Universe

Plot

This book aims to take the reader on an epic journey to survey all that is known today about the universe. We learn about the violent history of the solar system and see the birth, evolution and spectacular death of stars like our Sun. Topics range from the origins of those elements that make up our own bodies, to the "grand design" of spiral galaxies like the Milky Way and from comets and giant radio-galaxies to the Big Bang and the origin of the universe itself. Written by one of Britain's leading astronomers, "Universe" aims to bridge the gulf between modern science and the Rest of human culture. Twenty famous astronomical objects are used to introduce the full range of theories and insights of modern astronomy. Each illustrates a different theme in the history and structure of the universe. In this way the night sky is linked with ideas and discoveries at the frontier of research. In addition, these astronomical objects - half of which have been known since antiquity and are visible to the naked eye - are set in their historical context. The author shows how our ancestors coped with the ideas and uncertainties they inspired, describing the myths and legends from many cultures to which they gave rise. Over 350 illustrations, many in colour are included, which have been selected from the world's ground-based and satellite-borne telescopes. The book is also illustrated with literary quotations, historical records and paintings with an astronomical dimension.