Since ancient humans first watched the cycles of the Sun Moon and stars the study of the heavens has evolved from superstition to hi-tech science. This beautiful volume brings vividly to life our compelling exploration of the galaxies - past present and future. The sky on any night is the 20th century is nearly the same as the one seen by people who lived thousands of years ago. But advances in technology mean we can now see 1 000 times further into space and have greatly increased our understanding of our solar system and the wider galaxy it is part of. What we know today of distant galaxies star evolution comets meteorites asteroid belts supernovae and black holes is the result of our enduring fascination with the skies. Featuring stunning space photographs historical scientific apparatus and novel demonstrations of key discoveries and ideas Astronomy is a unique and exciting introduction to the intriguing story of our solar system and beyond.