Explorer's guide to the universe

A discussion of the history of manned spaceflight, covering topics such as early rocket development, NASA and U.S. military space agencies, the race to the Moon, and the various stages of the space shuttle program and different types of space stations, with a list of American astronauts, Soviet and Russian cosmonauts, and others who have journeyed into space.

An exploration of the outer solar system that discusses asteroids, meteors and meteorites, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and the Kuiper Belt, and comets. Includes appendixes of moons and black-and-white photographs.

An introduction to the features of the inner solar system, discussing the composition and origin of the solar system, and covering the sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Earth's moon, eclipses, and Mars.

An overview of astronomy that covers astronomical techniques and applications; the motions of various objects in the universe; observatories and telescopes; famous astronomers from ancient times through the twentieth century, and the impact of the field on humankind.