Lectures designed to provide a non-technical description of modern astronomy, including the structure and evolution of planets, stars, galaxies, and the universe as a whole. The new discoveries reported in the 2003 course are integrated and recent findings (through mid-2006) are included.

Part 4 of 8, Disc 7-8, lectures 37-48. Disc 7. 37. The formation of planetary systems -- 38. The quest for other planetary systems -- 39. Extra-solar planets galore! -- 40. Life beyond the Earth -- 41. The search for extraterrestrials -- 42. Special relativity and interstellar travel -- Disc 8. 43. Stars, distant suns -- 44. The intrinsic brightnesses of stars -- 45. The diverse sizes of stars -- 46. Binary stars and stellar masses -- 47. Star clusters, ages, and remote distances -- 48. How stars shine, nature's nuclear reactors.