Beneath the Night

A history of humanity, told through our relationship with the night sky.

From Stone Age to space age, people have looked up at the stars and been inspired by their beauty, their patterns, and their majesty.

Beneath the Night is a history of humanity, told through our relationship with the night sky. From prehistoric cave art and Ancient Egyptian zodiacs to the modern era of satellites and space exploration, Stuart Clark explores a fascination shared across the world and throughout millennia. It is one that has shaped our scientific understanding; helped us navigate the terrestrial world; provided inspiration for our poets, artists and philosophers; and it has given us a place to project our hopes and fears. In the stars, we can see our past - and ultimately, our fate.

This is the awe-inspiring story of the universe, and our place within it.

About the Author

Stuart Clark is an astronomer and award-winning science writer for the Guardian, New Scientist, BBC Focus, and many other publications. He is writer and presenter of the 'Music of the Spheres' series for BBC R3, and author of several works of non-fiction and fiction that have been translated into more than twenty-five languages. He is a Visiting Fellow at the University of Hertfordshire, a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, former Vice Chair of the Association of British Science Writers and a consultant for the European Space Agency. In September 2020, the University of Hertfordshire awarded him an honorary Doctor of Science degree by for services to astronomy and the public understanding of science.

@DrStuClark