From the foreword of the fourth edition:"The Universe and Beyond is a celebration of the human spirit of exploration. It is a majestic voyage to the most distant realms we can imagine. Prepare yourself for a great adventure." -- Edward G. Gibson, Astronaut, Skylab 4The Universe and Beyond is a fact-packed, up-to-date guide to the universe written by best-selling astronomy author Terence Dickinson. This new edition includes all the most recent astronomical discoveries and events and features imaginative astronomical illustrations and dramatic photography from the Hubble Space Telescope, space probes and the largest observatories on Earth.This fifth edition has been carefully revised and updated: The section on nearby stars has been significantly expanded to include new information about the planets of other stars, emphasizing the probability that, by 2020, several Earth-like planets will be discovered orbiting stars similar to our Sun. The controlversial decision to drop Pluto from the solar system's roster of planets is fully explained. Newly discovered black holes and galaxy collisions are discussed. There are more than 50 new photographs of planets, moons, nebulas, galaxies and galaxy clusters. Every major aspect of modern astronomy technology is described in clear, non-mathematical language, and a special resource section lists books, associations and websites.The Universe and Beyond addresses the most common queries from those fascinated by the mystery and majesty of the cosmos. Brimming with color illustrations, this book is a one-stop guide to understanding the universe.