The Milky Way: A River of Stars

Amidst more than 200 billion stars in a galaxy measuring 100,000 light years across, life has been discovered only in one place in the Milky Way: planet Earth. Yet the Milky Way is only one of many galaxies in the vast universe. While extraterrestrial life remains a mystery, explore discoveries about the stars and galaxies we see in the night sky with this engaging science book. Fifth-grade readers will launch into learning about types of galaxies, Earth's place in the universe, properties of the Milky Way, astronomical tools, and more through this high-interest informational text filled with vibrant photographs. Aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards, a hands-on "Think Like a Scientist" lab activity and a "Your Turn" page at the end of the book support STEM Education and provide young scientists with an opportunity to apply what they've learned in the text. Helpful diagrams, a timeline of major space science discoveries from 1610 to 2010, and text features, such as a glossary and index, are also included to reinforce content-area literacy and improve close reading.