For as long as there have been people, men and women have looked up into the night sky and wondered about the nature of the cosmos. Without the benefit of science to provide answers, they relied on myth and superstition to help them make sense of what they saw. Lucky for us, we live at a time when regular folks, equipped with nothing more than their naked eyes, can look up into the night sky and gain admittance to infinite wonders. If you know what to look for, you can make out planets, stars, galaxies , and even galactic clusters comprising hundreds of millions of stars and spanning millions of light-years.Astronomy For Dummies tells you what you need to know to make sense of the world above us. Written by one of the most well-known astronomers in the world, this fun, fact-filled ,and accessible guide fills you in on the basic principles of astronomy and tells you how to:Identify planets and starsExplore our solar system, the Milky Way, and beyondUnderstand the Big Bang, quasars, antimatter, black holes, and moreJoin the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI)Get the most out of planetarium visitsMake more sense out of space missionsFrom asteroids to black holes, quasars to white dwarfs, Astronomy For Dummies takes you on a grand tour of the universe. Featuring star maps, charts, gorgeous full-color photographs, and easy-to-follow explanations it gives you a leg up on the basic science of the universe. Topics covered include:Observing the night sky, with and without opticsSelecting binoculars and telescopes and positioning yourself for the best viewMeteors, comets, and man-made moonsTouring our solar system and becoming familiar with the planets, asteroids, and near Earth objectsOur Sun, stars, galaxies, black holes and quasarsSETI and planets revolving around other sunsDark matter and antimatterThe Big Bang and the evolutions of the universeYou might think the cosmos is a vast and mysterious place, but Astronomy For Dummies will make it seem as friendly and familiar as your own backyard.