Combining the history of astronomy with the latest advances in space age technologies, this exciting coloring book also joins fun with facts about space exploration and our solar system. Forty-four stunning illustrations, carefully researched and meticulously rendered, depict the geocentric and heliocentric solar system models; Galileo's drawings of the moon; the NEAR (Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous) spacecraft orbiting the asteroid Eros; an astronaut on the lunar surface with an "earthrise" overhead; the Magellan spacecraft penetrating the clouds of Venus to radar-map the continents; the enigmatic "face" on Mars; a U. S. space shuttle and its sleek successor, the Venture Star; plus representations of all the planets and much more. Each illustration is accompanied by a fact-filled caption in this celestial guide, which is sure to fascinate students, teachers, and colorists of all ages. An award-winning artist, writer, and graphic designer, Bruce LaFontaine specializes in books about history, science, transportation, and architecture. Bruce has written and illustrated 70 Dover titles, and his work has appeared in Scientific American, The Wall Street Journal, and other prominent publications.