswell gives credit to Malin for using them). However, even though the pictures are identical, their appearance is not. In two-thirds of those twenty images there simply is no comparison. Croswell's images look "small" and "soft," while Malin's large format sharpness and resolution are in a different class. The remaining one-third ranks about the same with Malin's trading off a slight increase in grain for a little more sharpness, resolution and, of course, size. The remaining images, in both books, in general, follow the same pattern. Croswell's are of decent quality and there are many of them to see (including about 20 from the Hubble). Malin's remaining range in quality from about the same as Croswell's to outstanding. There are, also, a couple of other things to keep in mind that other reviewers haven't mentioned. Croswell's pages though beautiful (they are glossy) are also subject to fingerprints at the mere touch. Also, Malin's ships wrapped in a bag whereas Croswell's is open and, therefore, subject to the curiosity (and fingerprints) of warehouse handlers, etc. This is the second "Magnificent Universe" I've gotten, the first had to go back since its condition upon arrival was unacceptable. One last thing, many of Croswell's pictures have an annoying border around them and do not take up the full page. Malin's main theme pictures are always full page. Which one should you buy? If you like quantity and can only afford one book, then the "Magnificent Universe" is the one for you. If you prefer quality and relaxed viewing, then Malin's is the better choice. If you like astronomical images and can afford both books, then get both of them. I'm keeping both. Happy buying.
Rating: 
Summary: The Universe Held In Your Hand!
Review: It is humbling to be able to own a book containing images that one would never otherwise have a chance to see. This book is full of HUGE color photographs of Nebula, stars, planets and galaxies that are truly awe inspiring. I did, however, find myself a bit dissapointed. Many of the Hubble telescope pictures that I was hoping to see, were tiny on text pages while the big, blown up pictures were somewhat grainy and repetitive. Commonly, there were several pages in a row of the same majestic body shown from different perspectives. With so much universe to see, I think I would have preferred one fabulous picture of each individual celestial object instead of so many pictures of fewer ones. Still, an enjoyable, overwhelming book sure to make you wonder...what else is out there waiting for us to discover?
Rating:
Summary: A jewel...
Review: Perhaps the most superb collection of astronomical and cosmological photographs I've ever seen in one collection. If you have even the faintest interest in astronomy or cosmology, do yourself a kind service and buy this book. You will never look at the stars the same way again. This book renders a perspective on the universe and our tiny place in it like no other. As for the size, it is a little large but several of the photos demand it. The person who commented on the image quality certainly doesn't have a strong grasp of astro photography or he surely wouldn't criticize. This is a masterful work.
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