As we approach the 450th anniversary of Galileo's birth, there is no better time for this extraordinary volume examining centuries of evolution in astronomy. From superstition and mythology to science, the clear text and engaging narrative make this the perfect book for anyone with an interest in our mystifying Universe, from families and students to astronomy enthusiasts and fans of Brian Cox's Wonders of the Universe and Wonders of the Solar System television series. The authors, both expert astronomers and renowned science popularisers, researched 29 locations worldwide from Beijing's ancient observatory to the observatory in Puerto Rico that searches for alien radio signals and interviewed 26 of the world's most esteemed astronomers, including Stephen Hawking. This extraordinary book traces the stories of humans interacting with the wonders of the sky, beginning with the earliest superstitions and continuing through to the birth and development of the science of astronomy. The Story of Astronomy tells the fascinating story of how the universe has revealed itself to us over the millennia, and how mysteries still hidden test the limits of human imagination.