The Story of Astronomy

From plotting the stars to pulsars and black holes

'Astronomy, as nothing else can do, teaches men humility.'
Arthur C. Clarke, The Challenge of the Spaceship

For thousands of years, the stars, planets, Moon and Sun were central to religious and superstitious beliefs. Astronomy has its origins in the context of these beliefs. From this starting point, scientific thinking emerged, as humans began to seek explanations for the existence of celestial bodies - explanations that did not rely on the supernatural. In the 17th century, the invention of the telescope marked a watershed, opening the heavens to scrutiny and revealing that the planets are other worlds. The wonders of space have multiplied ever since, puzzling and enthralling us.

The Story of Astronomy charts our fascination with stars, from before Stonehenge to the search for exoplanets and extra-terrestrial life. This accessible, fascinating account of discoveries, from the times of Palaeolithic star-gazers to current space missions, shows how we have come to know so much about the universe. At the same time, unfolding knowledge has opened new horizons to explore. Our understanding of the boundless cosmos has only just begun.

Topics include:

• Cosmology, from ancient times to the Big Bang

• Our place in the solar system

• Astrolabes, telescopes and radio astronomy

• Mapping the stars

• Space missions and probes

• Comets, asteroids, supernovae and black holes

• The unknown, from empty space to dark energy