The Handy Astronomy Answer Book

Unraveling the Mysteries of the Night Sky. Fact-filled and image-rich guide to the principles of astronomy, its history, a host of fun facts, and helpful tips for the backyard or budding astronomers!


We look to the heavens and wonder in awe. Shooting stars, constellations, planets, galaxies, and the unknown. What is out there? Who is out there? How did the stars and planets come to be? What does it all mean? The last few years have brought an explosion of information leading to serious consideration of questions once deemed crazy. Do other universes exist? Are there planets that could harbor life?



From a neutron star to a black hole; from the Higgs Boson particle to cosmic strings; from the speed of light to gamma radiation; plus a universe of ideas and concepts in between, The Handy Astronomy Answer Book takes you on a journey through the history, science and the latest findings in astronomy. This book tells the story of astronomy—of the cosmos and its contents, and of humanity’s efforts throughout history to unlock its secrets and solve its mysteries. You’ll learn the answers to more than 1,000 questions on astronomy and space, including …

What is astrobiology?
What is the Dresden Codex, and what does it say about Mayan astronomy?
What happened between Galileo and the Catholic Church?
What is the longest time that a human has been in space?
What is a gamma-ray burst?
How do I use a star chart to find stars and constellations?
How do space and time relate to one another?
What were considered to be NASA’s four great observatories in space?
How do astronomers map the night sky?
How many constellations are there?
How has the discovery of exoplanets affected the search for extraterrestrial life?
Could a moon found in a star's habitable zone support life as we know it?
How will the universe end?


From the basic physics and history of astronomy to using star charts, telescopes, and other helpful hints for the home astronomer, and from space mission programs to the greatest adventure of all—the search for life beyond Earth—The Handy Astronomy Answer Book includes information on virtually every topic related to outer space. Containing over 120 illustrations and photos, this book brings the wonders of our universe to life!