For thousands of years, people have told stories about what the stars are and where they come from, from ancient Greek myths about the constellations to the ancient Egyptian belief that a king's soul became a star when he died. However, true scientific research took place alongside these stories. Later astronomers built on this foundational research, and with the help of scientific instruments such as spectrometers, the mystery of the stars was finally solved. This volume, enhanced by full-color photographs and informative fact boxes, examines past and present knowledge to give young readers a better understanding of our skies.