From the earliest beginnings of our species, the night sky has been a source of wonder and inspiration. That window on the universe has fired humanity's quest to unlock the secrets of existence, first through myths, then science. This lavishly illustrated volume traces that quest from the Stone Age, to ancient civilizations, to the first telescope, to awe-inspiring high-tech photographs captured by the Planck space telescope today. Historic images and beautifully reproduced documents of major scientific significance lend hands-on excitement to this majestic story of human discovery and exploration."About the Author: Professor Paul Murdin OBE is a senior fellow at the Cambridge Institute of Astronomy and Treasurer of the Royal Astronomical Society. He is a writer, editor, and broadcaster, appearing regularly on the BBC and CNN. He was awarded an OBE for his work in enhancing the public's understanding of astronomy. Professor Murdin has written over 10 books on the subject for both the scholarly and popular markets. He lives in Cambridge, England.