Includes bibliographical references and index.

Aimed at the popular audience by experienced astronomy author Patricia and highlighted by 160 photographs, diagrams and maps, this guide explores every corner of Earth's planetary neighborhood, from the fiery sun at its center to the dark, icy realm where interstellar space begins. It's a state-of-the-art observation of the solar system as we know it today and a knowledgeable forecast of what to expect in the future, from Pluto's demotion to plutoid to the upcoming Moon mission, the likelihood of a manned expedition to Mars, and much more. From breathtaking photographs to detailed explanatory diagrams to expert essays, fascinating sidebars, and informative fact boxes, this is not just an easy-to-use reference, but also a visually stunning volume to fire the imagination of even the most casual reader.--From publisher description.