The Handy Astronomy Answer Book

From planetary movements and the exploration of our solar system to black holes and dark matter, this comprehensive reference simplifies all aspects of astronomy with an approachable question-and-answer format. With chapters broken into various astronomical studies—including the universe, galaxies, planets, and space exploration—this fully updated resource is an ideal companion for students, teachers, and amateur astronomers, answering more than 1,000 questions, such as Is the universe infinite? What would happen to you if you fell onto a black hole? What are the basic concepts of Einstein's special theory of relativity? and Who was the first person in space?

Charles Liu is a professor of astrophysics at the City University of New York's College of Staten Island, an associate with the Hayden Planetarium, and department of astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. He received the 2001 American Institute of Physics Science Writing Award for his book One Universe: At Home in the Cosmos. He lives in Montclair, New Jersey.