Book Review: Stars in Your Hand: A Guide to 3D Printing the Cosmos
December 2022 :
Book Review: Stars in Your Hand: A Guide to 3D Printing the Cosmos, by Kimberly Arcand and Megan Watzke, Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 2022, ISBN 9780262544153, paperback, $21.95 US
Reviewed by Francine Jackson
We’re hearing of using 3D printers on the International Space Station, but what about here on Earth? Turns out, many celestial objects can not only be made using three-dimensional printers, but they can be very instructive, and, quite honestly, fun. Imagine being able to hold a supernova remnant! Turning it around, to understand its total makeup. And, what about a galaxy?
The authors, both members of the Chandra X Ray Observatory team, understand how difficult it can be attempting to explain the sky in two dimensions to the public; however, with this added visualization, an object can be transformed into a much easier teaching tool. Using, for example, the Crab Nebula, suddenly its jets are easily explained. Or, one of our largest known galaxies, M87. Several years ago, its giant centralized black hole was imaged through the work of multiple astronomers utilizing an amazing number of telescopes capable of working together. But, the “picture” given to the public, although striking to those who understood the incredible amount of work needed to create it, possibly needed more explanation. Using 3D, suddenly the size and depth of that black hole comes into focus.
Stars in Your Hand is a good introduction to the concept of using 3D imaging to explain what might be difficult to comprehend. And, if the reader would like to know more, including how to make figures such as these, or any other three dimensional representations, the authors have given a web site to direct all who would like to better understand how this process is done. Of course, the examples in this book are the result of much time needed to understand the celestial objects created, and the final products are amazing. However, for the person who always wondered what can be accomplished using this new educational tool, this book is a great start.
