The entire universe in one practical, easy-to-use, easy-to-understand handbook.An essential guide for every amateur astronomer.The Astronomy Handbook, by award-winning astronomy writer Govert Schilling, is the indispensable, go-to guide to everything you ever wanted or need to know about space, including:- the stars and the constellations- planets- comets- eclipses- galaxies- black holes- exoplanets- and much moreIt also offers an excellent education for every amateur astronomer, including detailed and practical information on how to:- locate and track the movements of the constellations throughout the year- view the planets and the cosmos- select the best equipment to use, including telescopes and cameras- photograph objects in spaceSchilling provides a fascinating history of astronomy, as well as clear and accessible explanations of binary, variable, and neutron stars; black holes and gamma-ray bursts; the formation and structure of galaxies; dark matter; and extra-terrestrial life. The Astronomy Handbook is a primordial soup-to-nuts guide to the cosmos and an essential reference for every student of the universe.