The Search for Life in the Universe is now available in a completely updated Third Edition. This book presents astronomy from the standpoint of estimating the likelihood of extraterrestrial life and the possibilities of finding it. Thus the text covers the fundamentals of astronomy, the origins and evolution of life on Earth, the formation and present state of the sun's family of planets and moons, and the opportunities and limitations on interstellar travel and communication. The book's final chapters deal with the issue of UFO reports and with Enrico Fermi's famous question, 'Where is Everybody?' The book is suitable for college freshmen with no background in mathematics.

DONALD GOLDSMITH has received the lifetime achievement award in popularising astronomy from the American Astronomical Society, the science writing award from the American Institute of Physics, and the Dorothea Klumpke-Roberts award for increasing public awareness of astronomy from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific.
TOBIAS OWEN was awarded the NASA Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement for his work on the Martian atmosphere with the Viking Landers in 1976 and led the group of Voyager scientists who discovered the rings of Jupiter in 1979. He is professor of astronomy at the University of Hawaii where he studies planets, satellites, and comets with the giant telescopes on Mauna Kea.

Why Do We Search?.- The Search From the Human Perspective.- The Universe.- The Universe Small and Large.- Galaxies and the Expanding Universe.- The Birthplace of Stars.- Stellar Energy Production.- How Stars End Their Lives.- Life.- The Nature of Life on Earth.- The Origin of Life.- From Molecules to Minds.- How Strange Can Life Be?.- The Search for Life in the Solar System.- The Origin and Early History of the Solar System.- Venus.- Mars.- Is There Life on Mars?.- The Giant Planets and Their Satellites.- The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence.- Is Earth Unique.- The Discovery of Extrasolar Planets.- The Development of Extraterrestrial Civilizations.- How Can We Communicate?.- Interstellar Radio and Television Messages.- Extraterrestrial Visitors to Earth?.- Where is Everybody?.