Black Hole Chasers: The Amazing True Story of an Astronomical Breakthrough

This accessible account chronicles the complex work of the Event Horizon Telescope Project in 2019 to capture and publish definitive data about and photographs of black holes, which no human had ever seen. Journalist Redding (Google It) capably documents the history of black holes and the compelling story of how American astrophysicist Sheperd Doeleman and German radio astronomer Heino Falcke created a global team to investigate their existence and garner the first black hole photo using a complex network of connecting radio telescopes around the world. The narrative breaks down difficult vocabulary and concepts such as gravitational collapse, and offers relatable contextualizing examples, for instance comparing the space-time fabric to the surface of a trampoline. Some pop culture references prove distracting, including a tangent about the television series MacGyver, but short biographies of notable scientists and contributors to the project highlights its history, diversity, scope, and complexity. Dramatic b&w photographs and diagrams not only break down the anatomy of black holes but also illustrate the project’s scale. The twists and turns of this scientific breakthrough should pique reader curiosity about innovation. Ages 9–12. Agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary. (Oct.)