This book describes how astronomers came to believe that the matter content of the Universe is dominated by dark matter: hypothetical particles which interact with normal matter primarily through the force of gravity. Mathematics is kept to a minimum, but many elucidating figures and tables help understanding the text.
The first chapters of this book present the main arguments why dark matter should exist: otherwise the stability of galaxies cannot be explained, and the calculated velocity of stars in their motion around the center of the galaxy would contradict the observed velocity of them.
Beginning from chapter 6, dark matter and dark energy within cosmology are discussed. Both theoretical and observational topics are worked out in detail. In chapter 10 the idea is presented, that instead of introducing dark matter, it might be possible change the theory of gravity such as to reach coincidence with the observed facts.
Chapter 12 shortly discusses philosophical questions like Kuhn’s change of paradigms. The appendix explains many notions from the text and deduces some essential formulas, e.g. for luminosity, redshift, and the Friedmann equation for cosmology. A reference list and subject index close this interesting overview about the detection of dark matter in the universe.