Author(s): Giles Sparrow

Physical Sciences | Astrophysics

Expert science writer Giles Sparrow guides you through 21 stars you can see in the night sky and what they can teach us about our universe.

On a clear evening, if you look up you can see thousands of stars shining in the dark sky, each with a story of their own. Taking 21 stars (and three imposters, that cheekily aren't technically stars), expert science writer Giles Sparrow offers a complete introduction to what is happening up in the night sky.

Sparrow draws 'star maps' to help you easily identify the celestial bodies and then explains (for anyone not an astronomer themselves) what this particular pinprick of light can tell us about the birth, life and death of our universe.

From red giants, quasars and supernovae to black holes, multiple stars and even our own Sun, this fascinating book tells the intriguing, inspiring and sometimes incredible story of how we came to unravel the mysteries of the cosmos, and what we learnt along the way. So look up at the sky and marvel at its wonders with this exciting new book.

Review: 'A delight and a triumph ... A thing of beauty ... Truly, truly magical' -- Mark Dolan * talkRADIO *

Contents: Polaris Mizar 61 Cygni Aldebaran Alcyone/The Pleiades The Trapezium T Tauri The Sun Proxima Centauri Tau Ceti Algol Mira Sirius A and B RS Ophiuchi Betelngeuse Eta Carinae The Crab Pulsar Cygnus X-1 Omega Centauri Delta Cephei Andromeda Nebula S2 3C 48 Supernova 1944D.

Author Biography: Giles Sparrow studied Astronomy at University College London. He is the author of over 20 books on popular science for both adults and children. He lives in East London.