Since man first began looking at the stars, he's wondered about their origins and his own. Modern astronomers have explained the beginnings of the universe with the Big Bang Theory, in which all matter erupted from a single explosion billions of years ago. As the universe's mysteries have deepened, astronomers have introduced an increasing number of concepts which defy understanding, such as an expanding and accelerating universe, galaxies at incredible distances, massive and unexplainable black holes, quasars and bazars with unbelievable distances and energy, dark matter and dark energy which supposedly comprise 96% of the universe but can't be found, pulsars which defy logic, and many other phenomenon which stretch our imagination.

Amateur astronomer Jerrold Thacker calls the Big Bang Theory and its accompanying scientific theories preposterous. Instead, he proposes an alternate explanation for what we observe, based not on the prevailing Doppler Effect and the concept that the universe's galaxies are receding from our own with increasing velocity but on the "Tired Light" Effect, based on Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, which shows that gravitational fields in outer space slow light, causing a color shift in light produced by distant objects.

This new and totally different view of the universe explores the "Tired Light" Effect on what we observe in the universe. The author dismisses much of what is currently espoused by the astronomical community.

Instead, he points to Einstein's predictions and their integral role in explaining every phenomenon hypothesized by modern astronomers, revealing the wonder of the cosmos without a big bang or expanding universe.

Jerrold Thacker has been passionate about astronomy for more than 65 years. He presents his independent research findings at www.DeceptiveUniverse.com, many of which differ from conventional thinking by professional astronomers. Thacker, who has master's degree studies in mathematics and statistics at the University of Minnesota, has written two books on the subject, The Deceptive Universe and Reinventing the Universe, as well as a book about sailing, Bumbling through Paradise.

Thacker has worked as a systems analyst for weapons systems and new products for the U.S. Postal Service, as a principal engineer on three command and control systems for the U.S. military, as a software QA consultant for tech companies, and as a software developer. He and his wife live in Dallas, Texas near his four children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.