From stone age to space age, every human who has ever looked up at the night sky has seen the same stars in the same patterns. They reveal our entire history, as well as hinting at our ultimate fate.

In Beneath the Night, Stuart Clark investigates this incredible relationship between humanity and the night sky. It is the story of a fascination that has shaped our scientific understanding of the universe; helped us navigate the terrestrial world; given us a place to project our hopes and fears; and provided inspiration for our poets, artists and philosophers. Above all, it is the story of what it is to be human.