STARS AND PLANETS: Understanding the Universe

Following the Big Bang, it took the universe billions of years to evolve into the unique system of stars and planets that we know of today. Scientists have studied the planets of our solar system for centuries, and are beginning to understand the billions of stars and other bodies that make up the Universe. Stars and Planets is an ideal reference book for anyone interested in astronomy, featuring 300 of the most well known stars, planets, moons, constellations and other cosmological phenomena, such as black holes and quasars. Each entry includes an image either a photograph or an artist s impression or diagram and a key information table including specifications such as the mass, radius, surface temperature, distance from sun, gravity and major elements of each object.Presented in a handy, pocket-size format, full of facts and engaging text, Stars and Planets is a valuable reference source as well as a fascinating read, revealing the spectacular world of the Cosmos.

Giles Sparrow studied astronomy at University College, London, and is now an editor and established author specializing in science, technology, and their history and interaction with society. He has been writing professionally for ten years, and his published books include Universe, How the Universe Works, The Planets, and The Universe and How to See It.