Is anybody out there? How long is a lightyear? And what's a quark, anyway? The Friendly Guide to the Universe answers all these questions and many more in this accessible, fact-crammed compendium, perfect for anyone who wants to have a deeper appreciation of deep space. The Friendly Guide to the Universe is based on the theory that there's nothing dull about the cosmos. Written for readers who already love astronomy as well as for those who have long been afraid to approach the wonders of the celestial spheres, it includes a chronology of the universe from the Big Bang to the decay of all matter; easy-to-understand explanations of key astronomical concepts, from Kepler's laws of planetary motion to the work of Stephen Hawking; a description of our unsuccessful attempts to contact other civilizations - and the many rumors about their attempts to get in touch with us; a history of observation - from Stonehenge to the Keck Telescope, and beyond; a look at the way the starry skies have been portrayed by artists, including Albrecht Durer, Diego Rivera, and Vincent van Gogh; and Myriad quotations from lovers of astronomy as varied as Geoffrey Chaucer, Lord Byron, H. G. Wells, Gertrude Stein, and, above all, James Joyce ... and more. The Friendly Guide to the Universe is designed to be fun to read, with illustrations, sidebars, and at-a-glance maps and charts throughout. Written in a friendly formula all its own, it illuminates not only the mystery and beauty of the solar system, the galaxy, and the universe as a whole, but also the people behind the continuing search for knowledge about the heavens. It's a book that makes for an entertaining, idiosyncratic astronomical companion - one thatwill be irresistible for any earthling who's ever looked skyward in wonder!