Solar System Books

Two stars for its comedic paranoid ramblings. Sitchin's translations of the Sumerian clay tablets have opened the way for a more plausible creation theory that sparked interest in many folks to reread the Bible with a new perspective. This book incorporates much of the ancient Sumerians' cosmology with a decidedly fundamentalist Christian perspective to give a very unusual theory. For example, the author reveals the God of the Old Testament Bible to be Nannar-Sin with Marduk as the "anti-christ" who plans, with the assistance of Saddam Hussein, to ressurect King Nebuchadnezzar in the final days. She also reveals, "Those who die receive eternal life on (planet) Nibiru." The notions here are entertainingly wacky but much is written here to polarize and promote unhealthy paranoia. Worth reading just to get a glimpse of a new type of religious nut we may all have to contend with.

War in Heaven outlines the political intrique that has engulfed our world from the beginning of time. Fascinating and Provacative. This is not for the casual reader, the challenge is on!

WAR IN HEAVEN, goes into more detail than the Author's previous book "IS THE HOLY BIBLE AN EXTRATERRESTIAL TRANSMISSION?" For those that enjoyed C.L. Turnages first book, there are things here that the reader will appreciate. The books content is littered with many facts & theories about are past & future. What is the most revealing piece in the book is Marduk's promise to rebuild & return to Babylon in IRAQ. Also is Marduks jealous battles with Yahweh. So where does Saddam Hussein fit in? For those answers read this book. If Zecharia Sitchin's book THE COSMIC CODE, was dissappointing, then you must read this book. Ther are surprises & mystery here.For many this book will be difficult to read all at one time.The reader must take their time & grasp evey word & footnote in this book. A diffinative piece de resistance. Therefore higly recommended, and not for the easily frightened. A must read for the future.

We purchased this book for my husband's class and to be quite honest, I don't want to sell it back. Very interesting!

A fun read if you are already keen on astronomy. But even if you are not, Seeds has presented an introductory course on the subject in an attractive and clear manner. Heavily illustrated with colour diagrams of many topics, you can find both a centuries long history, and the latest research observations. Especially for interplanetary exploration, for which there has been an enduring fascination by the public.

All this is presented in a consistent framework that can instill a sense of wonder in a student. Indeed, to a student with imagination and diligence, studying the book can convey a magnificent picture of the universe.

The Big Blue Book is back. This time around the cover has a close-up photo of olivine laths in a barred olivine chondrule, and at 689 pages, is bigger and better than ever. There is a listing of 22,507 authenticated meteorites up to December 1999 which also come on a CD-ROM.

The origins of the Catalogue go back to 1847 with a listing of the 62 meteorites of the British Museum. Subsequent periodic updates were issued and in 1923, George Prior, the Keeper of Minerals of the British Museum, issued the first worldwide Catalogue of Meteorites. The well-known 4th edition, edited by Graham, Bevan, and Hutchison was published in 1985.

The 5th edition not only has ten thousand more meteorites (including such recent discoveries as the Martian Los Angeles meteorite or a Saharan EL4-5 called Grein 002), but it also reflects the multitude of changes that have taken place in the field of meteoritics in the past 15 years. Type 3 chondrites now have petrologic subtypes (3.0 to 3.9), enstatite chondrites are now distinguished as EH or EL, there are new carbonaceous chondrite groups, CH, CK, and CR, as well as the new groupings of acapulcoites, brachinites, rumurutiites and winonaites. The SNCs are now described, perhaps with a bit of British understatement, "probably from Mars". There are also various stylistic changes like dropping the ordinary chondrite terms "bronzite", "hypersthene", and "amphoterite", replacing them simply with H, L, and LL. However, the overall format is the same as the 1985 edition and readers of the latter will be right at home with this one.

Another new feature to the 2000 edition is the listing of tables of Antarctic meteorites, meteorites from the Nullarbor region, Australia, meteorites from Roosevelt County, New Mexico, and over 1500 meteorites recovered from the Sahara Desert.

Even some of the citations have changed. For example, the TKW of Nakhla is now 10 kg, due to the research of Kevin Kichinka (Meteorite! Aug. '98) down from the original 40 kg and the infamous phrase, "one of the stones killed a dog", now reads, "one of the stones reputedly killed a dog". Divnoe has been upgraded to an "ungrouped achondrite", and although this reviewer thought it was actually a brachinite, Alan Rubin informs me that Monica is correct. Gao and Guenie have now been amalgamated into the one fall denoted Gao-Guenie. The recently found Nadiabondi individuals have maintained their status under that name even though there was some speculation they might be associated with the Gao-Guenie fall. Apparently not.

The inclusion of a CD-ROM makes this edition of the CM so much more useful than previous editions and more in keeping with modern databases. Once it is installed on your computer you do not have to put the disk in again as it resident on your harddrive ready to use. You can search for a single entry, or use the data fields to do more complex searches, like finding all CM2 carbonaceous chondrites from Australia (Adelaide, Lookout Hill, Murchison). Filling in the search form is easy and you do not need a manual to run it. You do have to remember to select "valid" from one of the drop down lists as otherwise you get doubtful returns as well. The search speed probably depends on the speed of your computer: my 600 MHz Gateway took about 10 seconds for multiple searches, but was virtually instantaneous if searching for a particular meteorite. The CD-ROM also has more analytical data and more complete reference citations for the researcher than the book itself.

Of course in any work of this great magnitude, there are a few misprints/glitches, but I won't dwell on these. There are some people who would go to a concert by Heifetz and listen only for the wrong notes (if any!)

It is entirely fitting that there are meteorites named Grady (p.220). This book represents a prodigious amount of human endeavor, and the meteorite community owes Monica Grady an enormous debt of gratitude. If you are a serious amateur or a professional, you will want to have this book.

The enclosed CD-ROM is for PC only. With a MAC version, my rating would be five stars.

I thought this book was very educationa

I found this book very useful in work I was doing on axis shifts,
especially the diagrams and data concerning sea level rises/falls
associated with the magnitude of the shifts. I think the layout
of the book could have been better, but I was impressed with
the author's knowledge of what is still a contentious subject.

This is the best Astronomy text that I have ever seen. It is filled with colorful photos and diagrams, and delves into the more interesting aspects of astronomy. A must for any Astronomy teacher, student, or amateur astronomer. It's also included with a great CD that has planetarium software on it.

This book was in very good condition, still in its original wrapping. I was very satisfied with my order, but then I learned that I had only bought half of the required textbook. I didn't know that volume one meant that I only had the first half of the book; I thought it meant volume 2 was meant for another course. Now I know why the book cost half of the usual new price.

Written like an informal, rather breezy guidebook, Higher than Everest describes how future adventurers might climb the highest mountains and cross the most dramatic landscapes on other planets and moons in our solar system. The author provides some general factual background for each destination, keeping the language simple (intelligent high school students could read this book easily). He gives only the briefest description of the technical needs of such expeditions, blurring distinctions between relatively straightforward ventures such as climbing the Moon's Mount Pico and much more difficult challenges like descending into Jupiter's atmosphere or landing atop a Venusian peak. Most of the real images of these destinations are helpful, though one wishes the author had given us more of them instead of his own photographs of similar landscapes on Earth. In one case - the ascent of Mars' Mount Olympus - the author shows us a proposed route for the expedition. Unfortunately, he does not use this helpful device for any of the other sites.

The author provides a true guided tour, focusing on the most spectacular features of the planets. Beautiful color pictures combine with informal second-person language ("Once on the surface your exploring party will make its way towards the mysterious source ..."). Despite -- or perhaps because of -- the coffee-table-book presentation, I learned more about Solar System here than in many planetary geology texts. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the subject, from curious middle schoolers to scientists.

This book is very surprising: the large hardcover format makes you think that you are about to read a beautiful Mars book, full of pictures with limited scientific information... You couldn't be more wrong! What you have here is a highly technical, accurate and up-to-date scientific review of our present state of knowledge about the Red Planet.

The text and presentation is completely similar to the articles found in the scientific publications such as "Science": text split on two columns, black-and-white pictures, graphics and bibliography.

In order to get the most out of this book, you must already have some good knowledge of the planet and of geology, because the author does assume that you know a lot of things and will not bother explain the basics. From this point of view, this book is a welcomed surprise for the Mars enthusiasts like me, because it brings you one step (or more) further. For the beginners, you should avoid this book, and get instead the beautiful "Mars : Uncovering the Secrets of the Red Planet" (by P. Raeburn, National Geographic, ISBN 0792273737).

Now, for those really willing to learn about Mars with this book, let's get into the details.

As I said, you should know about Mars before reading this book. The best way to get there is to read the massive "Mars" (University of Arizona Press, ISBN 0816512574). This 1500-page Mars bible covers everything, but is in some way outdated (published in 1991, before Phobos 1 & 2, Pathfinder, and MGS). This is where the book by Cattermole becomes complementary, and could be considered as an update of the other one.

The large majority of the chapters are on Martian geology: plains, volcanism, craters, polar regions, fluvial activity, etc. Every aspect is covered in great details, including the latest results from MGS. But unless you are a trained geologist (like the author), you will probably be a little overwhelmed by the vocabulary. But even with a partial understanding of the science, the wealth of information is worth the effort. A piece of advice: get a map of Mars and keep it with you while reading.

Only a few chapters are about the atmospheric conditions, the satellites or even the possibility of life on the planet. This is not surprising since the bulk of our current knowledge is about geology, but may leave you disappointed. Especially the chapter on weather and climate: quite a lot is known about Martian weather, but this chapter is confusing and ambiguous, revealing that the author is not an expert in this field.

Regrettably, this book suffers from many errors, typographical or worse. I have spotted 2 figures where the curves are not even printed, leaving the arrows pointing nowhere (fig. 4.5 and fig. 13.2); fig. 3.7 is weirdly centred at 31.53°S 130.73°N; fig. 8.9 is centred at an impossible 241°N (!) and on p.89 we learn that Apollinaris Patera is lying at 96°S; fig. 9.8 lacks the "solid line" used in the explanation; on p.48, we learn that the upper limit for micrometeorites is 1 billion kg (which does not sound very microscopic)... The list could go on. This is unfortunate, because the scientific quality of this book is weakened by the fear of reading something erroneous because of poor proof-reading.

Despite the many errors, this book is an impressive summary of our current knowledge, and is worth reading. And with the arrival or Mars Odyssey, you will be well prepared.

Dr. Peter Cattermole was a former lecture of Geology at the University of Sheffield and a former principle investigator for NASA's Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program. As one would expect from a person with this background, this book presents a geologist's view of the planet Mars. Unfortunately, if one is not a geologist or versed in the sciences, this book maybe difficult to follow. Even this reviewer, who is an amateur geologist and well versed in a variety of engineering and science disciplines, could only read a few chapters at time (sometimes only a paragraph) without having to put the book down and reflect on what I had learned.

Each chapter of the book covers a different aspect of Martian geology. For example, there are chapters on craters, dunes, polar regions, the weather and climate, plus many more. There are also sections on the two moons of Mars and a summary of the robotic exploration of the planet. While there were times when I I had to put this book down to digest all the information I had read, I can definitely say that I learned more than I ever have about the planet Mars.

While the text maybe difficult for some people to follow (including this reviewer at times), there are numerous high resolution black and white photographs as well as some nice color photograph maps which present the many varied geological terrains that exist on Mars. Many of the photographs I have never seen published before, especially those from the Viking orbiters.

The author does provide a detailed reference list of over two hundred separate sources, which will allow the reader to thoroughly a specific topic. I found it refreshing that the author chosen only a few of his own papers for reference material, which does not always happen.

In summary, if you know geology, like high quality space photography, are out for a challenge, or want to learn a whole bunch about Mars, this book is for you

This book is for the serious reader and the space enthusiast who sees Mars as a real future endeavor. If you believe in the reality of space exploration and wish to see just how we can go about getting there, then this book is for you. There is also poetry, light hearted looks at Mars themes, etc. It comes with a CD as well. It is a culmination of several serious space related authors who came together, like Lewis & Clark, to explore new frontiers. Only this time they look beyond our blue planet.

this book is actually a collection of scientific papers on the topic of Mars mission planning. If you are not a serious scientist or amateur engrossed in the subject you will be bored. I was expecting more material from Zubrin. I recommend instead Pale Blue Dot by Carl Sagan

Chapters: I. Introduction; II. Astronomical Perspective; III. General Description of the Solar System; IV. The Sun and the Solar Nebula; V. The Major Planets; VI. Pluto and the Icy Satellites of the Outer Planets; VII. Comets and Meteors; VIII. Meteorites and Asteroids; IX. The Airless Rocky Bodies: Io, Phobos, Deimos, the Moon, and Mercury; X. The Terrestrial Planets: Mars, Venus, and Earth; XI. Planets and Life about Other Stars; XII. Future Prospects; Appendices; Suggested Reading; Index

This book discusses the physics and chemistry of the Solar System in great detail. It assumes that the reader has completed one year of mathematics, physics, and chemistry at the university level. Appropriate physics and chemistry formulas and equations are sprinkled throughout the book. The focus is on practicality, not on rigorous derivation: Formulas are often introduced with a phrase like "It can be shown that...", though some key concepts are discussed in more math! ematical detail in the appendices. For the reader who wants more, the "Suggested Reading" section lists many more publications dealing with aspects of the subject matter of this book, ranging in intended readership between non-mathematical and professional scientific.

The text is informative and to the point. Inclusion of many results from recent space missions to various planets, asteroids, and comets is evident. The author includes many pictures (mostly in black and white) of (parts of) the planets and other discussed celestial bodies. Also included are a great number of plots and diagrams that illustrate points made in the text. Many provide specific information on characteristics of the materials being discussed. I particularly like these diagrams: A general discussion of, for instance, the different kinds of water ice is interesting in its own right, but the inclusion of a diagram where you can look up your own favorite combination of temperature and press! ure to find which kind of water ice exists under those cond! itions allows you to consider also many situations that are not explicitly treated in the text.

The book starts with a discussion that puts the Solar System in a wider astronomical context (involving galaxies and the universe at large), and ends (after extensive discussion of the members of the Solar System) with a discussion of the physics and chemistry of life and planets around other stars, and of the future prospects for answering remaining questions about our celestial neighbors. Some exercises are included at the end of each chapter.

The only negative point I found about this book is that it does not discuss the one topic I was looking for when I bought it: the physics of the shape of celestial bodies. For instance, why can Mars support much taller mountains that the Earth? How irregular can the shape be of a moon or asteroid, depending on its size? This certainly falls within the scope of the title. Nevertheless, the great wealth and practicality of the other i! nformation contained in this volume ensure that I do not at all regret buying it.

I teach a class in Planetary Atmospheres at the local state university (Arkansas). There is no dedicated text on planetary atmospheres for the non-expert, but you can take parts of this book and do pretty well. And that's the general theme of this book: it has at least a little bit of coverage on almost every aspect of the solar system. I think you could easily do the same thing for a class in planetary geology or solar system evolution or orbital dynamics or even a little biology. Nothing is explored in tremendous detail, but almost every sub-topic of the solar system receives good coverage. Geology is probablly the most-addressed topic.

The book is a great read to just learn about the solar system and how it got here, but you'll need a strong background in chemistry and physics to really understand it. It was one of my favorite books even before I was selected to teach this course.

Lewis' writing is folksy at time, and that's a good thing. Sometimes he's even funny. He gives some thorough overviews of the history of figuring out the various aspects of our solar system, such as the long history of figuring out the composition of the atmospheres of Venus and Mars. It's definitely not a dry book.

The one downside is probably not the author's fault: the photographs are very poorly reproduced. This is probably a publisher thing, but pictures that I know to be beautiful are reduced to grainy, low-res grayscale. Also, be careful which one you order: there is a first edition, a revised first edition and a second edition. You want the latter, although they are not vastly different from one another. The second edition has some color plates grouped together, and this helps.

I recommend this book enthusiastically for anyone with a technical background that wants to learn more about any aspect of the solar system.

Gail Gibbons book on the planets contains just a little bit more information than most young children's books on the subject. From information on how and why planets and stars look differently in the night sky to the distances of each planet from the sun, there's more for curious minds to ponder.

The book begins by explaining a few difference between stars and planets. It continues with how the planets were named and the later discovery of the outer three. Then our solar system, orbits and rotations are discussed.

Each planet is then explained in detail. The book does a nice job of choosing facts to present and keeping the topics consistent from planet to planet. Each planet's distance from the sun, relative size, length of day and year and are included. When appropriate moons are mentioned. Unlike many other young children's books on the planets, information on some of the more well-known moons of other planets is given. Considering the target audience of the book, the information is nicely comprehensive.

Toward the end of the book astronomers and space craft are very briefly mentioned. No information on space travel is included. As the title implies, the book focuses on information about the planets.

The illustrations are nicely done; the book contains no photographs. The drawings, however, are very detailed and present the planets in a nice perspective. They are very well done.

My five year old daughter loves this book as it's concise and easy for her to read. She loves to learn the details of each planet and how many moons they have. This however is where our first problem arose. The book reports that Jupiter has 63 moons, and then on the following page states that Saturn has 36 moons "more than any other planet." Even a five year old knows that 36 isn't more than 63. Lesson learned: Don't believe everything you read." FYI: Saturn has 47 moons to date.