Includes bibliographical references (pages 260-311) and indexes.

Part I. Everything moves: The Earth moves -- Gravity guides movement and bends space-time -- Motion within matter -- How light moves through space and interacts with matter -- The stars are moving -- The Universe is expanding and breaking away -- Part II. Nothing stays the same: Natural history of the stars -- How the sun and planets came into being -- The ways stars shine -- The paths of stellar life -- The ways stars die -- Darkness made visible -- Primordial light -- The origin of chemical elements.

"This book traces out the unfolding history of important discoveries in astronomy and astrophysics, and anchors our present understanding of the Universe within the findings and personalities of accomplished astronomers. They have used telescopes and instruments to extend our vision to places that cannot be seen with the unaided eye, discovered a host of unanticipated objects, found out how various parts of the night sky are related, and discovered that the Universe is larger, more complex, and older than has been previously thought. This comprehensive historical approach to the present state of astronomy is a unique aspect of the book"--Page 4 of cover.