Space Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition

Explore the universe with National Geographic's guide to what scientists currently know about outer space. This revised, expanded edition brings in recent discoveries, new NASA photographs, and the first-ever picture of a black hole, all captured with modern imaging tools.

The book covers the sun, each planet, and the newer dwarf planets, along with how the universe formed, how people travel into space, and whether life might exist elsewhere. Its author, David A. Aguilar, is an astronomer who once directed science information and public outreach at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

The illustrations are lavish, and the text is clear enough for students writing school reports while still engaging enough for families who simply want to read about the mysteries beyond Earth.