Scale of the universe -- History of the big bang -- The inflationary universe -- The infant universe -- Beginnings of structure -- Formation of galaxies -- Kinds of galaxies -- Structure of galaxies -- The Milky Way -- Clusters and voids -- Active galaxies -- Energy machine -- Interacting galaxies -- Stars and galaxies -- The sun -- Colors and spectra -- Giants and dwarfs -- Binary and multiple stars -- Birth of a star -- On the main sequence -- Post-main sequence -- Stellar nucleosynthesis -- Supernovae -- Neutron stars and pulsars -- Black holes -- Open, flat, or closed -- The accelerating universe -- Accretion of the planets -- Large and small planets -- Planets and their orbits -- Earth and moon -- Inner planets -- Life on Mars? -- Distant companions -- Moons of the outer planets -- Bits and pieces -- Beyond the fringe -- Forming cores -- How atmospheres evolved.