Marvel at the wonders of the universe, from stars and planets to black holes and nebulae, in this exploration of our solar system and beyond. Universe opens with a look at astronomy and the history of the Universe, using 3D artworks to provide a comprehensive grounding in the fundamental concepts of astronomy, including the basic techniques of practical astronomy. The core of the book is a tour of the cosmos covering the Solar System, the Milky Way, and galaxies beyond our own. Explanatory pages introduce different celestial phenomena, such as galaxies, and are followed by catalogs that profile the most interesting and important examples. A comprehensive star atlas completes the picture, with entries on each of the 88 constellations and a monthly sky guide showing the night sky as it appears throughout the year as viewed from both the northern and southern hemispheres. CONTENTS ABOUT THIS BOOK A SHORT TOUR OF THE UNIVERSE BY MARTIN REES INTRODUCTION WHAT IS THE UNIVERSE? THE SCALE OF THE UNIVERSE CELESTIAL OBJECTS MATTER RADIATION GRAVITY, MOTION, AND ORBITS SPACE AND TIME EXPANDING SPACE THE BEGINNING AND END OF THE UNIVERSE THE BIG BANG OUT OF THE DARKNESS LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE THE FATE OF THE UNIVERSE THE VIEW FROM EARTH THE CELESTIAL SPHERE CELESTIAL CYCLES PLANETARY MOTION STAR MOTION AND PATTERNS LIGHTS IN THE SKY NAKED-EYE ASTRONOMY BINOCULAR ASTRONOMY TELESCOPE ASTRONOMY SETTING UP A TELESCOPE ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORIES OBSERVING FROM SPACE GUIDE TO THE UNIVERSE THE SOLAR SYSTEM THE HISTORY OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM THE FAMILY OF THE SUN THE SUN MERCURY VENUS EARTH THE MOON MARS ASTEROIDS JUPITER SATURN URANUS NEPTUNE PLUTO AND ITS MOONS THE KUIPER BELT AND THE OORT CLOUD COMETS METEORS AND METEORITES THE MILKY WAY THE MILKY WAY STARS THE LIFE CYCLES OF STARS STAR FORMATION MAIN-SEQUENCE STARS OLD STARS STELLAR END POINTS MULTIPLE STARS VARIABLE STARS STAR CLUSTERS EXTRASOLAR PLANETS BEYOND THE MIKY WAY TYPES OF GALAXY GALAXY EVOLUTION ACTIVE GALAXIES GALAXY CLUSTERS GALAXY SUPERCLUSTERS THE NIGHT SKY THE CONSTELLATIONS THE HISTORY OF CONSTELLATIONS MAPPING THE SKY Guide to the Constellations MONTHLY SKY GUIDE USING THE SKY GUIDES JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER GLOSSARY INDEX ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Marvel At The Wonders Of The Universe, From Stars And Planets To Black Holes And Nebulae, In This Exploration Of Our Solar System And Beyond. Universe Opens With A Look At Astronomy And The History Of The Universe, Using 3-d Illustrations To Provide A Comprehensive Grounding In The Fundamental Concepts Of Astronomy, Including The Basic Techniques Of Practical Astronomy. The Core Of The Book Is A Tour Of The Cosmos Covering The Solar System, The Milky Way, And Galaxies Beyond Our Own. Explanatory Pages Introduce Different Celestial Phenomena, Such As Galaxies, And Are Followed By Catalogs That Profile The Most Interesting And Important Examples. A Comprehensive Star Atlas Completes The Picture, With Entries On Each Of The 88 Constellations And A Monthly Sky Guide Showing The Night Sky As It Appears Throughout The Year As Viewed From Both The Northern And Southern Hemispheres. Detailed profiles and stunning visuals explore every aspect of the cosmos. From the big bang to planets in our solar system and beyond, this new edition provides comprehensive and up-to-date maps of the night sky, explores the history of telescopes and the latest equipment for amateur observers, and highlights the most recent discoveries in astronomy. -- adapted from back cover **Marvel at the wonders of the universe, from stars and planets to black holes and nebulae, in this exploration of our solar system and beyond.**__Universe__
