Heather Couper

Heather Couper is a leading international communicator on astronomy and space. She studied astrophysics at Leicester and Oxford Universities and went on to run the Greenwich Planetarium. She later became President of the British Astronomical Association and Gresham Professor of Astronomy.

After presenting two TV series for Channel 4, Heather and two colleagues set up Pioneer Productions – now one of the leading factual TV companies in the UK. She was the producer of Universe, and of the international award-winning programme Electric Skies – the classic film on lightning.

Having left Pioneer to concentrate on a wider range of ventures, she divides her time between writing (she is the author and co-author of more than 30 books) and broadcasting (she has presented many radio and television programmes including, most recently, a profile of Stephen Hawking for BBC Television).

Her books, all written in collaboration with Nigel Henbest include SPACE ENCYCLOPEDIA (1999), UNIVERSE (1999), EXTREME UNIVERSE (2001), MARS: THE INSIDE STORY OF THE RED PLANET (2001), and A HISTORY OF ASTRONOMY (2007)

As we approach the 400th anniversary of Galileo's birth, there is no better time for this extraordinary volume examining centuries of evolution in astronomy. From superstition and mythology to science, the clear text and extraordinary images make this the perfect volume for anyone with an interest in our mystifying Universe, from families to astronomy enthusiasts and students. From as far back as the Greeks, humans have striven to understand our Universe. Over centuries and millennia, astronomers have moved towards establishing some of its extraordinary true nature. Expounding this development, Astronomy uncovers the past, present and future.