How Space Works: The Facts Visually Explained

Description

Embark on an awe-inspiring and informative journey through our Solar System and beyond in this illuminating astronomy book! Discover how big the Universe is, why our view of the sky is constantly changing, what came before the Big Bang, and so much more in 3... 2... 1…. Blast Off! Inside the pages of this comprehensive guide to astronomy for beginners, you’ll discover: • Simple text and step-by-step graphics that make astronomy easy to understand • Fun facts and tip-of-the-tongue questions are presented through bite-sized factoids and question-and-answer features • Clear explanations demystifying more advanced topics such as cosmic rays, dark matter, and black hole collisions Take a peek at what lies beyond the stratosphere This out-of-this-world reference book about space introduces you to the weird and wonderful discipline of astronomy and space exploration. From the structure of the Milky Way to the Earth’s nearest celestial body, the Moon, How Space Works takes you on an unforgettable tour through the stars and galaxies, and to the furthest reaches of space! Answering all your burning questions about space, from ancient white dwarf stars to the Mars Rover, this visual guide explains the essentials of astronomy through bold graphics and step-by-step artworks. It’s the ultimate book for armchair astronomers and space-technology enthusiasts looking for reliable and up-to-date facts and explanations. Don’t let the learning stop - try the rest of the series! DK's How Things Work series uses dynamic graphics and jargon-free text to explain the modern world simply and clearly. Packed with fascinating facts and stats, these visual guides cover everything from science to philosophy, making complex topics more accessible than ever before! CONTENTS SPACE FROM EARTH Our place in the Universe Looking into space Celestial cycles Objects in the sky Constellations Mapping the sky Telescopes Giant telescopes Spectroscopy Rocks from space Particles from space Looking for aliens THE SOLAR SYSTEM Structure of the Solar System Birth of the Solar System The Sun The solar cycle Earth The Moon Earth and the Moon Mercury Venus Hothouse planet Mars Martian ice and volcanoes Asteroids Ceres and Vesta Jupiter Jupiter’s weather Io and Europa Ganymede and Callisto Saturn Saturn’s rings Titan Ice giants Pluto The Kuiper Belt Comets and the Oort Cloud STARS Types of star Inside stars Star formation Nebulae Star clusters Multiple and variable stars Between the stars Exoplanets Finding other Earths Is there life in the Universe? How stars age Red giants Planetary nebulae White dwarfs Supergiants Exploding stars Pulsars Black holes GALAXIES AND THE UNIVERSE The Milky Way The centre of the Milky Way The Magellanic Clouds The Andromeda Galaxy The Local Group Spiral galaxies Elliptical galaxies Dwarf galaxies Active galaxies Galaxy collisions Galaxy clusters and superclusters Dark matter Mapping the Universe Light Space-time Looking back in time The expanding Universe How far can we see? The Big Bang Early radiation Early particles The first stars and galaxies The future of the Universe SPACE EXPLORATION Getting into space Rockets Reusable rockets Satellite orbits Types of satellite Looking back at Earth Looking further into space The Hubble Space Telescope Space probes and orbiters Propulsion in space Soft landings Crewed spacecraft Spacesuits Mission to the Moon The Space Shuttle Space stations Landing on other worlds Mars rovers Grand tours Orbiting giants Racing to Pluto Future spacecraft INDEX ACKNOWLEDGMENTS