Astronomy For Dummies

Discover the origins of the universe Explore the solar system and beyond Make sense of the latest discoveries

Explore the night sky

Do you know the difference between a red giant and a white dwarf? From asteroids to black holes, this easy–to–understand guide takes you on a grand tour of the universe and shows you how to look up into the night sky and contemplate cosmic wonders. If you know what to look for, you can make out planets, nebulae, stars and star clusters, the Milky Way, faraway galaxies, and occasionally a comet, an aurora, or an exploding star.

Inside …

Sky–watching activities Tools for observing the sky Details about meteor showers, asteroids, and comets Facts about Pluto and the planets Secrets of the Sun, Moon, and eclipses Searching for extraterrestrial intelligence Info about black holes and the Big Bang

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Stephen P. Maran, PhD, is the retired assistant director of space sciences for information and outreach at the NASA–Goddard Space Flight Center. An investigator of stars, nebulae, and comets, he worked on the Hubble Space Telescope, Space Shuttle missions, Skylab, and other NASA projects.