**Understanding astronomy has never been easier.** Combining bold graphics with easy-to-understand text, __Simply Astronomy__ is the perfect introduction to astronomy and stargazing for those who are short of time but hungry for knowledge. Each pared-back entry covers the essentials more clearly than ever before. The opening chapters provide an introduction to the Universe, a visual tour of the Solar System, and a guide to more distant objects such as stars and galaxies. Along the way, concepts such as the Big Bang, gravity, and space-time are introduced and explained. Later chapters describe how to navigate around the night sky and introduce some must-see constellations, complete with simple star charts. Whether you are a complete beginner, or simply want a jargon-free reference to astronomy and stargazing, this essential guide is packed with everything you need to understand the basics quickly and easily. CONTENTS WHAT IS ASTRONOMY? THE UNIVERSE MAKING SENSE OF SPACE CELESTIAL BODIES THE SMALLEST UNITS BUILDING BLOCKS ACROSS THE SPECTRUM SPLITTING LIGHT SHIFTING LIGHT THE BIRTH OF THE UNIVERSE FIRST LIGHT SPACE IS GETTING BIGGER SEEING INTO THE PAST WARPED SPACE AND TIME RIPPLES IN SPACE-TIME BODIES IN MOTION THE UNSEEN UNIVERSE THE ENERGY OF SPACE THE SOLAR SYSTEM THE FAMILY OF THE SUN OUR STAR THE SWIFT PLANET EARTH’S SISTER HOME WORLD EARTH’S SATELLITE TURNING IN STEP NEW MOON TO FULL MOON IN THE MOON’S SHADOW IN EARTH’S SHADOW THE RED PLANET MARTIAN ICE SUPERSIZED VOLCANOES ROCKS IN SPACE KING OF THE GIANTS THE JOVIAN SATELLITES THE RINGED PLANET BANDS OF ICE THE METHANE MOON THE E-RING MOON THE SIDEWAYS PLANET THE OUTERMOST GIANT FROZEN WORLD COLD OUTER RING SMALL WORLDS CLOUD OF COMETS THE OUTER LIMITS COSMIC SNOWBALLS HOW COMETS ORBIT STREAKS OF LIGHT STREAMS OF DEBRIS STARS AND GALAXIES LIGHTS IN THE SKY FROM MATTER TO ENERGY DWARFS, GIANTS, AND SUPERGIANTS STAR LIFE AND DEATH STARBIRTH SHELLS AND SHOCKWAVES EXPLODING STARS CRUSHED STARS COLLAPSING TO INFINITY COMPANION STARS DIMMING AND BRIGHTENING SIBLING STARS STAR CITIES PLANETS AROUND OTHER STARS A PLACE TO LIVE ISLANDS OF STARS OUR GALAXY EXTREME ENERGY GALAXIES FORM GROUPS CLUSTERS OF CLUSTERS THE MACROSCOPIC UNIVERSE THE COSMIC WEB OBSERVING THE NIGHT SKY THE SKY AS A SPHERE WHEN TO SEE STARS WHERE IN THE WORLD THE ORBITAL PLANE WHEN TO SPOT PLANETS SEEING THE SKIES LOST IN THE LIGHT COMPARING BRIGHTNESS CELESTIAL GUIDES JOINING DOTS IN THE SKY LETTING IN LIGHT CHOOSING BINOCULARS STAYING FOCUSED THE SKY IN CLOSE-UP THE CONSTELLATIONS MAPPING THE SKY PATTERNS IN THE SKY THE NORTHERN SKY THE SOUTHERN SKY THE GREAT BEAR STARHOPPING FROM THE PLOUGH THE SWAN STARHOPPING FROM THE SQUARE OF PEGASUS THE RAGING BULL THE HUNTER STARHOPPING FROM ORION THE ARCHER STARHOPPING FROM CRUX INDEX
