To Infinity and Beyond: A Journey of Cosmic Discovery

To Infinity and Beyond, published in 2023, was written by famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and his senior producer on the StarTalk radio show, Lindsey Nyx Walker. The authors explain complex scientific concepts in straightforward language, using examples from everyday life and popular culture to illuminate complex ideas about space. Alongside research publications, Neil deGrasse Tyson has authored more than a dozen science books for general audiences and has appeared on radio and television shows.

This guide refers to the hardcover edition published by National Geographic in 2023.

Summary

For most of human history, the understanding of what exists beyond the confines of Earth was limited to mythology. With the advent of the scientific revolution and the development of technologies like the telescope, humanity began to gain a more accurate understanding of the solar system and what lies beyond it. The Voyager space probes, launched in the 1970s, still roam the galaxy as ambassadors of the hopes and dreams of Earthlings. Today, telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope transmit images back to Earth, confirming that this planet is only one among trillions.

In Part 1, the authors trace the history of flight and humanity’s quest to know more about the heavens.