‘Despite the complexity of the Universe, you feel as though you’ve always been part of unravelling its mysteries as you read Fred Watson’s entertaining new book. You will explore its history, spot things in the night sky you’ve never noticed before, and if you’re hoping for a wild new travel adventure, you’ll learn how to go to space without contaminating the cosmos with pesky earthly microbes. Bonus!’ — Amanda Bauer, head of education and public outreach, Large Synoptic Survey Telescope

‘Fred Watson's new book, Cosmic Chronicles: A user’s guide to the Universe, is a superb romp through the historical, cultural and scientific astronomical phenomena that surround us every day. Fred is a national treasure for his witty and incisive descriptions of science, fun and interesting to all. The book spans medieval astronomers to NASA deep space missions and even includes Goldilocks and The Terminator (revealed as serene and even romantic). Enjoy!’ — Col. Pamela A. Melroy, USAF (ret.), former NASA Astronaut

‘Full of science and wonder, this book will leave you looking upwards.’ — Richard Glover, ABC Radio