Textbook. 2nd Edition . , break. and dop. - M. : Education, 2003. 174 s. This textbook details, at an accessible level for students, the achievements of astronomical science, modern theories of the origin of galaxies, stars, the universe. The author relies on students' knowledge of physics, does not use complex formulas in the text. It is based on the principle of historical sequence of presentation of the material: Sections of astronomy are considered in the historical sequence of their occurrence - astrometry, celestial mechanics, planetary physics, star physics, galaxy physics and in the general part of the course questions of structure and evolution of the Universe, galaxies, stars, planetary system.. Briefness of the course determines the selection of material . Traditional issues such as stellar magnitude and spectral classification are excluded from the program. Relatively little attention is paid to specific, purely astronomical methods of research of interest to future specialists.