Astronomy is a fun and challenging science for students. This manual is intended for one- and two-semester astronomy courses and uses hands-on, engaging activities to get students looking at the sky and developing a lifelong interest in astronomy.

Discovering the Universe, Fifth Edition is one of the briefest texts available for an introductory astronomy course, while providing the wide range of factual topics that are the hallmark of the text and are consistent with most course needs. By flipping through the book, readers will find it as rich in celestial images and figures as other textbooks for the same audience. It is a balanced approach to content, depth, and breath, with effective teaching resources. It is also up-to-date, reflecting how our knowledge about the universe is expanding at a phenomenal rate.

In this fully updated new Seventh Edition, Mike Seeds shows students their place in the universe - not just their location, but their role as planet dwellers in an evolving universe. He also emphasizes how science works, as opposed to simply teaching facts about astronomy. This enthusiastic author inspires students' imagination, sense of wonder, and excitement about new discoveries. At the same time, Seeds strives to arm students with a solid understanding of the process of science. Crafting a story about astronomy, Seeds hopes that students will be able to ask questions of nature and gradually puzzle out the beautiful secrets of the physical world.