Astronomical Tidbits: A Layperson's Guide to Astronomy

The next time you find yourself drawn outside to gaze at the night sky with wonder and longing, take this book along (with a flashlight) to help you leapfrog through spacetime. The curious reader hungry for knowledge about the substance of Earth, Moon, Sun, the galaxies, even the "Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence" will find in these pages an almost random dipping into the history of astronomy and the cosmos, to be experienced as one might consume bon-bons, or-for those looking to return to earthier roots-tomatoes, potatoes and spinach. What these "Tidbits" have to offer you is not so much a perfectly balanced meal as a scattering of all my favorite morsels, an offering I encourage you to consume as your appetite dictates.