Because of the wide intended readership, each article is intended to span its subject matter at a range of levels which get progressively more specialized the deeper you get into the article. There are small articles intended to act as a point of reference for specific questions, and there are major articles by professional astronomers on important themes in astronomy. The main ones end with a bibliography pointing to additional sources, including the World Wide Web. The choice of articles and their distinguished authors was made by an international Board of Editors, themselves chosen not only because of their distinction but also because they represent many of the astronomically active countries in the world. In reading the Encyclopedia , I have rediscovered why I became fascinated by astronomy.
Astronomy is an ancient science, but also one of the most modern.
It is a discipline filled with both the reality of scientific observation and the infinite possibilities of the imagination. I am sure that they will be provoked by new ideas and stimulated by new information. And surprised by the ease with which such a complex subject can now be accessed.