Designed for the beginner in astronomy, this book ties together various aspects of the subject to create a cohesive, understandable, and comprehensive overview of everything from classical subjects to modern astrophysical concepts to the structure and origin of the Universe. It focuses on making science and astronomy relevant to life, featuring nearly forty essays that discuss such topics as the practical functions and workings of science, the work of historical characters, and what it would be like to live on other planets. Through an in-depth discussion of stars and constellations, the text relates concepts to what students can actually see in the sky. Unbroken by boxed inserts and other graphics, the book's format reflects a continuous document that increases clarity of text material and enhances readability. Abundant end-of-chapter pedagogy, such as "Key Concepts" and helpful exercises keyed to question types (i.e. numerical questions), facilitates student comprehension.