Astronomy : from plotting the stars to pulsars and black holes
(Book)

Includes index.

"For thousands of years, the stars, planets, Moon and Sun were central to religious and superstitious beliefs. Astronomy had its origins in the context of those beliefs. From this starting point, scientific thinking emerged as humans began to seek explanations for the existence of celestial bodies that did not rely on the supernatural. In the 17th century, the invention of the telescope marked a watershed, opening the heavens to scrutiny and revealing that the planets are other worlds. The wonders of space have multiplied ever since, puzzling and enthralling us. [This book] charts our fascination with the stars, from before Stonehenge to the search for exoplanets and extra-terrestrial life"--Book flap.