The illustrated ATLAS OF THE UNIVERSE

The Illustrated Atlas of the Universe is the ultimate guide to understanding both the universe and our place in it. It combines hundreds of specially commissioned maps, diagrams, and illustrations, with the very latest color photographs of the cosmos, to document our universe as never before.

This impressive volume begins at home with a survey of planet Earth and its natural satellite, the Moon. Then, chapter by chapter, ever-larger regions of the cosmos are considered until, ultimately, the entire visible universe is the subject of chapter eight. At each stage charting diagrams and maps are provided to make sense of the vast scale of the universe. The planets and many of the satellites of the Solar System are shown in beautifully rendered maps of exquisite detail. At the end of the book is a series of expertly crafted seasonal star maps for both the northern and southern hemispheres, and a complete cartographic survey of the constellations that will enable the enthusiast to trace the patterns in the sky that have fascinated humankind for thousands of years.

This book is more than an atlas. Within these pages the workings of stars, nebulas, galaxies, dark matter, and more are explained with clear text aided by diagrams and photographs. Also considered is the story of how we have come to understand our universe through theory, observation, and exploration.