Combining some of the most remarkable photographs ever taken of our universe with clear, simple text which will appeal to everyone, this is a book to browse through at leisure. "Cosmos" is organized thematically so that the reader can navigate between the stunning images of different phenomena, which are grouped into nebulas, stars, the sun, the planets, satellites, galaxies, and the origins of the universe - containing entries ranging from an asteroid to a white dwarf. Each entry is given a double-page spread or more for maximum visibility and understanding. To help us marvel more at the grandeur of these images significant facts, including the name of the space probe or telescope that captured each image and the distance of the space phenomenon from Earth, are provided in data boxes. In addition, a section at the back of the book is devoted to the spacecraft the pictures were taken by, covering their purpose, who built them, where they have travelled and what they have discovered. With an introduction by Professor Stephen Hawkins and some of the most astonishing pictures of our universe, this is really a book for anyone who has looked up into the night sky with wonder and awe.
'The images in this book represent some of the most up-to-date and high-definition data available...I do not believe we will ever reach the end of our quest for a complete understanding of the universe' - Stephen Hawking.
Author Biography
Professor Stephen Hawking is a Fellow of The Royal Society and a Member of the US National Academy of Sciences. His many publications include the best-seller A Brief History of Time and The Universe in a Nutshell. Mary K. Baumann is a writer and designer based in New York City. Will Hopkins has been a major force in the innovative use of photgraphy in the US. Michael Soluri is a photographer based in New York City. Loralee Nolletti has written and produced for, among others, TF1 (French Television) and Columbia University. Ray Villard, consultant on the book, is News Director of the Space Telescope Science Institute
