For ages 12 years and older Do you know how distant the stars are and what a light year is? What are galaxies and how to recognize the Milky Way? From where the Moon takes its light and why the Moon eclipse is dark red? Who is goddess Theia, who saved Andromeda, and who listens to the tunes of god Apollo? On which sea shore did the first astronauts land on the Moon and where to find the Moon Buggy? Come, join the three friends from the Alpine Astrovillage Lu-Stailas and take a ride with them through the cosmos This Cosmic Travels series, starting with the present book, takes you through stories which, although almost too incredible and fantastic, are nevertheless based on truth and facts. The authors: Jitka and Vaclav Ourednik - both university professors and researchers in the field of development and regeneration of the brain - worked at leading universities including Harvard University in Boston. For their scientific work, both received several honors and international prizes. Besides neuroscience, Jitka and Vaclav have always been fond of nature, stargazing, astrophotography, as well as writing of popular science articles and books for young readers. For these and other reasons, after over 30 years of a successful research career, they decided to realize their dream and create an astrophotography center in Europe. In the eastern Swiss Alps they opened, at the end of 2009, the Alpine Astrovillage Lu-Stailas. Here, beginners and advanced can observe and photograph the cosmos. Thereby, the founders strive to stir public awareness of the need to protect natural habitats from human sprawl, which results in the ever-expanding light pollution. Comments on the German release of this book in Switzerland: In this richly illustrated book basic knowledge is presented with wit and didactics by combining legends and the world of facts. (Marcel Gyr, journalist, Neue Zurcher Zeitung, NZZ) The authors follow an important premise in the writing of instructive books for teenagers, which is to "wake up the wish for knowledge with fun and facilitation of understanding." They succeed in a very innovative way. (Bruno Stanek, PhD, astrophysicist and Swiss TV moderator during all Apollo mission events) To stir the interest for astronomy in teenagers is a demanding but valuable task. The SAG is happy about this publication and wishes the authors continued success. (Walter Krein, president of the Swiss Astronomical Society, SAG)"