Books by Steven J. Dick

New discoveries in astrobiology, including thousands of planets around distant stars, have increased the likelihood of finding life beyond Earth. Astronomer and historian Steven J. Dick examines the philosophical, theological, and societal implications of such a discovery. He presents the remarkable and often surprising results in easily accessible language.

Astronomical discovery involves more than detecting something previously unseen. The reclassification of Pluto as a dwarf planet in 2006, and the controversy it generated, shows that discovery is a complex and ongoing process - one comprising various stages of research, interpretation and understanding. Ranging from Galileo's observation of Jupiter's satellites, Saturn's rings and star clusters, to Herschel's nebulae and the modern discovery of quasars and pulsars, Steven J. Dick's comprehensive history identifies the concept of 'extended discovery' as the engine of progress in astronomy. The text traces more than 400 years of telescopic observation, exploring how the signal discoveries of new astronomical objects relate to and inform one another, and why controversies such as Pluto's reclassification are commonplace in the field. The volume is complete with a detailed classification system for known classes of astronomical objects, offering students, researchers and amateur observers a valuable reference and guide.

A comprehensive, historically nuanced study of the formation of the scientific discipline of exobiology and its transformation in astrobiology, this book provides an overview of the search for life throughout the universe with all of the earthly complexities of a science-in-the-making and the imperfect humans called scientists.

Life on Other Worlds places the twentieth century extraterrestrial life debate in historical perspective. It covers a broad range of topics, ranging from the search for life in the solar system to the search for planetary systems, the origins of life, UFOs, and aliens in science fiction.