The Complete Idiot's Guide to Astronomy, 2e

Astronomy is an ancient science on the cutting edge. Although it's been around for over 5,500 years, astronomers say that we have learned more than 90 percent of what we know in only the last 50 years--a disproportionate amount in just the past decade. Each new year seems to yield more information than the last, not to mention advances in the technology for acquiring it.