Aimed at the popular audience by experienced astronomy author Patricia and highlighted by 160 photographs, diagrams and maps, this guide explores every corner of Earth's planetary neighborhood, from the fiery sun at its center to the dark, icy realm where interstellar space begins. It's a state-of-the-art observation of the solar system as we know it today and a knowledgeable forecast of what to expect in the future, from Pluto's demotion to plutoid...

"We will never be able to visit the distant stars that twinkle overhead each night, but scientists are still learning more each day about the furthest reaches of the universe. This informative, colorful book will introduce students to the life and death of stars, the structure of galaxies, dark matter, and other fascinating areas of exploration beyond the solar system"--Provided by publisher.

"Computer-generated illustrations reveal the wonders of the universe, from the big bang and black holes to space travel."--back cover.