Secret Stories of Space - A Fieldguide to Uncover Our Incredible Universe

By: Saskia Gwinn

Published by Quarto Publishing Group UK, 2026-07-07

"Above our heads where stars shine bright, and jets of light zoom through the night, and planets spin, and gases swirl . . . we search in space for cosmic worlds..."

All through the universe, there are countless galaxies, stars, and brand-new worlds steeped in secrets just waiting to be uncovered.

The secret stories and fascinating facts of our extraordinary, expanding universe are explored in this stunning field guide. From nurseries of baby stars to spectacular supernovae, from colourful galaxies to staggering space rocks, from the Solar System we call home to the innovative space telescopes that bring back stunning images from the far reaches of the cosmos.

In this gorgeously illustrated follow-up to Secret Stories of Nature and Secret Stories of Lost Beasts, readers will uncover incredible space secrets, such as the galaxies shaped like jellyfish (or the one shaped like a penguin), how a space probe can cope with million-degree temperatures to investigate our Sun, the most weird and wonderful constellations in the night sky, and how time slows down close to a black hole . . .

What is a vampire star? Why do gigantic bubbles blow out of the centre of the Milky Way? Where is the mysterious place known as the Oort Cloud? Which planet has a "winter" that means twenty-one years of complete darkness? And when you wash your hair, are you really washing out cosmic dust?

Readers will discover what scientists know about space, what they can predict based on what they know and which secrets are yet to be revealed. And while looking through a telescope at a faraway star is showing us the distant past, exciting missions for future telescopes and craft will uncover even more dazzling space secrets.

Why do astronauts grow a bit taller in space? How does dark energy make the universe we live in bigger? Are there distant Earth-like planets - and could they possibly hide forms of life? The answers are out there waiting to be found . . . So, welcome to the secret stories of space.

The fascinating text from children's author Saskia Gwinn is brought to life by beautifully detailed, vintage-style artwork from Vasilisa Romanenko, making this a perfect gift book for the whole family.