The History of Astronomy

Packed with color photographs, this compelling volume chronicles the history of astronomy.

This extraordinary book traces the stories of humans interacting with the endless wonders of the night sky, beginning with the earliest superstitions and continuing through to the birth and development of the science of astronomy.

The authors, both expert astronomers, researched 29 locations worldwide, from Beijing's ancient observatory to the observatory in Puerto Rico that searches for alien radio signals. They also interviewed 26 of the world's most esteemed astronomers, including Stephen Hawking.

Comprehensive in scope, The History of Astronomy covers such areas as:

• Australian Aborigines, Stonehenge, Polynesian navigators
• Egyptian, Chinese and Babylonian astronomers, the Star of Bethlehem
• Greek astronomers, early concepts of the Earth's shape and orbit
• Galileo, Copernicus, the far Universe
• The Solar System and the movements of the planets
• Newton, gravity, Halley
• Discovery of Uranus and Neptune, discovery and demotion of Pluto
• What stars are made of and why they shine
• Hubble, the Cosmos, new galaxies, the Big Bang
• Pulsars, quasars and black holes
• Are we alone?

Through its engaging narrative and stunning full-color photography, The History of Astronomy tells a remarkable story of a subject that continues to test the limits of imagination and exploration.