Based on Discovering the Universe, this text is a shorter, less expensive option with a streamlined presentation of topics. While maintaining the themes and approach to astronomy found in the longer text, this book presents only the essential information for students' reference, enrichment and review with minimal pedagogy. This edition includes research findings such as the discovery of water on planets orbiting other stars, evidence that multiple meteorite impacts caused the extinction of the dinosaurs and the discovery of black holes and neutron stars in elliptical galaxies. almost every day, students are encouraged to identify their own misconceptions, ponder alternatives and to discover the scientific truth.