Solar system: the Sun and planets Books

Book SynopsisDiscover the mysteries of the Universe and journey to galaxies beyond our own in this fact-packed companion to space.From icy worlds and hot, fiery giants to the biggest telescopes and latest spacecraft, this book covers more than 40 profiles of the planets, stars, and objects in our universe. Find out all about our neighboring planets, from tiny Mercury to gigantic Jupiter. Discover what lies beyond our solar system and the stars we can see in the night sky. Learn about the latest space technology and when humans may finally land on Mars.Broken down by type, each object is presented in a clear, engaging way, with stunning images and bite-sized chunks of information. Detailed NASA photography brings the mysteries of outer space to life, while pronunciation guides help with tricky names, and a visual index gives a quick overview of all the key objects in the book. Filled with fascinating details for every young stargazer and budding astronaut, My Book of Sta

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Book SynopsisEvery night, above our heads, a drama of epic proportions is playing out. Diamond planets, zombie stars, black holes heavier than a billion Suns. The cast of characters is extraordinary, and each one has its own incredible story to tell.We once thought of our Earth as unique, but we have now discovered thousands of alien planets, and that's barely a fraction of the worlds that are out there. And there are more stars in the Universe than grains of sand on every planet in the Solar System. But amid all this vastness, the Milky Way Galaxy, our Sun and the Earth are home to the only known life in the Universe at least for now.With a foreword from Professor Brian Cox, and access to all the latest stunning NASA photography, Andrew Cohen takes readers on a voyage of discovery, via the probes and telescopes exploring the outer reaches of our galaxy, revealing how it was formed and how it will inevitably be destroyed by the enigmatic black hole at its heart. And beyond our galaxy, the expandinTrade Review‘Wonderful in every sense’ Guardian ‘I wish Brian Cox had been my physics teacher’ The Times ‘Undeniably beautiful’ Daily Mail ‘Engaging and elucidating’ Metro ‘[The Universe] looks spectacular and the science is mind-boggling’ Telegraph Praise for The Planets by Andrew Cohen and Professor Brian Cox: ‘So staggering you go whoa!’ every few seconds … Cox is the Attenborough of the Solar System’ Guardian ‘Spectacular. [Cox’s] ability to convey maximum information in a clear and minimalist style is so softly winning and persuasive’ Sunday Times ‘Professor Brian Cox continues to boggle our minds’ Daily Mail ‘It was life affirming, it was perspective shifting. It was beautifully made’ Fearne Cotton, The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show, Radio 2 ‘Amazing work’ Emma Barnett, Adrian Chiles, Radio 5 Live ‘Starry-eyed Brian Cox is the only man for this job’ The Times ‘Wow’ Evening Standard ‘The professor makes us marvel at life on Earth’ iNews ‘Excellent … a blend of enjoyable, accessible science and dreamlike wonder’ The Times ‘Brian Cox breathes life into science again … breath-taking’ Guardian ‘Fascinating … Good science’ Observer ‘Extraordinary – at its best magically fascinating and full of vast, weird drama’ Radio Times Praise for Professor Brian Cox: ‘Cox’s romantic, lyrical approach to astrophysics all adds up to an experience that feels less like homework and more like having a story told to you. A really good story, too’ Guardian ‘He bridges the gap between our childish sense of wonder and a rather more professional grasp of the scale of things’ Independent ‘If you didn’t utter a wow watching the TV, you will while reading the book’ The Times ‘Engaging, ambitious and creative’ Guardian

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Book SynopsisEvery night, above our heads, a drama of epic proportions is playing out. Diamond planets, zombie stars, black holes heavier than a billion Suns. The cast of characters is extraordinary, and each one has its own incredible story to tell.We once thought of our Earth as unique, but we have now discovered thousands of alien planets, and that's barely a fraction of the worlds that are out there. And there are more stars in the Universe than grains of sand on every planet in the Solar System. But amid all this vastness, the Milky Way Galaxy, our Sun and the Earth are home to the only known life in the Universe at least for now.With a foreword from Professor Brian Cox, and access to all the latest stunning NASA photography, Andrew Cohen takes readers on a voyage of discovery, via the probes and telescopes exploring the outer reaches of our galaxy, revealing how it was formed and how it will inevitably be destroyed by the enigmatic black hole at its heart. And beyond our galaxy, the expandinTrade Review‘Wonderful in every sense’ Guardian ‘I wish Brian Cox had been my physics teacher’ The Times ‘Undeniably beautiful’ Daily Mail ‘Engaging and elucidating’ Metro ‘[The Universe] looks spectacular and the science is mind-boggling’ Telegraph Praise for The Planets by Andrew Cohen and Professor Brian Cox: ‘So staggering you go whoa!’ every few seconds … Cox is the Attenborough of the Solar System’ Guardian ‘Spectacular. [Cox’s] ability to convey maximum information in a clear and minimalist style is so softly winning and persuasive’ Sunday Times ‘Professor Brian Cox continues to boggle our minds’ Daily Mail ‘It was life affirming, it was perspective shifting. It was beautifully made’ Fearne Cotton, The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show, Radio 2 ‘Amazing work’ Emma Barnett, Adrian Chiles, Radio 5 Live ‘Starry-eyed Brian Cox is the only man for this job’ The Times ‘Wow’ Evening Standard ‘The professor makes us marvel at life on Earth’ iNews ‘Excellent … a blend of enjoyable, accessible science and dreamlike wonder’ The Times ‘Brian Cox breathes life into science again … breath-taking’ Guardian ‘Fascinating … Good science’ Observer ‘Extraordinary – at its best magically fascinating and full of vast, weird drama’ Radio Times Praise for Professor Brian Cox: ‘Cox’s romantic, lyrical approach to astrophysics all adds up to an experience that feels less like homework and more like having a story told to you. A really good story, too’ Guardian ‘He bridges the gap between our childish sense of wonder and a rather more professional grasp of the scale of things’ Independent ‘If you didn’t utter a wow watching the TV, you will while reading the book’ The Times ‘Engaging, ambitious and creative’ Guardian

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Book SynopsisSo staggering you go whoa! every few seconds' GuardianReally impressive' Eamonn Holmes, ITV This MorningA companion book to the critically acclaimed BBC series.The bestselling authors of Wonders of the Universe are back with another blockbuster, a groundbreaking exploration of our Solar System as it has never been seen before.Mercury, a lifeless victim of the Sun's expanding power. Venus, once thought to be lush and fertile, now known to be trapped within a toxic and boiling atmosphere. Mars, the red planet, doomed by the loss of its atmosphere. Jupiter, twice the size of all the other planets combined, but insubstantial. Saturn, a stunning celestial beauty, the jewel of our Solar System. Uranus, the sideways planet and the first ice giant. Neptune, dark, cold and whipped by supersonic winds. Pluto, the dwarf planet, a frozen rock.Andrew Cohen and Professor Brian Cox take readers on a voyage of discovery, from the fiery heart of our Solar System, to its mysterious outer reaches. They touch on the latest discoveries that have expanded our knowledge of the planets, their moons and how they come to be.Trade ReviewPraise for The Planets: ‘So staggering you go whoa!’ every few seconds … Cox is the Attenborough of the Solar System’ Guardian ‘Spectacular. [Cox’s] ability to convey maximum information in a clear and minimalist style is so softly winning and persuasive’ The Sunday Times ‘Professor Brian Cox continues to boggle our minds’ Daily Mail ‘It was life affirming, it was perspective shifting. It was beautifully made’ Fearne Cotton, The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show, Radio 2 ‘Amazing work’ Emma Barnett, Adrian Chiles, Radio 5 Live ‘Starry-eyed Brian Cox is the only man for this job’ The Times ‘Wow’ Evening Standard ‘The professor makes us marvel at life on Earth’ iNews ‘Excellent … a blend of enjoyable, accessible science and dreamlike wonder’ The Times ‘Brian Cox breathes life into science again … breath-taking’ Guardian ‘Fascinating … Good science’ Observer ‘Extraordinary – at its best magically fascinating and full of vast, weird drama’ Radio Times

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Book SynopsisSo staggering you go whoa! every few seconds' GuardianReally impressive' Eamonn Holmes, ITV This MorningA companion book to the critically acclaimed BBC series.The bestselling authors of Wonders of the Universe are back with another blockbuster, a groundbreaking exploration of our Solar System as it has never been seen before.Mercury, a lifeless victim of the Sun's expanding power. Venus, once thought to be lush and fertile, now known to be trapped within a toxic and boiling atmosphere. Mars, the red planet, doomed by the loss of its atmosphere. Jupiter, twice the size of all the other planets combined, but insubstantial. Saturn, a stunning celestial beauty, the jewel of our Solar System. Uranus, the sideways planet and the first ice giant. Neptune, dark, cold and whipped by supersonic winds. Pluto, the dwarf planet, a frozen rock.Andrew Cohen and Professor Brian Cox take readers on a voyage of discovery, from the fiery heart of our Solar System, to its mysterious outer reaches. They tTrade ReviewPraise for The Planets: ‘So staggering you go whoa!’ every few seconds … Cox is the Attenborough of the Solar System’ Guardian ‘Spectacular. [Cox’s] ability to convey maximum information in a clear and minimalist style is so softly winning and persuasive’ The Sunday Times ‘Professor Brian Cox continues to boggle our minds’ Daily Mail ‘It was life affirming, it was perspective shifting. It was beautifully made’ Fearne Cotton, The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show, Radio 2 ‘Amazing work’ Emma Barnett, Adrian Chiles, Radio 5 Live ‘Starry-eyed Brian Cox is the only man for this job’ The Times ‘Wow’ Evening Standard ‘The professor makes us marvel at life on Earth’ iNews ‘Excellent … a blend of enjoyable, accessible science and dreamlike wonder’ The Times ‘Brian Cox breathes life into science again … breath-taking’ Guardian ‘Fascinating … Good science’ Observer ‘Extraordinary – at its best magically fascinating and full of vast, weird drama’ Radio Times

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Book SynopsisCarole Taylor BA (Cantab), MA, FFAstrolS is a full-time astrologer who combines teaching, writing, and client work. A Cambridge University graduate and prize-winning academic, she is renowned for her accessible communication style and empathetic approach. She is Director of Studies at the Faculty of Astrological Studies, where she was awarded a fellowship. Carole is co-author and co-editor of Journey Through Astrology. She is also a past editor of the journal of the Astrological Association of Great Britain and holds an MA in Myth, Cosmology and the Sacred from Canterbury Christ Church University. She lives in West Sussex.

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Book SynopsisGrab your gloves and your lab coat and prepare to explore chemistry, zoology, botany and astronomy in this ultimate science showdown. Did you know that Planet Earth is bigger than Mars? Or that you brushed your teeth with a chemical element this morning? Can you name a plant that eats insects? How about an animal that is louder than a jet engine? In Bigger Than This, the four suits have been replaced by four different fields of science chemistry, zoology, botany and astronomy. Collect cards by asking your opponents for cards that are either bigger than or smaller than one of the science elements in your hand. If your opponent can't satisfy your request, you'll win the round. Keep an eye out for the eight wildcards that will cause a malfunction in the lab they really throw a spanner in the works!

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Book SynopsisSaturn is the showcase of the Solar System. It may not be the largest of the planets, nor the smallest, nor even the only planet with rings. But it is among the most stunningly beautiful objects in the sky, and is always breathtaking when seen in a telescope. This is a beautifully illustrated, authoritative overview of the entire history of humankind’s fascination with the ringed planet, from the first low-resolution views of Galileo, Huygens and other early observers with telescopes to the most recent discoveries by the spacecraft Cassini, which studied the planet at close range between 2004 and 2017. The book describes the planet from inside out, details the complicated system of rings and their interaction with Saturn’s bevy of satellites, and considers how Saturn formed and the role it played in the early history of the Solar System. Featuring the latest research and a spectacular array of images, it will appeal to the wide audience for astronomy and popular science.

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Book SynopsisAs a new wave of interplanetary exploration unfolds, a talented young planetary scientist charts our centuries-old obsession with Mars.''Beautifully written, emotive - a love letter to a planet'' DERMOT O''LEARY, BBC Radio 2Mars - bewilderingly empty, coated in red dust - is an unlikely place to pin our hopes of finding life elsewhere. And yet, right now multiple spacecraft are circling, sweeping over Terra Sabaea, Syrtis Major, the dunes of Elysium and Mare Sirenum - on the brink, perhaps, of a discovery that would inspire humankind as much as any in our history. With poetic precision and grace, Sarah Stewart Johnson traces the evocative history of our explorations of Mars. She interlaces her personal journey as a scientist with tales of other seekers - from Galileo to William Herschel to Carl Sagan - who have scoured this enigmatic planet for signs of life and transformed it in our understanding from a distant point of light into a compTrade ReviewBeautifully written, emotive - a love letter to a planet -- Dermot O'Leary * BBC Radio 2 *Elegantly written and boundlessly entertaining * Sunday Telegraph *Beguiling * The Times *Johnson's prose swirls with lyrical wonder, as varied and multi-hued as the apricot deserts, butterscotch skies and blue sunsets of Mars -- Anthony Doerr * New York Times Book Review *The inside story of the exploration of Mars. A young woman scientist shows what it is like to be in the thick of exciting and ground-breaking research. -- Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Professor of Astrophysics, University of OxfordExhilarating, informative, always engaging... beautiful in its descriptions -- Andrew Crumey * Literary Review *This elegantly crafted book conveys what it's like to be a young scientist involved in the quest. -- Lord Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal and author of On the Future: Prospects for HumanityA celebration of human curiosity, passion and perseverance. Superb in its storytelling, majestic in its vision, The Sirens of Mars will give readers a new appreciation for the preciousness of life in the cosmos. -- Alan Lightman, author of Einstein's DreamsThe Sirens of Mars provides the prospect of great discovery, and an introduction to a writer of the first rank. -- Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor Emeritus, Harvard UniversityThere's no better guide to what NASA's various Mars missions have revealed ... A true love letter to geology, on this world and others * Nature *A must-read for fans of our Martian neighbour and humanity's longstanding search for life elsewhere in the Universe * BBC Sky At Night *Mars is an exceptionally inhospitable place. The coldest Antarctic winter, the windiest Everest December - each is as nothing compared with an unremarkable day on the red planet. That is precisely why Mars is such a good place to look for life. If it exists there, Sarah Stewart Johnson writes, "the smallest breath in the deepest night", then the only conclusion is there must be life throughout the universe. This beguiling book is about the search for life on Mars - from those who thought the planet was criss-crossed with canals to those, like the author, who just hope for a microbe or two. * Times (best books of the year) *Brilliantly realised... Full of joy and existential curiosity, the book's images and metaphors take up residence in our minds and burn there, connecting scientific inquiry with deep questions about human existence. In every line Johnson makes us feel the passion for discovery and the desire to connect * The Whiting Award Selection Committee *

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Book SynopsisWill Gater is an astronomy journalist and author. He has written for several of the UK's top astronomy and science magazines and promotes both these subjects with frequent appearances on television and radio, including the BBC's Sky at Night. Anton Vamplew is a freelance astronomer. As well as writing about astronomy in books and magazine articles, he has worked at the Royal Greenwich Observatory and made regular broadcasts on BBC television and radio.

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Book SynopsisLooks with 3D terrain models that take you on a trip to the surfaces of the rocky planets. As well as covering the Sun, the planets, hundreds of moons and thousands of asteroids and comets, this title includes all the major Solar System missions, right up to the Mars rovers.

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Book SynopsisMars is back. Suddenly everyone - from Elon Musk to Ridley Scott to Donald Trump - is talking about going to the Red Planet.When the Apollo astronauts walked on the Moon in 1969, many people imagined Mars would be next. However NASA's Viking 1, which landed in 1976, was just a robot. The much-anticipated crewed mission failed to materialise, defeated by a combination of technological and political challenges.Four decades after Viking and almost half a century after Apollo technology has improved beyond recognition - as has politics. As private ventures like SpaceX seize centre stage from NASA, Mars has undergone a seismic shift - it's become the prime destination for future human expansion and colonisation.But what's it really like on Mars, and why should anyone want to go there? How do you get there and what are the risks? Astrophysicist and science writer Andrew May answers these questions and more, as he traces the history of our fascination with the Red Planet.

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Book SynopsisFull of personal insights and accounts of the long journey to getting a man on the moon, Missions to the Moon is the perfect companion for anyone with a love of space travel, the moon landings, or NASA, CNSA, RFSA, and the rest of the world's space programs. With dozens of stunning photographs and fascinating memorabilia – such as Apollo 11 Mission Reports and Flight Director's Logs – track the birth of the space race and Yuri Gagarin's first space flight, to the many successes and failures of the Apollo mission, all the way to that boots-on-the-ground moment we have come to know so well. Uniquely complemented by ground-breaking digital technology you can become fully immersed in this interactive story of mankind's ongoing journey into the final frontier. Table of ContentsMan and Moon • Vengeance Takes Flight • Sleeping Under a Red Moon • Aiming for the Moon • How to go to the Moon • Soviet Disasters • A Most Complex Machine • The Flight of the Phoenix • Into the Void • Christmas in Space • Flying to the Moon • Dress Rehearsals • Preparing for the Big One • The Voyage of Apollo 11 • 'Contact Light!' • Magnificent Desolation • Laughs From Luna: Apollo 12 • A Successful Failure: Apollo 13 • Shepard Returns • The Lunar Rover • The Genesis Rock • Landing in the Lunar Highlands • Final Moments: Apollo 17 • The Legacy of Apollo • Europe Returns to Space • Asia Ascendant • Moonbase.

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Book SynopsisThis book introduces the reader to the wonders of Mars, covering all aspects from our past perceptions of the planet through to the latest knowledge on its history, its surface processes such as impact cratering, volcano formation, and glaciation, and its atmosphere and climate. In addition, a series of ten intriguing open issues are considered in a more advanced way. These include such thought-provoking questions as What turned off the planet’s magnetic field?, Why are the northern and southern hemispheres so different?, What was the fate of the once abundant water?, and Is there, or was there, life on Mars? Numerous original figures, unavailable elsewhere, reproduce details of images from Viking, CTX, MOC, HiRISE, THEMIS, and HRSC. The book will appeal especially to general readers interested in planetary sciences, astronomy, astrogeology, and space exploration and to students of Earth Sciences and Natural and Environmental Sciences. The higher-level material on the remaining mysteries of Mars will also be of interest to astrogeologists and other researchers.Trade Review“This slender volume offers a useful, quick study on Mars. … The book is richly illustrated in both black and white and color. It is written in an accessible style that is thoroughly peppered with fact after fact; De Blasio offers plenty to intrigue readers about one of Earth's closest neighbors.” (P. K. Strother, Choice, Vol. 56 (10), June, 2019)Table of ContentsPart I: Mars through the millennia.- Mars as a heavenly warrior.- Mars with its odd orbit enters science.- Schiaparelli, Lowell, and the Martians.- Martian engineers or Martian lichens?.- Mars as seen by Mariners and Vikings.- A long interval and the return to Mars.- Technical box: Sending a spacecraft to Mars.- Mars in its orbit.- The big disappointment.- The rocks of the Martian surface.- The final answer.- Part II: history and geography of Mars.- The geography of Mars, shortly.- The interior of Mars.- Mystery No. 1. Why has Mars no magnetic field ?.- Ancient Mars: the Noachian period.- Mystery No. 2: Has Mars ever had a plate tectonics ?.- A tour on Noachian terrains of Mars: Noachis Terra.- The middle period: the Hesperian.- A tour on the Hesperian outflow channels.- The last period: the Amazonian.- Geological formations of Mars.- Part III: Processes at the surface of Mars.- Martian mountains.- The northern lowlands.- Mystery No. 3: What is the origin of the global dichotomy, which divides so sharply the North from the South of Mars?.- The giant impact basins on Mars.- Technical box: Impact cratering on Earth and Mars.- Valles Marineris.- Mistery No. 4: How were the Valles Marineris formed?.- The volcanoes of Mars.- Technical: Volcanic eruptions on Earth and Mars.- Mystery No. 5: Enigmatic mountains and mysterious geological formations (the strange arc of Acheron, the halos of Olympus Mons, Vastitas Borealis and Medusae Fossae formations).- Part IV: an exhibition of martian images.- Fractures.- Ice-related landforms.- Technical box: Optical images, infrared, radar maps. How data are acquired from remote sensing.- Catastrophic landslides.- Mystery No. 6: Great Ice age on Mars ?.- Morphologies due to wind.- Morphologies due to water.- Mystery No. 7: Was there an ocean on Mars?.- Breathtaking views.- Mystery No. 8: The enigmatic outflow channels.- Part V: The atmosphere, climate and life on Mars.- The atmosphere of Mars.- Dust devils.- The atmosphere of Mars.- The ice caps.- Mystery No. 9: How has the atmosphere of Mars changed? And what happened to the once abundant water ?.- The search for life on Mars.- Martian meteorites.- Mystery No. 10: Is there or was there life on Mars ?.- Ancient civilization on Mars ?.- Upcoming missions to Mars.- How to get to Mars and back.- Colonize Mars ?.- Terraforming.- Technical appendices.- Martian data.- Planitiae, Fossae, Terrae: Nomenclature of planetary geology.- Missions to: past, current, future.

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Book SynopsisInterweaving physics, astronomy, chemistry, geology, and biology, this book tells Earth's complete story, from the synthesis of chemical elements in stars, to the formation of the Solar System, to the evolution of a habitable climate on Earth, to the origin of life and humankind.Trade ReviewHonorable Mention for the 2012 Award for Best Professional/Scholarly Book in Earth Sciences, Association of American Publishers "[T]his classic history of our common home with the latest discoveries in planetary science ... is a cutting-edge exploration of the Earth's evolution from the Big Bang to the advent of human civilization."--Barnes & Noble Review "To be worth being this unwieldy, a book ought to do something pretty remarkable. And that's just what How to Build ... does, as you can tell from its subtitle, The Story of Earth from the Big Bang to Humankind. Now that's what you call a large canvas."--Brian Clegg, Popular Science "Like any good story, the tale that Langmuir and Broecker tell is a complex, weaving narrative that would be ideally placed on your bookcase between James Kasting's How to Find a Habitable Planet and Peter Ward and Donald Brownlee's Rare Earth... As non-astronomers they cover the initial cosmological and astronomical sections adequately, but as the book develops towards explaining the processes that make Earth habitable, the authors' expertise really comes to the fore... How to Build a Habitable Planet is Earth's story, but Langmuir and Broecker conclude with a nod to exoplanets and the search for alien life. Could it one day also become another planet's story?"--Astronomy Now "The authors ... have taken on a mighty task. You cannot underestimate the accuracy of their scholarship, or its thoroughness."--Heather Couper, BBC Sky at Night "This is a completely different book, wholly updated but also more detailed and more comprehensive. Yet, it keeps the bright flavour of the old version, and remains accessible without compromising on accuracy... How to Build a Habitable Planet is an accurate and enjoyable read."--Euan G. Nisbet, Nature Geoscience "Enormous advances have been made in the Earth sciences in the years since the original volume appeared. In addition, climate change has become a much more urgent topic. The revised version aims to bring the science up to date and to give a current environmental perspective. In this undertaking, Broecker has been joined by Langmuir, who now becomes first author. Their approach of providing each chapter with a clear introduction and summary will help greatly in accommodating the lay reader... We can be grateful to the authors that they had the initiative and energy to undertake a scientific synthesis of such broad scope... All who are concerned with the global environment and who wish to be scientifically well-informed in relation to it will find the book a worthwhile and inspirational challenge."--Ray Bates, Irish Times "[Langmuir and Broecker] strike a nice balance with roughly an equal number of chapters devoted to life, earth, and extraterrestrial processes... What makes it work is the authors' admirable job of focusing tightly on how the many processes they outline feed into life's makeup or systems needed to support it."--Choice "Although this 718 page book is over twice as long compared to the first edition, it is still a comfortable read both for earth scientists as well as nonspecialists. The diverse topics dealt with have been skillfully stitched together and each chapter provides lucid descriptions, logical discussions and a nice summary. This book could be an useful text for undergraduate students in earth sciences and with necessary supplements, could also be used for advanced courses in earth sciences."--Ramananda Chakrabarti, Current Science "I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-informed exploration of the theories behind building a habitable planet. Although complex in some places, it is still accessible to many and is overall a very useful addition to any astrobiologist's library."--Samantha Rolfe, Astrobiology Society of GB "This classic account of how our habitable planet was assembled from the stuff of stars introduced readers to planetary, Earth, and climate science by way of a fascinating narrative. Now it has been made even better."--Lunar and Planetary Information Bulletin "Generally speaking, the book by Langmuir & Broecker is very reader friendly... It can become an essential reading for both beginners and professionals in geology, palaeontology, and other natural sciences. Geoscience educators will also praise it... This book is a very good addition to the conventional textbooks on general geology, and it can be recommended for students as advanced reading."--Dmitry A. Ruban, Palaontologie AllgemeinTable of ContentsPreface xv Chapter 1. Introduction: Earth and Life as Natural Systems 1 Introduction 2 The Power and Limitations of Scientific Reductionism 4 Chaos 7 "Systems" 13 Characteristics of "Natural Systems" 15 Natural Systems Are Out of Equilibrium 15 Natural Systems Are Maintained by External Energy Sources 17 "Steady-State Disequilibrium" Is Maintained by Feedbacks and Cycles 17 Summary 24 Supplementary Readings 25 Chapter 2. The Setting: The Big Bang and Galaxy Formation 27 Introduction 28 The Big Bang 28 The Red Shift: Measuring Velocity 31 Measuring Distance 34 The Velocity-Distance Relationship: Dating the Beginning 41 Added Support for the Big Bang Hypothesis 43 An Expanding Universe and Dark Energy 47 Aftermath of the Big Bang 48 Summary 49 Supplementary Readings 49 Chapter 3. The Raw Material: Synthesis of Elements in Stars 51 Introduction 52 The Chemical Composition of the Sun 52 Hydrogen, Helium, Galaxies, Stars 54 Descriptive Atomic Physics 55 Element Production during the Big Bang 61 Element Formation in Stars 62 Element Synthesis by Neutron Capture 66 Evidence Supporting the Stellar Hypothesis 71 Summary 77 Supplementary Readings 81 Chapter 4. Preliminary Fabrication: Formation of Organic and Inorganic Molecules 83 Introduction 84 Molecules 88 States of Matter 90 Volatility 92 Density 94 The Two Great Classes of Molecules: Inorganic and Organic 95 Minerals 96 Organic Molecules 104 Environments of Molecular Construction 107 Summary 110 Chapter 5. The Heavy Construction: The Formation of Planets and Moons from a Solar Nebula 113 Introduction 114 Planetary Vital Statistics 117 Planetary Mass 117 Planetary Densities 119 Planetary Composition 120 Evidence from Meteorites 122 Scenario for Solar System Creation 128 Understanding the Chemical Compositions of the Terrestrial Planets 132 Summary 139 Supplementary Readings 139 Chapter 6. The Schedule: Quantifying the Timescale with Radionuclides 141 Introduction 142 Measuring Time with Radioactive Decay 145 The Isochron Technique of Radioactive Dating 150 Age of the Chondrites and Earth 154 Age of the Elements 157 Unlocking the Secrets of Ancient Short-lived Processes with Extinct Radionuclides 164 26Al and the Presence of Supernovas in the Vicinity of the Solar Nebula 165 Summary 168 Supplementary Reading 169 Chapter 7. Interior Modifications: Segregation into Core, Mantle, Crust, Ocean, and Atmosphere 171 Introduction 172 Earth Structure 173 Chemical Composition of Earth's Layers 180 Chemical Affinities of the Elements 183 Origin of Earth's Layers 188 Separation of Core from Mantle 189 Timing of Core Formation 191 Origin of the Crust 194 Origin of the Atmosphere and Ocean 204 Summary 206 Chapter 8. Contending with the Neighbors: Moons, Asteroids, Comets, and Impacts 209 Introduction 210 The Diversity of Objects in the Solar System 212 Origin of the Moon 218 Using Impacts to Date Planetary Surfaces 223 Lunar Interior Modifications 230 History of Impacts in the Solar System 236 Implications for the Earth 239 Future Impacts 245 Summary 246 Supplementary Readings 247 Chapter 9. Making It Comfortable: Running Water, Temperature Control, and Sun Protection 249 Introduction 250 The Planetary Volatile Budget 251 Evidence for Liquid Water before 4.0 Ga 253 Stable Isotope Fractionation 255 Controls on Volatiles at the Surface 257 Atmospheric Loss to Space 258 Cycling of Volatiles between the Surface and Earth's Interior 264 Surface Temperature 265 Earth's Long-Term Thermostat 271 A Lesson from Venus 276 Snowball Earth 278 Sun Protection 280 Summary 282 Supplementary Readings 282 Chapter 10. Establishing the Circulation: Plate Tectonics 285 Introduction 286 The Static Earth Viewpoint 287 Continental Drift Theory 289 New Data from the Ocean Floor 291 Evidence from Paleomagnetism 293 Global Distribution of Seismicity 298 The Theory of Plate Tectonics 301 The Plate Tectonic Revolution 306 Movements through Time 309 Summary 311 Supplementary Readings 312 Chapter 11. Internal Circulation: Mantle Convection and Its Relationship to the Surface 315 Introduction 316 Movement of Earth's Interior 317 Earth's Topography and Mantle Flow 319 Mantle Convection 322 Must the Mantle Convect? 325 Does Plate Geometry Correspond to Mantle Convection Cells? 328 Active Mantle Upwelling: Plume Heads and Tails 335 Formation of the Ocean Crust at Spreading Centers 342 Summary 347 Supplementary Readings 347 Chapter 12. Linking the Layers: Solid Earth, Liquid Ocean, and Gaseous Atmosphere 349 Introduction 350 The Global System of Ocean Ridges 351 Hydrothermal Circulation at Spreading Centers 354 Ocean Ridges and Habitability 362 The Puzzle of Seawater Composition 362 Element Transport to the Subduction Zone 366 Geochemical Processing at Convergent Margins 369 Cause of Melting and Volcanism at Convergent Margins 369 Element Transport to the Continental Crust 375 Final Consequences of Plate Recirculation 377 Summary 379 Supplementary Readings 381 Chapter 13. Colonizing the Surface: The Origin of Life as a Planetary Process 383 Introduction 384 Life and the Universe 385 The Unity of Life 390 Life Is Cellular 390 All Life Uses the Same Groups of Molecules 391 All Life Uses the Same Chemical Machinery 396 Earliest Life 398 When Did Life Begin? 401 Life's Origin 406 Steps in the Path to Life 408 Elemental and Simple Molecular Building Blocks 409 Making the Essential Biochemical Ingredients 410 Building Complex Molecules 412 A Cellular Container 415 The Missing Links 417 Some General Considerations on the Origin of Life 420 Summary 424 Supplementary Readings 424 Chapter 14. Dealing with the Competition: The Roles of Evolution and Extinction in Creating the Diversity of Life 427 Introduction 428 History of Life and Earth Revealed through the Rock Record 432 Relating Fossils to Present-Day Life: The Theory of Evolution 438 The DNA Revolution 441 The Extinction Half of Evolution 447 Summary 450 Supplementary Readings 451 Chapter 15. Energizing the Surface: Coevolution of Life and Planet to Create a Planetary Fuel Cell 453 Introduction 454 Life as an Electrical Current 455 A Reduced Early Earth 457 The First Three Energy Revolutions 463 The Planetary Fuel Cell 469 Summary 472 Chapter 16. Exterior Modifications: The Record of Oxidation of the Planetary Surface 475 Introduction 476 Earth and Oxygen 477 Carbon: The Record of Oxygen Production 480 Carbon: Evidence from the Rock Record 483 Iron and Sulfur: The Record of Oxygen Consumption 486 Iron: Evidence from the Rock Record 488 Sulfur: Evidence from the Rock Record 493 Evidence for High O2 in the Phanerozoic 497 Oxygen from 2.0 Ga to 0.6 Ga 498 Global Oxygen Mass Balance 502 Summary 506 Supplementary Readings 507 Chapter 17. Planetary Evolution: The Importance of Catastrophes and the Question of Directionality 509 Introduction 510 Planetary Evolution during the Phanerozoic 511 Causes of Extinction Events 516 The Cretaceous/Tertiary Extinction 517 The Permo-Triassic Extinction 521 Plate Tectonics and Evolution 526 Principles of Planetary Evolution? 527 Increased Relationship and Complexity 527 Change in Energy Utilization with Time 529 Speculations on the Possibility of Directionality to Evolution 531 Evolution of Habitability 534 Summary 536 Supplementary Readings 537 Chapter 18. Coping with the Weather: Causes and Consequences of Naturally Induced Climate Change 539 Introduction 540 Intermediate Term Climate Variations: Ice Ages 541 Orbital Cycles 544 Abrupt Climate Change 555 The Great Ocean Conveyor 560 Human Impacts 564 Summary 565 Supplementary Readings 565 Chapter 19. The Rise of Homo Sapiens: Access to Earth's Treasure Chest Permits a Planetary Takeover 567 Introduction 568 Dawn of the Human Era 569 The Human Energy Revolution 573 Earth's Treasure Chest 575 Classes of Resources 580 Resources with Short Recycling Times: Air and Water 580 Vast Resources with Recycling Potential: Metals 586 Finite Resources with No Recycling 589 Fossil Fuels 589 Soils 593 Biodiversity 593 Summary 594 Chapter 20. Mankind at the Helm: Human Civilization in a Planetary Context 597 Introduction 599 Human Impacts on the Earth 600 Climate 600 Ocean Acidification 611 Biodiversity 614 Future Prospects 620 Historical Perspectives on the Future 628 Possible Solutions 632 Solving Greenhouse Gas Accumulation 635 Energy from the Sun, Wind, and Atom 635 Carbon Capture and Sequestration 637 The Broader Problem 643 An Anthropozoic Era? 644 Summary 646 Supplementary Readings 646 Chapter 21. Are We Alone? The Question of Habitability in the Universe 649 Introduction 650 Comparative Planetology--Lessons from Venus and Mars 652 Planet Finding 654 New Results from Kepler 659 The Number of Other Inhabited Planets in the Galaxy: A Probabilistic Approach 661 Human Civilization in the Context of Planetary Evolution and Life in the Universe 665 Summary 667 Supplementary Readings 668 Glossary 669 Index 687

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Book SynopsisFrom a long-term planning lead for the Mars Exploration Rover Project comes this vivid insider account of some of NASA's most vital and exciting missions to the Red Planet, illustrated with full-colour photographsa wondrous chronicle of unprecedented scientific discovery and the search for evidence of life on Mars.There are probably just a few of moments in human history when a small group of humans stood on the margins of a vast new world, and it is no stretch of the romantic imagination that the arrival of two rovers on the surface of another planet was surely one of them.'Human exploration of Mars is the most ambitious and exciting scientific goal of the 21st century, and few people on earth know as much about this fascinating planet as Dr Larry Crumpler. As one of the long-term planning leads for the Mars Exploration Rover Project, he helped control the daily communications between NASA and the rovers roaming the planet to gather scientific data.In this magnificent compendium, Dr.

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Book SynopsisA definitive reference on the Dawn mission and its key results, including the implications for our understanding of the asteroid belt and evolution of the Solar System. With chapters written by prominent scientists, this is an essential volume for researchers and professionals of planetary science, asteroid science and space exploration.Table of ContentsList of contributors; Preface; Part I. Remote Observations and Exploration of Main Belt Asteroids: 1. Remote observations of the main belt Pierre Vernazza, Fumihiko Usui and Sunao Hasegawa; 2. Exploring Vesta and Ceres Christopher T. Russell and Marc D. Rayman; Part II. Key Results from Dawn Exploration of Vesta and Ceres: 3. Protoplanet Vesta and HED meteorites Harry Y. McSween Jr. and Richard P. Binzel; 4. The internal evolution of Vesta Michael J. Toplis and Doris Breuer; 5. Vesta's geomorphology Debra L. Buczkowski, Ralf Jaumann and Simone Marchi; 6. The surface composition of Vesta Jean-Philippe Combe and Naoyuki Yamashita; 7. Ceres' surface composition Maria Cristina De Sanctis and Andrea Raponi; 8. Carbon and organic matter on Ceres Thomas Prettyman, Maria Cristina De Sanctis and Simone Marchi; 9. Ammonia on Ceres Eleonora Ammannito and Bethany Ehlmann; 10. Geomorphology of Ceres David A. Williams, Andreas Nathues and Jennifer E. C. Scully; 11. Ceres' internal evolution Julie Castillo-Rogez and Philip Bland; 12. Geophysics of Vesta and Ceres Anton I. Ermakov and Carol A. Raymond; Part III. Implications for the Formation and Evolution of the Solar System: 13. Formation of main belt asteroids Hubert Klahr, Marco Delbo and Konstantin Gerbig; 14. Isotopic constraints on the formation of the main belt Katherine R. Bermingham and Thomas S. Kruijer; 15. Origin and dynamical evolution of main belt asteroids Sean N. Raymond and David Nesvorný; 16. Collisional evolution of the main belt as recorded by Vesta William F. Bottke and Martin Jutzi; 17. Epilogue: the renaissance of main belt science Simone Marchi, Carol A. Raymond and Christopher T. Russell; Index.

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Book SynopsisMeteorites are fascinating cosmic visitors. Using accessible language, this book documents the history of mineralogy and meteorite research, summarizes the mineralogical characteristics of the myriad varieties of meteorites, and explains the mineralogical characteristics of Solar System bodies visited by spacecraft. Some of these bodies contain minerals that do not occur naturally on Earth or in meteorites. The book explains how to recognize different phases under the microscope and in back-scattered electron images. It summarizes the major ways in which meteoritic minerals form from condensation in the expanding atmospheres of dying stars to crystallization in deep-seated magmas, from flash-melting in the solar nebula to weathering in the terrestrial environment. Containing spectacular back-scattered electron images, colour photographs of meteorite minerals, and with an accompanying online list of meteorite minerals, this book provides a useful resource for meteorite researchers, terTable of Contents1. Minerals and Meteorites: Historical Foundations and Current Status; 2. Definitions and Explications; 3. Brief review of Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry; 4. Properties of Minerals: Explanations and Applications; 5. Identification of Meteoritic Minerals in Reflected Light, by Back-scattered Electron (BSE) Imaging, and by EDS and EBSD Analyses; 6. Meteorite Classification and Taxonomy; 7. Mineralogy of Major Physical Components of Chondrites; 8. Petrologic and Mineralogical Characteristics of Meteorite Groups; 9. Cosmomineralogy; 10. Formation of Meteoritic Minerals in Gas- and Dust-rich Environments; 11. Formation of Meteoritic Minerals on Parent Bodies; 12. Formation of Meteoritic Minerals in the Terrestrial Environment; 13. The Strange Case of the Aluminum-Copper Alloys; Epilogue; References.

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Book SynopsisBlack holes seem like the stuff of science fiction, but the reality behind these astronomical objects is even more peculiar. So strong is the gravity within a black hole not even light can escape it, but that is just one piece of the puzzle. The science behind black holes is notoriously complex, but this concise introduction reveals how some general principles form the basis of our understanding of them, before exploring the possibilities of time travel, wormholes and spaghettification (not as tasty as it sounds!). Astronomer Dr Ed Bloomer gives you a whistle-stop guide to the fate of the Universe, the mechanics of a black hole and, most importantly, instructions for what to do should you fall into one! Discover how scientists detect these amazing phenomena and why you should probably avoid them at all costs.

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Book SynopsisHundreds of novels, films, and TV shows have speculated about what it would be like for us Earthlings to build cities on Mars. To make it a reality, however, these dreamers are in sore need of additional conceptual tools in their belt—particularly, a rich knowledge of city planning and design. Enter award-winning author and Tufts University professor, Justin Hollander. In this book, he draws on his experience as an urban planner and researcher of human settlements to provide a thoughtful exploration of what a city on Mars might actually look like. Exploring the residential, commercial, industrial, and infrastructure elements of such an outpost, the book is able to paint a vivid picture of how a Martian community would function – the layout of its public spaces, the arrangement of its buildings, its transportation network, and many more crucial aspects of daily life on another planet. Dr. Hollander then brings all these lessons to life through his own rendered plan for “Aleph,” one of many possible designs for the first city on Mars. Featuring a plethora of detailed, cutting-edge illustrations and blueprints for Martian settlements, this book at once inspires and grounds the adventurous spirit. It is a novel addition to the current planning underway to colonize the Red Planet, providing a rich review of how we have historically overcome challenging environments and what the broader lessons of urban planning can offer to the extraordinary challenge of building a permanent settlement on Mars. Trade Review“Throughout the book, Hollander applies his knowledge in an accessible way, illustrating points with figures from historical sources, as well as images of possible settlements pulled (with permission) from the latest studies on the subject. Overall, the book provides a highly researched and perfectly timed foundation into how humans can anticipate the needs of the future, and plan off-world colonies that are humane, sustainable, and beautiful places to live.” (nature astronomy, Vol. 7, May, 2023)“The book is rich and detailed, yet easy-to-read – and certain to engage any space enthusiast” (Ian Randall, physicsworld.com, March 15, 2023)Table of Contents1. Welcome to Mars 2. Learning from Earth’s Colonization 3. Lessons from Six Decades of Space Exploration4. Designing Mars for Humans: The First Principle 5. Transportation Dimensions6. Residential, Commercial, and Industrial Dimensions7. Non-Transportation Infrastructure Dimensions8. Mars Planning Precedents9. Other Off-World Planning Precedents 10. Template for a Mars Colony11. Conclusion

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Book SynopsisBig Cat Phonics for Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised has been developed in collaboration with Wandle Learning Trust and Little Sutton Primary School. It comprises classroom resources to support the SSP programme and a range of phonic readers that together provide a consistent and highly effective approach to teaching phonics.

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Book SynopsisOn 14 March 1964 Richard Feynman, one of the greatest scientific thinkers of the 20th Century, delivered a lecture entitled ''The Motion of the Planets Around the Sun''. For thirty years this remarkable lecture was believed to be lost. But now Feynman''s work has been reconstructed and explained in meticulous, accessible detail, together with a history of ideas of the planets'' motions. The result is a vital and absorbing account of one of the fundamental puzzles of science, and an invaluable insight into Feynman''s charismatic brilliance.Trade ReviewThe Goodsteins have gone a long way towards making a tough piece of geometry accessible... The result is fascinating -- John Gribbin * The Times *Feynman was singular in being both one of the greatest theoretical physicists of the century...[and] one of the most entertaining and illuminating teachers of science... Collectors of Feynman memorabilia, historians of science and all who enjoy watching a great mind at work will be thankful that the lost lecture has been found -- Frank Close * Observer *Feynman was a brilliant thinker and one of the finest scientists ever * The Times *

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Book SynopsisThe Sun, as our nearest star, is of enormous importance for life on Earth - providing the warm radiation and light which allowed complex life to evolve. The Sun plays a key role in influencing our climate, whilst solar storms and high-energy events can threaten our communication infrastructure and satellites.This Very Short Introduction explores what we know about the Sun, its physics, its structure, origins, and future evolution. Philip Judge explains some of the remaining puzzles about the Sun that still confound us, using elementary physics, and mathematical concepts. Why does the Sun form spots? Why does it flare? As he shows, these and other nagging difficulties relate to the Sun''s continually variable magnetism, which converts an otherwise dull star into a machine for flooding interplanetary space with variable radiation, high-energy particles and magnetic ejections. Throughout, Judge highlights the many reasons that the Sun is important, and why scientists engage in solar research.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of Contents1: The Sun, our star 2: The Sun's life-cycle 3: Spots and magnetic fields 4: The dynamic corona 5: Solar impacts on Earth Further Reading Index

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Book Synopsis Simone Marchi presents the emerging story of how cosmic collisions shaped both the solar system and our own planet, from the creation of the Moon to influencing the evolution of life on Earth. The Earth emerged out of the upheaval and chaos of massive collisions in the infancy of the Solar System, more than four billion years ago. The largest of these events sent into orbit a spray of molten rocks out of which the Moon coalesced. As in ancient mythological tales, this giant catastrophe marks the birth of our planet as we know it. Space exploration has shown that signs of ancient collisions are widespread in the Solar System, from the barren and once-habitable Mars to the rugged asteroids. On Earth these signs are more subtle, but still cataclysmic, such as the massive asteroid strike which likely sparked the demise of the dinosaurs and many other forms of life some 66 million years ago. Signatures of even more dramatic catastrophes are concealed in ancient rocks. These events wreaked havoc on our planet''s surface, influencing global climate and topography, while also enriching the Earth with gold and other rare elements. And recently, modern science is finding that they could even have contributed to developing the conditions conducive to life. In Colliding Worlds, Simone Marchi explores the key role that collisions in space have played in the formation and evolution of our solar system, the development of planets, and possibly even the origin of life on Earth. Analysing our latest understanding of the surfaces of Mars and Venus, gleaned from recent space missions, Marchi presents the dramatic story of cosmic collisions and their legacies.Trade ReviewIn Colliding Worlds, Simone Marchi explores the key role that collisions in space have played in the formation and evolution of our solarsystem, the development of planets, and possibly even the origin of life on Earth. Analyzing our latest understanding of the surfaces of Mars and Venus, gleaned from recent space missions, Marchi presents the dramatic story of cosmic collisions and their legacies. * Lunar and Planetary Information Bulletin No. 167 (January 2022) *Although collisions form the main thread running through the book, it's actually wider in scope than that, covering both the history of the Solar System, and the history of our understanding of it. That includes our understanding of our own planet, and one of the eye-opening facts is how long it took the academic world to recognise the role played by collisions in geological history. Basically, the topic got lost for decades in the gap between the geology and astronomy departments. [...] Marchi's first-hand accounts of work he was personally involved in - such as NASAs Dawn mission to the asteroid belt - make especially fascinating reading. For anyone wanting an up-to-date account of the Solar System and the processes that shape it, this is the perfect place to start. * Brian Clegg, Popular Science *Colliding Worlds is a fascinating and fresh look at the history of our solar system through the lens of the cataclysmic events that have profoundly shaped it. Marchi's engaging and clearly written book helps us understand the nature and significance of impacts for Earth's geologic history and the emergence of life, as well as their implications for our sibling terrestrial planets and exoplanetary systems. * Carol A. Raymond, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology *A fascinating story of how our Solar System was formed, and how we have arrived at the current understanding of it, from the unique perspective of cosmic collisions. Information from a few hundred years of planetary and astronomical research to the latest space exploration is marvellously weaved together. The very success of being able to connect diverse subjects in such a coherent and engaging manner attests to the fundamental importance of cosmic collisions, or "creative destruction" as the author puts it, in our search for the grand theory of planetary formation in the coming years. * Jun Korenaga, Yale University *Table of Contents1: Born out of Fire and Chaos 2: A Clash of Giants 3: Wandering Among the Planets 4: Earth's Wild Years 5: A Watery Mars 6: Creative Destruction Endnotes

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Book Synopsis''Philosophy is written in this great book which is continually open before our eyes - I mean the universe...''Galileo''s astronomical discoveries changed the way we look at the world, and our place in the universe. Threatened by the Inquisition for daring to contradict the literal truth of the Bible, Galileo ignited a scientific revolution when he asserted that the Earth moves. This generous selection from his writings contains all the essential texts for a reader to appreciate his lasting significance. Mark Davie''s new translation renders Galileo''s vigorous Italian prose into clear modern English, while William R. Shea''s version of the Latin Sidereal Message makes accessible the book that created a sensation in 1610 with its account of Galileo''s observations using the newly invented telescope.All Galileo''s contributions to the debate on science and religion are included, as well as key documents from his trial before the Inquisition in 1633. A lively introduction and clear notesTrade Reviewincludes substantial explanatory notes and a useful introduction, but what really brings it alive is the readable modern language of the translations ... it makes [Galileo's] ideas accessible ... and available to a much wider audience. * Astronomy and Geophysics *This book is an absolute joy. * The Observatory *Includes substantial explanatory notes and a useful introduction, but what really brings it alive is the readable modern language of the translations ... it makes [Galileo's] ideas accessible ... and available to a much wider audience. * Astronomy and Geophysics *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION; SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY; A CHRONOLOGY OF GALILEO; A SIDEREAL MESSAGE; LETTERS ON THE SUNSPOTS; SCIENCE AND RELIGION; FROM THE ASSAYER; DIALOGUE ON THE TWO CHIEF WORLD SYSTEMS; THE TRIAL; TWO NEW SCIENCES; EXPLANATORY NOTES; INDEX

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Book SynopsisA jawdropping book of photographs that transports the reader into space aboard the Rosetta probe.Trade Review'An extraordinary book' - Black & White Photography'Bringing us ever closer to these distant worlds' - Financial Times'A raft of truly otherworldly photographs … Testament to a hugely ambitious and pioneering scientific feat, Comet is an extraordinary book that transports the reader deep into the cosmos' - Outdoor PhotographyTable of ContentsIntroduction • 1. Launching • 2. First Earth Flyby • 3. Mars Flyby • 4. Second Earth Flyby • 5. Asteroid Stein Flyby • 6. Third Earth Flyby • 7. Asteroid Lutetia Flyby 8. Entering Deep Space Hibernation • 9. Exiting Deep Space Hibernation • 10. Rendezvous Manouevre • 11. Arrival at Comet • 12. Philae Landing • 13. Nominal Mission End

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Book SynopsisBruce isn’t pretending that science isn’t tricky, but in simple, maths-free explanations and just-the-good-parts historical recaps, he shows us that the greatest scientific discoveries and theories don’t have to remain beyond our grasp.

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Book SynopsisExplores the astrological significance of Eris, a new dwarf planet in our solar system.Trade Review'This book is a pleasure to read because it is so well-written. It has an elegance of style, lucid rationality of argument and the breadth of historical, philosophical and pycho-spiritual understanding … A must for your bookshelf!'-- Phoebe Wyss, The Astrological Journal 'It's a rare thing for a new planet to be discovered, in our own solar system at least. It's equally rare to witness the emergence of a planet's archetypal significance. Though it will likely be decades before a strong consensus is established in the astrological community regarding the meaning of Eris, Le Grice has surely laid the foundations for future reflection on its possible archetypal import. Written in a style both accessible and engaging, Le Grice displays an impressive multi-disciplinary reach, drawing with equal competence from the sciences and psychology, from mythology and world history. Though focused on the meaning of Eris, the book also serves as a lucid introduction to the new field of archetypal cosmology. At the same time, given his central hypothesis, the reader is presented with a series of illuminating insights having to do with the evolution of consciousness and this current, critical phase of the Planetary Era.'-- Sean Kelly, author of Coming Home: The Birth and Transformation of the Planetary Era.

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Book SynopsisObvious questions do not always have obvious answers. John Gribbin is known for giving us simple explanations of big concepts in science. But there is another way to probe the mysteries of the Universe and our place in it. Faced with persistent enquiries from his grandchildren, Gribbin realised that simple questions, such as 'Why is the sky blue?', sometimes require big answers, understandable in straightforward language. In answering those simple questions, he discovered that he was telling the story of our place in the Universe, from the Big Bang to the evolutionary reasons why men are, on average, bigger than women. The questions may be obvious, but the answers are sometimes surprising and highlight one of the main joys of science - discovering the unexpected. In this book, Gribbin invites the reader to join him on this voyage of discovery, where you may think you already know the answers but should be prepared to be surprised - or at least, tantalised by the truth.Trade ReviewGribbin takes each point and uses it both to bring in some history of science and to dive into a little more depth, while staying approachable * Popular Science *Gribbin's answers are knowledgeable, stimulating and sometimes entertaining * Nature *

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Book Synopsis"A milestone in modern research on the the harmony of the spheres." - Novalis magazine "This book reignites the debate on the harmony of the spheres." - Das Goetheanum Is the solar system ordered, or is it simply the result of random and chaotic accidents? This book takes us on a powerful and compelling journey of discovery, revealing the celestial spheres' astonishingly complex patterns. The movements of the planets are found to correspond accurately with simple geometric figures and musical intervals, pointing to an exciting new perspective on the ancient idea of a "harmony of the spheres". Hartmut Warm's detailed presentation incorporates the distances, velocities and periods of conjunction of the planets, as well as the rotations of the Sun, Moon and Venus. Numerous graphics - including colour plates - illustrate the extraordinary beauty of the geometrical forms that result when the movements of several planets are viewed in relation to one another. In addition, the author describes and analyses the concepts of the "music of the spheres", with special consideration given to Johannes Kepler's revolutionary ideas. Current scientific beliefs about the origin of the universe and the solar system are explained, enabling the reader to understand fully how Warm's remarkable research supplements contemporary materialistic views of the cosmos. An appendix includes his mathematical and astronomical methods of calculation as well as detailed discussion of their accuracy and validity based on modern astronomical algorithms.

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Book SynopsisFrom a planet with a hexagonal storm to the home of the Solar System's largest volcano, our neighbouring bodies are unique and fascinating places. Where else would you find somewhere with days longer than its years? Humanity's understanding of planets has changed drastically since ancient times when early astronomers mistook the lights they saw in the sky for wandering stars. We've come a long way since then, but there's still so much we don't know. Could there be life on Mars? How many planets exist outside the Solar System? Is there another 'Earth' out there? And why can't we call Pluto a planet anymore? Discover more in this essential guide to planets in the Solar System and beyond by astronomer Dr Emily Drabek-Maunder of Royal Observatory Greenwich.Table of ContentsIntroduction In the Beginning: The Birth of a Solar System Navigating Our Solar System Small but Mighty: The Rocky Planets Serene Giants: The Outer Planets Everything Left Over: Dwarf Planets, Comets, Asteroids and Meteoroids Alien Worlds: Our Search for Exoplanets A Final Note: Is There Life in the Universe Other Than on Earth? Glossary

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Book SynopsisThe enormous significance of the Sun to our lives has been felt ever since ominous eclipses and mysterious sunspots were observed many thousands of years ago. Scientists and astronomers from many different fields have contributed over the centuries to the rich knowledge we have of the Sun and its relationship with the Earth. What is the Sun made of? What is the solar wind? What could magnetism have to do with the Sun? How have scientists made these discoveries, and what does it all mean for us here on Earth? And what of the deep scientific mysteries that remain unresolved? Understanding our closest star has never been more important. Delve into the secrets of the Sun in this guide from Brendan Owens, Astronomer Emeritus for Royal Observatory Greenwich and Open Science Coordinator at Science Gallery at Trinity College Dublin.

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Book SynopsisGiven that it includes literally everything in existence, it’s not surprising that the Universe is the source of some of the greatest mysteries in physics. How big is it? How did it begin? And, perhaps more worryingly, how will it end? Through cosmology, the study of the evolution and structure of the Universe, experts have been attempting to untangle these tricky topics for centuries. They have found the faint traces of the Big Bang and shown that our Universe is expanding at a phenomenal rate. However, while their efforts have forged our core understanding of physics and earned them a number of Nobel Prizes, there is much that eludes us still. Explore the secrets of the cosmos with astronomer Dr Greg Brown as he entertains our fascination with impossible questions in this pocket guide to everything that ever was and ever will be.

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Book SynopsisThanks to NASA's Dawn mission, the last half-decade has witnessed a significant advance in our understanding of Ceres. The largest object between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, Ceres is the most water-rich body in the inner solar system after Earth which shows evidence of brine-driven activity in its recent history, and even possibly at the present. The potential existence of a subsurface ocean or regional seas in Ceres and its salt- and organic-rich composition underscore its astro-biological significance. After signaling the discovery of the asteroid belt more than two centuries ago, Ceres once again reveals new insights for us to understand the formation, evolution, and habitability of this large icy body in our solar system. This book reviews the current state of knowledge about Ceres after the extensive scientific exploration by the Dawn mission. Starting from the introduction of the discovery of Ceres and what we know about this enigmatic world before Dawn's arrival, each chapter focuses on one aspect of Ceres, including its surface composition, its geology, the role of water ice in shaping Ceres's surface, its interior structure, and expressions of cryovolcanic or brine activity at the surface. Following this framework, the book addresses the astro-biological significance of Ceres. The last chapter summarizes the new questions opened by the Dawn mission and the next step to exploring the dwarf planet closest to Earth.Table of ContentsDiscovery of Ceres and Asteroid Belt; Pre-Dawn Exploration of Ceres; Dawn Mission Overview; Surface Composition; Geology; Water Ice; Interior Structure; Recent Activity; Astrobiological Significance; Open Questions and Future Exploration;

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Book SynopsisA cutting edge, illustrated introduction to the evolving science of meteorites, which reveals how their impacts have shaped planets, asteroids and moons.

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Book SynopsisQuestions about the origin and nature of Earth and the life on it have long preoccupied human thought and the scientific endeavor. This book captures, in a series of questions, the essential scientific challenges that constitute the frontier of Earth science at the start of the 21st century.Table of Contents1 Front Matter; 2 Summary; 3 1 Origins; 4 2 Earth's Interior; 5 3 A Habitable Planet; 6 4 Hazards and Resources; 7 References; 8 Appendix A: Biographical Sketches of Committee Members; 9 Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

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Planets and Life The Emerging Science of | BookCurl

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Book SynopsisABOUT THIS BOOK....The success of any plan depends not only on the availability of the necessary skills and resources, but also very decisively, on the timing. In former times people gathered knowledge of axioms such as this by direct observation. They discovered that numerous natural phenomena are directly related to the movements of the moonJohanna Paungger is one of ten children of a Tyrolean mountain farmer. She belongs to the select few in whose environment this wisdom was kept alive for centuries handed down from one generation to the next.For the first time this knowledge is now made generally available.This book has an abundance of tips and advice to do with all the important areas of our daily life, from health, the home and nutrition to farming, forestry and gardening. In Germany it has been a massive best-seller for several years.Patience is the only thing necessary to profit from this book. Working with the lunar cycles and naturalTable of ContentsPart 1 The seven impulses of the moon: past and present; the new moon; the waxing moon; the full moon; the waning moon; the moon in the Zodiac; the ascending and descending moon; combined effects; special rhythms; the moment of contact; the lunar calendar; the Zodiacal table. Part 2 Healthy living in harmony with lunar cycles: reflections on health; a few important rules of health; for every ill a healing herb - a short herbal. Part 3 Lunar rhythms in the garden and the countryside: sowing and planting; combatting weeds and pests; cutting plants, hedges and trees; Virgo days - workdays; feeding plants; harvesting, storing and preserving; the signs of the Zodiac in garden and field. Part 4 Correct timing in farming and forestry: lunar cycles in farming; rules of forestry. Part 5 The moon as a helper in the home and everyday life: washing, polishing and cleaning; everything from airing to family outings; care of the body. Part 6 For the future.

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