The Universe Explained

For as long as humans have looked upward to the heavens we have wondered at the majesty of the universe, for there, displayed night after night in a dazzling light show, is the celestial kingdom of which we are a part. Our wonder and awe has led us stargazers to be inquisitive and inventive, to explore the wider world beyond our rocky, watery planet. The Universe Explained not only celebrates these explorations but also brings their findings and conclusions within our understanding.

Superbly drawn art and brilliant photographs show how the cosmos is investigated, what it contains, and how it works. With a unique and lively format, The Universe Explained uses examples familiar to our everyday lives to explain the exotic aspects of the universe: a string of streetlights is used to demonstrate the brightness of stars, the noise of a motorcycle helps to reveal how our universe is expanding.

While each of the book's double-page spreads is a self-contained story, the study of the universe is, by its very nature, complex. To deal with this, The Universe Explained incorporates a unique cross-referencing system, one that takes readers both within a particular section and among the other four. This system also makes the book fully interactive and forges the links of understanding between the different areas of astronomy.

Readers of all ages drawn to the science of the universe will find this book the perfect companion, for here wonders and mysteries are magnificently revealed on every page.