Starwatchers

Starwatchers is an exhilarating exploration of humanity’s enduring relationship with the cosmos, blending scientific insight with vivid storytelling and a sense of childlike wonder. In this unique synthesis of science and culture, former astrophysicist and writer Joanne Baker traces a global history of how we have looked to the night sky for meaning, beginning with the Moon and journeying through the solar system to the stars and beyond. Along the way, she weaves together research and storytelling to reveal the significance of celestial bodies in everyday life, moving across time and cultures from Mesopotamian moon worship to the science fiction of H. G. Wells and the discovery of black holes. Driven by a personal desire to understand the universe as more than an abstract mathematical realm, Baker also shares her own firsthand experiences, from witnessing a total solar eclipse in Idaho to visiting an ancient observatory in Samarkand, ultimately inviting readers to reflect on how we project meaning onto the skies and question the boundaries of our earthly existence.