Bright galaxies, dark matters

About this book

Bright Galaxies, Dark Matters charts two extraordinary journeys: the road to a better understanding of the structure and composition of the universe, and Dr. Rubin's own path-breaking career. The scientific papers included here offer an overview of the topic that has been the major focus of Dr. Rubin's career: the motions of stars within galaxies and the evidence from these motions that most of the matter in the universe is dark. Elsewhere, Dr. Rubin examines some of the tools of her trade - from star charts to the Hubble Telescope to some of the observatories where she has worked. The concluding section, The Astronomical Life, finds Dr. Rubin writing candidly about the demands and rewards of her career, offering insightful portraits of colleagues, friends, and other notable women in science.