"An exploration of the transformative impact of inventions and discoveries in the field of astronomy. Features include fact boxes, sidebars, biographies, timeline, glossary, list of recommended reading and Web sites, and index"--Provided by publisher.

Includes index.

Constellations across the sky -- Calendar stones -- Sundials -- The Earth is round -- The stars as guides -- The modern calendar -- The telescope -- Understanding the solar system -- Planetariums -- The law of gravitation -- The seventh planet: Uranus -- The Messier catalog -- The eighth planet: Neptune -- Black holes -- Time zones -- Atomic time -- The first human on the moon -- The Hubble space telescope -- The definition of a planet -- Important dates in astronomy.