Ancient myths of every culture reflect awe for the nighttime sky. And even with increasingly powerful telescopes, the wonder is by no means over. In this colorful and exuberant volume, astronomers Couper and Henbest guide the reader through times when astronomy belonged to religion, to philosophy, and, finally, to science. They delight in the discoveries of Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, and Newton and muse on the astronomical meaning behind mysterious ancient monuments such as Stonehenge and the Mayan temples. Contemporary findings on galaxies, pulsars, quasars, and the Big Bang are addressed in a way to excite nonexperts of any age. And who better to introduce the wonders of the cosmos than Arthur C. Clarke, renowned author of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Firefly Books, 2007, 288 p., color photos & illus,, hardcover, $59.95.