The original and bestselling almanacReconnect with the seasons in Britain and Ireland with this month-by-month guide to the world around us - including tide tables, sunrises and moon phases; wildlife and folklore; seasonal recipes and more.The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2025 gives you the tools and inspiration you need to celebrate, mark and appreciate each month of the year in your own particular way.Divided into the 12 months, a set of tables each month gives it the feel and weight of a traditional almanac, providing practical information that gives access to the outdoors and the seasons, perfect for expeditions, meteor-spotting nights and beach holidays. And it's the ideal gift!You will find yourself referring to The Almanac all year long, revisiting it again and again, and looking forward to the next edition as the year draws to a close.PRAISE FOR THE ALMANAC:'Lia Leendertz's classic almanac never fails to delight' - The Herald'It's a perfect Christmas present' - Allan Jenkins, The Observer'The perfect companion to the seasons' - India Knight'Indispensable' - Sir Bob Geldof'This book is your bible' - The Independent'I love this gem of a book' - Cerys MatthewsThe Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2025 was a Sunday Times bestseller in January 2025 Read more

Explore the night sky with this fact-packed guide to astronomy for children aged 7+.From planets to meteor showers, stars to satellites, kids will learn how, where, and when to see 100 things in space using binoculars, a telescope, or just their eyes.Written by astronomer, Tom Kerss, and in partnership with the National Space Centre, it contains handy tips, easy-to-use star charts for each season and amazing facts about our solar system along the way.Discover constellations, clusters and galaxies that are visible in the Northern HemisphereExplore planets, comets and asteroidsFind out about the moon’s orbit and phases and how to view lunar eclipsesLearn how to take amazing photographs of the night sky. Read more

A brilliant introductory guide to exploring the night sky, from the astronomers of the Royal Observatory Greenwich.Offering complete advice from the ground up, Stargazing is the perfect manual for beginners to astronomy – introducing the world of telescopes, planets, stars, dark skies and celestial maps.Discover how to tackle light pollution, how to stargaze with just your eyes, and what equipment is best for beginners.Astronomy experts Radmila Topalovic and Tom Kerss explain the best ways to plan your stargazing experience and the key things to look out for on specific dates throughout the year.With seasonal star charts, constellation charts and facts about our Solar System, Stargazing is packed of useful information and guidance for both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.Bridging the gap between human curiosity and the need for scientific expertise, Stargazing allows a complete novice to understand our place in the cosmos and enjoy the beautiful and extraordinary wonders of the night sky.The perfect companion to the best-selling Guide to the Night Sky from Collins, Stargazing is a great way to get started in the fascinating world of astronomy.Download your free resource booklet to follow the star chart explanations on the Stargazing audiobook – visit collins.co.uk/stargazing-booklet Read more

The ideal gift for all amateur and seasoned astronomers.“This is a great guide to the night sky at a great price.” Astronomy Now“A handy and straightforward guide.” British Astronomical Association's Journal“An ideal Christmas stocking-filler.” The ObservatoryFrom the UK’s Number One Astronomy publisher, this is the bestselling stargazing handbook to the planets, stars and constellations visible from the northern hemisphere. With 6 pages for each month covering January–December 2025.This practical guide is an easy introduction to astronomy and a useful reference for seasoned stargazers.Designed for Britain and Ireland but usable anywhere in the world between 40°N and 60°N, covering most of Europe, southern Canada and the northern United States.Advice on where to start looking and a map of dark sky sites to avoid light pollution.Charts for the circumpolar and seasonal constellations.Easy-to-use star charts for each month with descriptions of objects and events to look for in 2025.Positions of the moon, visible planets and eclipses.Includes a section on comets and a detailed map of the moon.Now in three editions: Britain and Ireland; North America; Southern Hemisphere.Written and illustrated by astronomical experts, Storm Dunlop and Wil Tirion, and approved by the astronomers of the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Read more

A Brief History of Time for the 21st CenturyAt the heart of our galaxy lies a monster so deadly, not even light can escape its grasp. Its secrets lie waiting to be discovered. It’s time to explore our universe’s most mysterious inhabitantsBlack HolesAt the heart of the Milky Way lies a supermassive black hole 4 million times more massive than our Sun. A place where space and time are so warped that light is trapped if it ventures within 12 million km. According to Einstein, inside lies the end of time. According to 21st-century physics, the reality may be far more bizarre.Black holes lie where the most massive stars used to shine and at the edge of our current understanding. They are naturally occurring objects, the inevitable creations of gravity when too much matter collapses into not enough space. And yet, although the laws of nature predict them, they fail fully to describe them.Black holes are places in space and time where the laws of gravity, quantum physics and thermodynamics collide. Originally thought to be so intellectually troubling that they simply could not exist, it is only in the past few years that we have begun to glimpse a new synthesis; a deep connection between gravity and quantum information theory that describes a holographic universe in which space and time emerge from a network of quantum bits, and wormholes span the void.In this groundbreaking book, Professor Brian Cox and Professor Jeff Forshaw take you to the edge of our understanding of black holes; a scientific journey to the research frontier spanning a century of physics, from Einstein to Hawking and beyond, that ends with the startling conclusion that our world may operate like a giant quantum computer. Read more

The definitive book on the James Webb Space Telescope, including its most stunning images to date, written by space expert Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock.Despite the huge advances in space technology in recent decades, much of the universe still remains a source of mystery, often provoking more questions than answers. Keen to follow on from the findings of the Hubble telescope, NASA successfully launched the James Webb Space Telescope in December 2021 to study every phase of the history of our universe.The first stunningly clear images of the very depths of the universe using Webb’s groundbreaking infrared technology were released in July 2022, forever changing the way we see and understand the origins of our existence. From the never-before-seen bright stars surrounding the cosmic cliffs of the Carina Nebula and the intricate details of dying stars to the first detection of a crucial carbon molecule which forms the foundations of life as we know it, Webb continues to amaze and inform us in equal measure.Bringing her passion as well as her expert knowledge of space and Webb in particular, Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock demystifies these stunning pictures and breaks down the essential science behind each image, explaining what we’re seeing and learning from the world’s most powerful space telescope. Read more

Discover the wonders of the Universe with this complete introduction to observing and understanding the night sky. This practical guide explains and demystifies stargazing, teaching you to recognize different kinds of objects and showing you how they move through the sky over the course of the night and the year. It shows you how to understand and enjoy the cosmos, building your practical astronomy skills from the basics to more advanced techniques. Beginning with an explanation of the Universe itself - how big is it, what shape is it, how old is it, and will it end? - it then takes you on a tour around the night sky, building up your knowledge in simple stages. Practical advice begins with naked-eye observations, then illustrated step-by-step instructions show you how to set up and use binoculars and telescopes, and how to take your own pictures of the night sky. It also lets you take a closer look at the different objects you can view in the night sky, telling you how to train your eye to recognize basic patterns of stars (constellations) and how to tell planets apart from other celestial bodies, showing you how to observe them in an innovative step-by-step way. An atlas of the night sky is also included, with charts that can be used in both the northern and southern hemispheres throughout the year.Accessible, inspirational, and authoritative, Stargazing for Beginners will enthuse and inform anyone who wants to expand their knowledge of the night sky. Read more

* Spacecraft missions to nearby planets* The Library of ancient Alexandria* The human brain* Egyptian hieroglyphics* The origin of life* The death of the sun* The evolution of galaxies* The origins of matter, suns and worldsThe story of fifteen billion years of cosmic evolution transforming matter and life into consciousness, of how science and civilisation grew up together, and of the forces and individuals who helped shape modern science. A story told with Carl Sagan's remarkable ability to make scientific ideas both comprehensible and exciting. Read more

WINNER OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY TRIVEDI SCIENCE BOOK PRIZE 2024ONE OF THE TIMES, SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW SCIENTIST BEST SCIENCE BOOKS OF THE YEARGUARDIAN BEST SCIENCE AND NATURE BOOK 2024A HUGO AWARD WINNER FOR BEST RELATED WORK 2024THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLERTHE #2 MOST GIFTED BOOK IN THE SOLAR SYSTEMFrom the bestselling authors of Soonish, a brilliant and hilarious off-world investigation into space settlementEarth is not well. The promise of starting life anew somewhere far, far away - no climate change, no war, no Twitter - beckons, and settling the stars finally seems within our grasp. Or is it? Bestselling authors Kelly and Zach Weinersmith set out to write the essential guide to a glorious future of space settlements, but after years of original research, and interviews with leading space scientists, engineers and legal experts, they aren't so sure it's a good idea. Space tech and space business are progressing fast, but we lack the deep knowledge needed to have space-kids, build space-farms and create space nations in a way that doesn't spark conflict back home. In a world hurtling toward human expansion into space, A City on Mars investigates whether the dream of new worlds won't create a nightmare, both for settlers and the people they leave behind.With deep expertise, a winning sense of humour and art from the beloved creator of Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal, the Weinersmiths investigate perhaps the biggest questions humanity will ever ask itself - whether and how to become multiplanetary. Read more

"Cosmos truly is a work that will captivate and inspire readers of all ages. There is something here for those at every level, from primary school students right through to astrophysicists." -- Katie Sawers, BBC Sky at NightAstonishing images bring every corner of the Universe, from Mars to the furthest galaxies, to the printed page.Cosmos is a visually captivating journey through the Universe, and is as expansive as the Cosmos itself. It covers everything from the asteroid belt to deep space probes, the ISS to the Oort Cloud, the Big Bang to the end of the Universe, and (just about) everything in between. It presents space as humanity has never seen it before. In this book you’ll find:The latest images from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.Panoramic views of the surface of Mars and images captured by probes that have landed for the first time on comets and asteroids.Features on the technology of space exploration, the history of astronomy, and our cultural connection to the night sky.Cosmos is a tour through space, starting with the Sun and inner Solar System then moving through the outer planets and into the Milky Way and finally the realm of distant galaxies. The gorgeous images are supported by illustrations that dissect the image or explain the processes going on, such as starbirth or the workings of supermassive black holes. Throughout the book are features on the technology of space exploration, the history of astronomy, and our cultural connection to the night sky. With a clear, stylish, pared-back design, Cosmos is a perfect introduction to the wonders of the Universe for young and old astronomers alike. Make time for space time! Read more

All the matter and light we can see in the universe makes up a trivial 5 per cent of everything. The rest is hidden. This could be the biggest puzzle that science has ever faced. Since the 1970s, astronomers have been aware that galaxies have far too little matter in them to account for the way they spin around: they should fly apart, but something concealed holds them together. That something' is dark matter invisible material in five times the quantity of the familiar stuff of stars and planets. By the 1990s we also knew that the expansion of the universe was accelerating. Something, named dark energy, is pushing it to expand faster and faster. Across the universe, this requires enough energy that the equivalent mass would be nearly fourteen times greater than all the visible material in existence. Brian Clegg explains this major conundrum in modern science and looks at how scientists are beginning to find solutions to it. Read more

'The nation's go-to woman for all things space... her joy for the subject is boundless' – The GuardianTake a new look at the world around you.What is a planet? Is there life on Mars? What makes Earth so special?Questions about our Solar System have fascinated us for centuries. Based on the latest scientific research, The Story of the Solar System will help you see the planets around us in a whole new light. Using colourful and easy-to-follow infographics, each planet becomes a character with a story of its own to tell, from Jupiter the King of the Solar System to ice oddity Uranus and outlier planet-but-not-a-planet Pluto.As space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock shows us, the story of Earth is best understood as part of its larger family, and The Story of the Solar System will bring that family to life. Read more

Big Cat Phonics for Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised has been developed in collaboration with Wandle Learning Trust and Little Sutton Primary School. It comprises classroom resources to support the SSP programme and a range of phonic readers that together provide a consistent and highly effective approach to teaching phonics.With thousands of rings and over 50 moons, Saturn is a fascinating planet. What more of Saturn's secrets can we uncover? Could there be life on one of Saturn's moons? Find out more about this exciting planet! Read more

Professor Stephen Hawking is generally considered to have been one of the world's greatest thinkers. Here, his phenomenal bestseller A Brief History of Time is illustrated to bring his theories to life in a clear, captivating and visually engaging way.'This book marries a child's wonder to a genius's intellect. We journey into Hawking's universe, while marvelling at his mind' - The Sunday Times'Stephen Hawking can explain the complexities of cosmological physics with an engaging combination of clarity and wit...' - Observer'Exceptional writing explaining the mysteries and beauty of our universe. The book is very fascinating and highly enjoyable. Highly recommended' - ***** Reader review'This book is mind blowing' - ***** Reader review'A masterpiece' - ***** Reader review********************************************************************************************Was there a beginning of time? Could time run backwards? Is the universe infinite or does it have boundaries?These are just some of the questions considered in the internationally acclaimed masterpiece by the world-renowned physicist Professor Stephen Hawking.It begins by reviewing the great theories of the cosmos from Newton to Einstein, before delving into the secrets which still lie at the heart of space and time, from the Big Bang to black holes, via spiral galaxies and strong theory. To this day A Brief History of Time remains a staple of the scientific canon, and its succinct and clear language continues to introduce millions to the universe and its wonders.In this edition, Professor Hawking explains his complex theories through a fresh visual dimension. Over 150 stunning colour illustrations have been specially commissioned for this purpose to help the reader understand what have become popular mythic images of our century, but which nonetheless remain difficult, abstract ideas to grasp.This stunning gift edition also includes a new appendix with updates to the text and tributes to Stephen Hawking. Read more

The Moon has been an object of fascination for religions, cultures, and societies the world over since the dawn of humanity.The Moon is a beautifully illustrated account of our lunar neighbour in all its guises: a guiding light in the night sky, the driver of oceanic tides and natural cycles, the subject of exhaustive scientific study, and an enduring influence in literature, art, and popular culture.Exploring theories for the Moon’s origins around 4.5 billion years ago, the book charts its influence on the calendar systems and mythologies of early societies, and its role in the invention of the telescope and the science-fiction genre. It tells the incredible story of the Cold War space race and the first Moon landings. Specially commissioned illustrations capture the Moon's phases and motions in vivid detail, while stunning photography and artefacts bring the rich history of lunar observation and exploration to life.The last chapter of the book features extensive coverage of NASA’s Artemis mission to return astronauts to the lunar landscape in 2026, paving the way for future missions to Mars. The book also includes a guide to observing the Moon, complete with annotated maps and profiles of key physical features such as Tycho Crater and the Sea of Tranquility.Straddling science, culture, and history across the world, The Moon is a captivating and richly informative celebration. Read more

From bestselling author and British astronaut Tim Peake, an inspirational human history of space travel, from the Apollo missions to our future forays to Mars. The Right Stuff for a new generation.PERFECT GIFT FOR FATHER'S DAY'This book is brilliant - once in a blue moon. A book for the whole family.' Chris Evans, Virgin Radio'The most wonderful book ... Tim Peake is a historian and encyclopaedia of space.’ Rory Stewart'An extraordinary book. For anyone - even if you’re not interested in Space. If you’re interested in human stories and the human character - this is delightful.' BBC Breakfast'A fascinating, detailed, playful book drawn from extensive research – Peake met seven Apollo astronauts, Russian cosmonauts and various other space technicians – as well as his considerable personal experience. Lifts the lid on what space is like: the dedication and sacrifice; the politics and pantomime; the practicalities and the peril; the glory and fame; the adjustment back to normal life.' iPaper'A thrilling human history of space' Daily Mirror'The bible of space travel' Chris Moyles, Radio XAs seen in the major TV series Secrets of Our Universe with Tim Peake.Only 628 people in human history have left Earth. This is their story.Astronaut Tim Peake traces the lives of the remarkable men and women who have forged the way for humanity beyond Earth, from Yuri Gagarin to Neil Armstrong, from Valentina Tereshkova to Peggy Whitson.Full of fascinating insight into our greatest pioneers and unsung heroes, and astonishing detail only an astronaut would know, Peake's book is the first of its kind to chronicle the human evolution of space exploration over sixty years, from our first forays to now. In the process, Peake reveals what spaceflight is really like: the wondrous view of Earth, the surreal weightlessness, the extraordinary danger, the surprising humdrum, the unexpected humour, the new-found perspective, the years of training, the psychological pressures, the gruelling physical toll, the thrill of launch and the trepidation of re-entry.In the next few years, NASA will send the first woman and the first person of colour to step on the lunar surface. What will separate these upcoming moonwalkers from the legendary Apollo crews? Does it still take a derring-do attitude, super-human fitness, intelligence, plus 'the right stuff' - a fabled grace under pressure? And how will astronauts travel even further - to Mars and beyond?Space: The Human Story reveals all.'Space enthusiasts will snap up Peake’s compelling book in their droves, but his account of courage, camaraderie and the determination to go where few have gone before deserves to be read by a much wider audience too' – Daily Express Read more

Every night, above our heads, a drama of epic proportions is playing out. Diamond planets, zombie stars, black holes heavier than a billion Suns. The cast of characters is extraordinary, and each one has its own incredible story to tell.We once thought of our Earth as unique, but we have now discovered thousands of alien planets, and that’s barely a fraction of the worlds that are out there. And there are more stars in the Universe than grains of sand on every planet in the Solar System. But amid all this vastness, the Milky Way Galaxy, our Sun and the Earth are home to the only known life in the Universe – at least for now.With a foreword from Professor Brian Cox, and access to all the latest stunning NASA photography, Andrew Cohen takes readers on a voyage of discovery, via the probes and telescopes exploring the outer reaches of our galaxy, revealing how it was formed and how it will inevitably be destroyed by the enigmatic black hole at its heart. And beyond our galaxy, the expanding Universe, which holds clues to the biggest mystery of all – how did it all begin? We now know more about those first moments of existence than we ever thought possible, and hidden in this story of how it all began are the clues to the fate of the Universe itself and everything in it. Read more

Endless possibilities, only one solution...Place these 20 cards in any order, then challenge yourself to find a route through the maze or race against your friends. Journey through galaxies, find strange aliens and tell out-of-this-world stories: with over two trillion possible combinations, you can play to infinity - and beyond!MULTIPLE WAYS TO PLAY: use the cards to tell stories, compete against one another or build one long, continuous maze stretching up to 170cm (67in) tall.A SPACE-THEMED FOLLOW UP to Aleksandra Artymowska's original Infinite Maze card game.AWARD-WINNING ILLUSTRATION selected for a Merit at the iJungle Illustration Awards.DRY-ERASE PEN INCLUDED so you can play time and time again.LAURENCE KING has been capturing imaginations and inspiring creativity in new and unexpected ways for over 30 years, with playful and eye-catching games, gifts and books. Read more

WINNER OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY'S YOUNG PEOPLE'S BOOK PRIZE 2019Welcome to the museum that is always open to explore... Step inside the pages of this beautiful book to discover galleries of galactic matter, expertly curated to bring you the experience of a fascinating exhibition from the comfort of your own home. Planetarium features all aspects of space, from the Sun and our Solar System, to the lives of stars, the Milky Way and the Universe beyond. With stunning artwork from Chris Wormell and informative text by Professor Raman Prinja, Planetarium is the perfect gift for anyone with an interest in this fascinating field. Read more

Colonel Chris Hadfield has spent decades training as an astronaut and has logged nearly 4,000 hours in space. During this time he has broken into a space station with a Swiss Army knife, disposed of a live snake while piloting a plane, been temporarily blinded while clinging to the exterior of an orbiting spacecraft, and become a YouTube sensation with his performance of David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’ in space. The secret to Chris Hadfield’s success – and survival – is an unconventional philosophy he learned at NASA: prepare for the worst – and enjoy every moment of it. In his book An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth, Chris Hadfield takes readers deep into his years of training and space exploration to show how to make the impossible possible. Through eye-opening, entertaining stories filled with the adrenaline of launch, the mesmerizing wonder of spacewalks and the measured, calm responses mandated by crises, he explains how conventional wisdom can get in the way of achievement – and happiness. His own extraordinary education in space has taught him some counterintuitive lessons: don't visualize success, do care what others think, and always sweat the small stuff. You might never be able to build a robot, pilot a spacecraft, make a music video or perform basic surgery in zero gravity like Colonel Hadfield. But his vivid and refreshing insights in this book will teach you how to think like an astronaut, and will completely change the way you view life on Earth – especially your own. Read more