Embark on an astounding voyage to the far reaches of the universe; travelling thousands of light years to marvel up close at the wonders of the solar system before travelling beyond to distant galaxies and nebulas. Double-sized fold outs and glorious color photography allow this book to truly capture the wonderous spectacle that is the universe. Discover how galaxies are formed and learn about their different shapes and astonishing colors. From enormous pillars of gas and dust to awesome black holes, from extraordinary nova and supernova to the evolution of stars, planets and their satellites, this book is your guide to the final frontier. From the first attempts of Galileo to the advances of new technology, the entire story of space conquest unfolds in these pages.