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.

Table of Contents

• INTRODUCTION
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
• STAR CHARTS
• ASTRONOMY FUNDAMENTALS
• Important Disciplines in Astronomy
• History of Astronomy
• Medieval and Renaissance Astronomy
• Eighteenth-and Nineteenth-Century Advances
• Matter and Energy
• Time, Waves, and Particles
• Quantum Mechanics
• Modern Physics Discoveries
• THE UNIVERSE
• Characteristics of the Universe
• Origin of the Universe
• Evidence of the Big Bang
• Evolution of the Universe
• Black Holes
• Wormholes and Cosmic Strings
• Dark Matter and Dark Energy
• Multi-Dimension Theories
• The End of the Universe
• GALAXIES
• Galaxy Fundamentals
• The Milky Way
• The Milky Way's Neighborhood
• Galaxy Movement
• Galaxy Ages
• Galactic Dust and Nebulae
• Black Holes in Galaxies
• Quasars and Active Galaxies
• More Active Galaxies and Quasars
• STARS
• Star Basics
• Describing and Measuring Stars
• How Stars Work
• Sunspots, Flares, and Solar Winds
• Star Evolution
• The Sun
• Dwarf Stars and Giant Stars
• Neutron Stars and Pulsars
• X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Stars
• Binary Star Systems
• Variable Stars
• Star Clusters
• THE SOLAR SYSTEM
• Planetary Systems
• Planet Basics
• The Inner Solar System
• Gas Giants
• Moons
• The Kuiper Belt and Beyond
• Asteroids
• Comets
• EARTH AND THE MOON
• Earth
• Orbit and Rotation
• The Atmosphere
• The Magnetic Field
• Van Allen Belts
• Neutrinos
• Cosmic Rays
• Meteors and Meteorites
• The Moon
• Tides
• Clocks and Calendars
• The Seasons
• Eclipses
• The Night Sky
• Mapping the Night Sky
• Stargazing Basics
• Viewing Non-stellar Night Sky Objects
• SPACE PROGRAMS
• Rocket History
• Satellites and Spacecraft
• The Sputnik Era
• Communications Satellites
• First Humans in Space
• Early Soviet Programs
• Early American Programs
• The Apollo Missions
• Early Space Stations
• The Space Shuttle
• ASTRONOMY TODAY
• Measuring Units
• Telescope Basics
• Photography and Photometry
• Spectroscopy
• Interferometry
• Radio Telescopes
• Microwave Telescopes
• Solar Telescopes
• Special Telescopes
• Terrestrial Observatories
• Airborne and Infrared Observatories
• Space Telescopes
• Infrared Space Telescopes
• X-Ray Space Telescopes
• Ultraviolet Space Telescopes
• Gamma-Ray Space Telescopes
• EXPLORING THE SOLAR SYSTEM
• Exploration Basics
• Exploring the Sun
• Exploring Mercury and Venus
• Exploring Mars
• Failed Mars Missions
• Mars Missions in the Twenty-first Century
• Exploring the Outer Planets
• Exploring Asteroids and Comets
• LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE
• Living in Space
• Life on Earth and on the Moon
• Life in Our Solar System
• Searching for Intelligent Life
• Exoplanets
• Life on Exoplanets
• Appendix
• Appendix: Tips for Amateur Astronomers
• Star Charts