The Universe in Bite-sized Chunks

Since the earliest humans walked the earth, the vast mysteries and wonders of the night sky have fascinated and beguiled us, as we’ve struggled to understand our place in the cosmos. Even after the last century, which saw important and startling discoveries about our own planet, our solar system and the stars and galaxies beyond, there remain more questions than answers. But those questions—What is dark matter? Are we alone in the universe? Is time travel possible?—provide a fascinating insight into the vastness and infinite possibilities of space that we’re yet to determine. The sheer scale of the universe can be intimidating, but in this easily digestible book we embark on an incredible journey through all the essential astronomical discoveries, from the beliefs of ancient civilizations, through to the recent groundbreaking observations of the gravitational waves predicted by Einstein over 100 years ago. There’s never been a better time to get to grips with the universe and this essential guide to the cosmos is the perfect place to start!

Colin Stuart is an astronomy journalist and author. He has written for the Guardian, European Space Agency and New Scientist, and is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. He has also recently had an asteroid named after him. He is the author of 13 Journeys Through Space and Time and How to Live in Space.

Contents
Picture Credits vi
Introduction 1

1 Early Astronomy 3
2 The Sun, the Earth and the Moon 50
3 The Solar System 88
4 Stars 122
5 Galaxies 162
6 The Universe 197

Conclusion 228
Index 230