--- product_id: 62854947 title: "Galaxies: A Very Short Introduction" price: "R397" currency: ZAR in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/62854947-galaxies-a-very-short-introduction store_origin: ZA region: South Africa --- # Same-day Dispatch before 12 noon Guaranteed Secure Packaging NewMint Condition Galaxies: A Very Short Introduction **Price:** R397 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 🌌 Unlock the universe in your hands—don’t miss out on this cosmic must-have! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Galaxies: A Very Short Introduction - **How much does it cost?** R397 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.za](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/62854947-galaxies-a-very-short-introduction) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Securely Packaged:** Guaranteed packaging ensures your book arrives pristine and ready to explore. - • **Compact Brilliance:** A concise, expertly crafted introduction to galaxies—perfect for busy professionals craving knowledge. - • **Risk-Free Purchase:** No quibbles returns mean you shop confidently, stress-free. - • **Lightning-Fast Dispatch:** Order before noon and get same-day shipping—because your curiosity can't wait. - • **Pristine Quality, Every Time:** Arrives in flawless, new-mint condition to impress your collection. ## Overview Galaxies: A Very Short Introduction offers a crisp, authoritative overview of galaxies, delivered in pristine condition with same-day dispatch and secure packaging, backed by hassle-free returns for a seamless buying experience. ## Description Buy Galaxies: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) by Gribbin, John (ISBN: 9780199234349) from desertcart's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Review: Enlightening - It's almost impossible not to be overawed by galaxies. As these pages tell us, the largest of them (giant ellipticals) contain more than a trillion stars spread over hundreds of kiloparsecs (1 kpc = 1000 x 3.25 light years). The most distant galaxies detected so far (using Hubble Ultra Deep Field) have shown up in a minute patch of sky that appears blank to other telescopes. Yet this patch, from an area about one thirteen billionth of the sky, contains over 10,000 galaxies, whose light started its journey towards us over 13 billion years ago. (How these proto-galaxies manage to emit light suggesting this immense distance/time when only 800 million years old is one of many questions you will probably ask yourself while reading. Most are answered in this book.) Future astronomers, looking beyond these primitive galaxies and using the next generation of telescopes, expect (and hope) to see ... nothing, for they'll then be looking at the 'dark age' between the Big Bang and the time when galaxies started forming. Such science is truly awe-inspiring. Modern cosmology began only in the 1920s, when Edwin Hubble made his two major discoveries (that independent galaxies exist outside our Milky Way and that there is a precise relationship between a galaxy's redshift and its distance). But cosmologists have managed to cover a lot of ground (and space) in the succeeding 80 years or so. It is to Gribbin's great credit that he manages to convey the essence of this progress in so succinct and accessible a manner - there aren't any equations in sight to vex the more mathematically challenged. For most general readers, the basic principles of cosmology are challenging enough already. But for those who know Gribbin's other books, they'll probably find the going easier here than in, say, Shrödinger's Cat. My only quibble concerns sequencing. After explaining how astronomers use the Doppler effect to calculate how stars are moving through space, Gribbin continues in a seemingly contradictory fashion: 'but the cosmological redshift is not caused by motion through space and is not a Doppler effect.' We have to wait 20 pages or so for the riddle to be resolved. Similarly, one of the graphs uses the Omega symbol several pages before explaining its significance. But such things aside, this is a superb introduction to a mind-changing subject. As in the better VSIs, non-specialists are helped by a straightforward Glossary which explains, for example, the difference between Galaxy and galaxy, and Universe and universe, usages which professionals take for granted but which confuse non-specialists. An outstanding introduction to the subject. Review: Good Read! - Essentially, this book presents a useful account of our Milky Way, the origin and fate of galaxies. Galaxies are made of hot bright stars and cool dark clouds of gas and dust. They can be defined according to their shapes. The Milky Way is spiral in shape with diameter not significantly smaller than the average and there is a massive black hole at the centre. It seems that the black hole and galaxy must have formed together. Without dark matter, galaxies could not grow at all. Most galaxies occur in clusters that are held together by gravity. Individual galaxies within the galaxies are moving around their centre of mass while the whole cluster is expanding in the Universe. The fate of galaxies depends upon the fate of the Universe which could be a Slow Rip, Big Rip or Big Crunch. In spite of this, the Andromeda galaxy is rushing towards us and will merge with the Milky Way in about 4 billion years' time! ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | 106,748 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 262 in History of Science (Books) 366 in Astronomy (Books) 497 in Popular Science Physics | | Customer reviews | 4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (124) | | Dimensions | 17.42 x 11.18 x 0.81 cm | | ISBN-10 | 0199234345 | | ISBN-13 | 978-0199234349 | | Item weight | 1.05 kg | | Language | English | | Print length | 121 pages | | Publication date | 27 Mar. 2008 | | Publisher | OUP Oxford | ## Images ![Galaxies: A Very Short Introduction - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61DbpiHaGNL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Enlightening *by J***S on 3 May 2010* It's almost impossible not to be overawed by galaxies. As these pages tell us, the largest of them (giant ellipticals) contain more than a trillion stars spread over hundreds of kiloparsecs (1 kpc = 1000 x 3.25 light years). The most distant galaxies detected so far (using Hubble Ultra Deep Field) have shown up in a minute patch of sky that appears blank to other telescopes. Yet this patch, from an area about one thirteen billionth of the sky, contains over 10,000 galaxies, whose light started its journey towards us over 13 billion years ago. (How these proto-galaxies manage to emit light suggesting this immense distance/time when only 800 million years old is one of many questions you will probably ask yourself while reading. Most are answered in this book.) Future astronomers, looking beyond these primitive galaxies and using the next generation of telescopes, expect (and hope) to see ... nothing, for they'll then be looking at the 'dark age' between the Big Bang and the time when galaxies started forming. Such science is truly awe-inspiring. Modern cosmology began only in the 1920s, when Edwin Hubble made his two major discoveries (that independent galaxies exist outside our Milky Way and that there is a precise relationship between a galaxy's redshift and its distance). But cosmologists have managed to cover a lot of ground (and space) in the succeeding 80 years or so. It is to Gribbin's great credit that he manages to convey the essence of this progress in so succinct and accessible a manner - there aren't any equations in sight to vex the more mathematically challenged. For most general readers, the basic principles of cosmology are challenging enough already. But for those who know Gribbin's other books, they'll probably find the going easier here than in, say, Shrödinger's Cat. My only quibble concerns sequencing. After explaining how astronomers use the Doppler effect to calculate how stars are moving through space, Gribbin continues in a seemingly contradictory fashion: 'but the cosmological redshift is not caused by motion through space and is not a Doppler effect.' We have to wait 20 pages or so for the riddle to be resolved. Similarly, one of the graphs uses the Omega symbol several pages before explaining its significance. But such things aside, this is a superb introduction to a mind-changing subject. As in the better VSIs, non-specialists are helped by a straightforward Glossary which explains, for example, the difference between Galaxy and galaxy, and Universe and universe, usages which professionals take for granted but which confuse non-specialists. An outstanding introduction to the subject. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good Read! *by K***M on 21 July 2012* Essentially, this book presents a useful account of our Milky Way, the origin and fate of galaxies. Galaxies are made of hot bright stars and cool dark clouds of gas and dust. They can be defined according to their shapes. The Milky Way is spiral in shape with diameter not significantly smaller than the average and there is a massive black hole at the centre. It seems that the black hole and galaxy must have formed together. Without dark matter, galaxies could not grow at all. Most galaxies occur in clusters that are held together by gravity. Individual galaxies within the galaxies are moving around their centre of mass while the whole cluster is expanding in the Universe. The fate of galaxies depends upon the fate of the Universe which could be a Slow Rip, Big Rip or Big Crunch. In spite of this, the Andromeda galaxy is rushing towards us and will merge with the Milky Way in about 4 billion years' time! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Galaxies - Our place in the universe *by D***Y on 5 March 2015* ‘Galaxies’ is a natural progression from ‘Stars’ in the VSI series but is much more reader-friendly in that it deals with the subject without recourse to equations and exotic maths. This said, the reader must be prepared for some very large numbers in terms of distances and if nothing else these demonstrate how inconsequential the Earth and the solar system are in the known Universe. Also how ridiculous it is to talk realistically about interstellar travel. The content covers both factual knowledge and those aspects of galaxies that are speculative or theoretical however all these are described in non-academic terms suitable for the general reader. The format is similar to ‘Stars’ in that it includes sections on the origins, formation, evolution, measurement of and the probable future scenarios for galaxies, plus an interesting account of how mankind has developed techniques and equipment to investigate these stellar bodies. Whilst there are a few concepts that may be difficult to grasp, the book is certainly written in the spirit of Very Short Introductions and worth reading. ## Frequently Bought Together - Galaxies: A Very Short Introduction - Stars: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) - Planets: A Very Short Introduction --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/62854947-galaxies-a-very-short-introduction](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/62854947-galaxies-a-very-short-introduction) --- *Product available on Desertcart South Africa* *Store origin: ZA* *Last updated: 2026-04-30*