Star Struck: Seeing the Creator in the Wonders of Our Cosmos

by David Hart Bradstreet, Steve Rabey

Overview

The heavens are beckoning us, telling us that this wonderful, mind-boggling cosmic display is indeed the work of the creator. And now, using rovers and satellites, we're venturing further out into the vastness of space than ever before.

In Star Struck, Christian astronomer David Bradstreet and writer Steve Rabey take readers on a guided tour of the biggest story ever, offering both intriguing science lessons and powerful spiritual insights:

• As we discover more about cosmos, we understand more about the character of our Creator;
• The more we see the vastness and complexity of the universe, the more we experience awe, wonder, praise, gratitude and humility;
• Hundreds of Christian astronomers blaze the way into deep exploration of the universe today, discovering and proving God’s work in the heavens.

Combining a respect and admiration for mainstream astronomy with a zeal for uncovering new details about God’s celestial handiwork at its core, this book about stars, planets, asteroids, nebulae, comets, dark matter, and the other fingerprints of God will tell you that all of the worlds around you are God’s and this world is his home for you.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780310344063
Publisher:	Zondervan
Publication date:	09/06/2016
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 7.90(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

David H. Bradstreet is an award-winning professor, author and astronomy "rock star" who has been teaching students of all ages about the heavens since 1976 at Eastern University, where he serves as Professor and Chair of the Astronomy and Physics Department and Director of the David H. Bradstreet Observatory and Julia Fowler Planetarium.

Dave earned a M.S. and Ph. D. in Astronomy and Astrophysics from the University of Pennsylvania and has worked with NASA, the National Science Foundation and the International Astronomical Union. He co-authored the Binary Maker 3.0 software program that helps astronomical researchers worldwide calculate the characteristics of binary stars. In 2014 the International Astronomical Union named the asteroid 5826 Bradstreet in honor of Dave’s work in binary stars and for his innovative digital planetarium curriculum. Dave has been happily married to his best friend, Colleen, for 39 years.

Table of Contents

Astronomical Foreword Edward F. Guinan 11

Theological Foreword Tony Campolo 13

1 Star Struck: The mysterious visitor, the adventures of a junior astronomer 17

2 Early Astrologers: Astro-religions, from Egyptian Sun gods and Babylonian omens to Scientology 25

3 Our Cosmic Creator: Astronomers examine the Artist's brushstrokes on the canvas of Creation 35

4 Creation, Continued: No "one and done" Creator but a Sustainer through powerful processes 45

5 Our Goldilocks World: Like the kid said, everything looks "just right" 53

6 Cosmological Confusion: Geocentric, egocentric, or "cosmic mediocrity"? 67

7 Brother Sun and Sister Moon: The inner workings and intimate connections of our celestial trinity 81

8 The Calling of a Christian Scientist: Kepler, God's two books, and the elegant ellipse 95

9 Through The Telescope With Galileo: Glass helps us see unseen works of the Creator 105

10 Galileo: Hero Or Heretic?: Times of instability and uncertainty can fuel fear and stifle science 115

11 Showing Our Age: Why the archbishop said God created the world in six days, beginning at 6:00 p.m. Saturday, October 22, 4004 BCE 125

12 God, Country, and the Space Race: Commies, Communion on the Moon, and churches that are out of this world 137

13 A Stroll Through the Neighborhood: Meeting our solar system's weird and wacky neighbors 147

14 Mars Without Martians?: What's cooler-Martian science or Martian sci-fi? 159

15 Incoming!: Who's keeping an eye on 600,000 near-Earth objects? 173

16 Is Anybody Out There?: The frustrating quest for extraterrestrial life 187

17 A Star Is Born (And So Are We!): Stars are born, grow, and die, but not before playing a vital role in life 201

18 Two Are Better Than One: Our Sun is solo, but most stars are combo packages 213

19 Your Ticket to the Stars: Meet the billionaires competing to bring you Space 2.0 223

20 Dark Stuff: We can't see black holes or dark matter, but we know they're out there 235

21 Galaxies, Space, and Time: Once Edwin Hubble's clouds became galaxies, everything was suddenly much bigger and older 245

22 The God Behind the Biggest Bang: How a priest's controversial theory became the consensus on cosmic origins 259

23 The End: Bang, whimper, crunch, chill, or New Jerusalem? 269

Epilogue: Emissary to the Great Beyond: Hi! We're from that little blue planet way out there 279

Acknowledgments 287

Notes and Sources 289

Art and Photo Credits 305

Editorial Reviews

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.

bestselling musician and author John Michael Talbot

This book will capture the imagination of all who hunger to see God’s majesty, creativity, power, and love with fresh eyes. Read this book and you’ll never see the heavens the same way.

Terry Linhart

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.

Karl Giberson

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 there’s any beauty in the universe, the heavens still declare the glory of God.

Douglas Le Blanc

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.

David Wilkinson

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!

astronomer and president of Bio Logos Deborah Haarsma

A sweeping account of how the heavens and heaven go hand in hand. Even if you don’t completely accept the authors’ theological worldview, you will encounter many intriguing insights you won’t find expressed so clearly elsewhere.

Owen Gingerich

I’ve always looked forward to the “new earth.” This enjoyable book makes me look forward to the “new heavens” more than ever. For this I’m deeply thankful!

Kevin Flannery

A close read of this inviting book will open your mind to see the amazing work of God in an amazingly massive universe. You’ll be dually awed by the majesty of creation and the action of the Creator.

Andrew Root

This book is a primer on the current best science on the universe. It illumines our thinking, helps us grasp our Creator’s 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.

Robert G. Duffett

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.

Dean Nelson

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!

Dr. Duffy Robbins

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 there’s any beauty in the universe, the heavens still declare the glory of God.

Douglas LeBlanc

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!

astronomer and president of BioLogos Deborah Haarsma