Astronomy Books

I have always been interested in astronomy and just recently picked it up as a hobby. Terence Dickenson does a wonderful job conveying concepts to the average person. He has made it so easy to understand and so interesting it is difficult to put the book down. The pictures are perfect for those of us with little imagination. My ten year old is even reading it with me. Excellent!

A friend and I are taking an intro to astonomy course and this is one of the recommended texts. I can certainly see why. It's a very clearly written work with a heavy emphasis on planetary and solar astronomy and a lucid discussion of stellar objects visible with personal telescopes, subjects that the noviate astronomer is most likely to find of interest. The author also dedicates two chapters to the subject of theoretical astrophysics at the very basic level of cosmology, ie) the theory of the origin, the possible ultimate destiny of the universe, and the liklihood of the existance of coevil universes parallel to our own. Dickinson also throws his lot in with those who would believe in UFOs, to the extent that while he doesn't believe in the sightings people report--however well meaningly--he does believe that intelligent life is out there and may well already know of our existance. He gives a thorough and lucid outline of why he believes this to be the case. He also summarizes the SETI project and the ultimate change in position on this topic of high visibility astronomers like the late Carl Sagan, Iosif Shklovskii, and Ben Zuckerman. A very interesting book, and one that whets the appetite for further information.

I have never, and I mean never, had my mind blown as much as when I read (still reading, will never stop reading) this book. I can't believe the pictures in this book. You think you've seen everything insane and out of this world there is to see and then you open this up. Ever seen one galaxy side-swipe another galaxy? The images in this book will change you, you will never be the same. I feel so small yet I feel like I'm part of this insane monster of a grand scheme. The descriptions are fantastic, you need no prior astronomy/science education to totally immerse yourself in the cosmos. Starting from earth and reaching out to as far as we have gone this book reads as if you are the explorer aboard your space craft taking it all in for yourself. There isn't a dull second during this read. Every paragraph will make your mouth drop. Realize the creature around you that is your Universe.

Well laid-out book with awesome pics and logical flow. Definitely a professional work. It does not get very deep in explanations but there is enough material for a novice to get started. Overall: VERY GOOD!

For the layman who is often intimidated by the scope of astronomy and science in general, this book is the ideal place to get started. I've been fascinated by the universe and outer space for as long as I can remember. There is nothing that is quite as majestic and beautiful in the physical world we observe as the unimaginable grandeur of the universe.

The book starts out with a good general overview and then starts out from home (Earth) and then gradually moves out towards other objects in the Solar System, the nearby starts, our Milky Way galaxy, and ultimately out to the farthest reaches of the universe (quasars, galaxies out in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field), examining the deepest cosmological questions.

The writing is non-technical and is easy for the uninitiated to understand. There are plenty of the latest breathtaking photos from the Hubble Telescope as well as clear illustrations. I bought a copy for my mother who has never delved into astronomy and she advised me that the book has been most enjoyable and that it opened her eyes to the wonders of space that she had never known about.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in astronomy but never had the chance to really dig in for whatever reasons. I also recommend this book to the experts who want to encourage their loved ones and friends to appreciate the universe as well. It makes a great gift to high school students, parents, and friends as well. It's one of those books that people will refer to over and over again and contemplate our place in this amazing structure we know of as the universe.

This book was illustrated by Gary Lee Gustafson - NOT AS LISTED ON THIS ITEM'S DESCRIPTION.

hi everyone i recomend this book hifhley to you it is a story about animals and they go up to the moon in a space ship. i really enjoyed this book. it is a very educational book but at the same time very fun. i recomend this book highley. i read it over and over a gain and learn something new every time. i think every child a round the world should have this book. i loved it so much. i think that if you had the chance to buy this book i think you should definetly buy it.

hi everyone i am the writers grand daughter anjalipati i just love the book i recomend it greatly to children over7 yrs old i myself if i was not even related to the writer would read a book like this one i read it 5 times and i love it so much that i will continue reading it over and over again it is my favorite book

This was the best book that I have read in a very long time,it teaches children about the moon and other planets,and the same time it teaches children(India)just a little bit about their own heritage. I think the owl was extremely wise in a very weird way!!This was a great book and I would recommend this to all children no matter what their age is!

Are you a parent who is searching for a book which is educational, yet fun to read? Look no more because Geeta Pati's latest book, The Animals Journey to the Moon, is the book for your son or daughter. This book is based on a group of animals who use the help of a wise owl to reach the moon before man does. The book teaches young children many interesting facts on astronomy and culture in a humorous manner. Pati has done a marvelous job in creatively explaining a difficult science in a whole new aspect so it may be explained to kids. As a reader I recommend to those who want to learn and have a good time buy the book, at a bookstore near you. The Animals Journey to the Moon

As like many others, I read this book for a class. I was given the choice between this book, and two other books, so I read the reviews for the three books, and this one sounded the best. All the positive reviews for this book were correct. The author puts his sense of humor into his tale of the history of cosmology. He tries to avoid all technical aspects of this field, and puts it in an appendix for those more curious than I. This book also went very smoothly. The first section goes by like a breeze! Only the last section on the current views of cosmology boggs down, and just by a little. I liked the book so much, that I gave it to my parents to read, and they're both in the art field, and they enjoyed it!

An excellent read!

I don't remember the last time I read a book that was as packed with fascinating facts about astronomy as this one. Better still, Mr. Kolb's dry wit makes the book a very quick read.

If you're interested in the history of astronomy and want a book that takes you past the basics, read this book. I can't recommend it highly enough.

If you have ever wonder how new stars were found, and how scientist came up with the alignment of the planets. Then read Blind Watchers of the Sky:The People that Shaped our Views of The Universe. Discover how the scientist came up with their theories, and the basic history of cosmology. The book flows very well and is interesting. Learn more about the thought of the scientist that have spent most of their lives studying the sky.

Unlike the other reviewers here, I *had* to read this book. Why is that? Because I took Natural Sciences 101 at the University of Chicago, and it happened to be taught by the very same Rocky Kolb. I must say, I was a little leery about reading a book written by the prof, I mean, how self serving is that? But let me tell you, this book captivated me more than any other that quarter. It's clear and concise, but most importantly, its humor keeps you wanting to read more. He writes just like he teaches. That's his voice speaking from the pages, and he's speaking something he knows a lot about. If you want to get the basics of the history of cosmology and get in on the ground floor of a few of the more complicated cosmologiacl principals, all in an entertaining read, this book is for you.

After reading Blind Watchers of the Sky all I have to is, "wow!" I never thought I would learn more about (or care about, for that matter) astronomy. The basis of my celestial knowledge before reading this book was elementary to say the least. My comprehension of astronomy now is not that of a rocket scientist or anything but it is a secure foundation on which further studying will be easier understood because of the basic concept learned from this book. These concepts are not exactly abecedarian, they are not easy to grasp in a classroom or textbook. For some reason Kolb's intricate stories explain these concepts in a flowing manner that doesn't stress the mind. All of a sudden you are reading and you pause to say aloud to yourself, "Oh, I get it." I would recommend this book to anyone. You need no past knowledge to enjoy the book or any great passion to learn about astronomy because it is entertaining aside from the fun facts you learn. I am not an astronomy scholar so I am unaware what there take on this book would be. But this is also an excellent source for high school astronomy students having a difficult time grasping our celestial ideas. -JoAnna Newburn

This is the third book by James Kaler I've read--the other two being "Stars and Their Spectra" and "The Hundred Greatest Stars", in that order. The other reviews and the back matter of the book give pretty much all the relevent info on what the book is about: stellar superlatives.

As usual, Kaler's personal enthusiasm for his subject shines through, to a degree exceptional for any scientific text. He knows how to turn a phrase, how to create a provocative image with words that will stimulate the reader's imagination. There is much here to amaze even those who consider themselves well-versed in astronomy.

Much as I hate to say it, though, the book isn't perfect. It feels like it occupies an uncertain valley between the introductory "Greatest Stars" and the more advanced "Stars and their Spectra", like it's attempting to be the best of both worlds. Consequently, there are parts that are wonderfully new...as well as those that are "Hmm, he wrote about this in _____." As was the case with "Stars and their Spectra", I would have liked an appendix for more dyed in the wool geeks like myself. ;)

Though he eschews math and advanced physics, I can't quite recommend it for beginners; in my op, people just getting into his work should read "Greatest Stars", then this, and finally "Stars and their Spectra".

Good hunting!

Extreme Stars - On the Edge of Creation (Cambridge University Press) is a remarkably fascinating, in-depth look at stellar evolution from the perspective of the Hertzsprung - Russell (HR) diagram, a chart plotting stellar luminosity against temperature (expressed by spectral classes O B A F G K M). James Kaler illustrates the complexity of stellar evolution by examining extreme stars - the faintest, coolest, hottest, brightest, largest, smallest youngest, oldest, and even strangest stars.

Through the telescope most stars look alike, perhaps with a few showing a slight tinge of color. The key to understanding stars is to measure and analyze their spectra, a subject foreign to most readers. Kaler introduces atomic and molecular spectra early, thereafter steadily advancing the reader's understanding and appreciation of spectral analysis, all in the context of the HR diagram.

The HR diagram shows that most stars brighten with increasing temperature; these main sequence stars lie on the chart within a narrow, curved band stretching from the lower-right corner (dim M stars) to the upper-left corner (bright O stars). Hertzsprung's and Russell's key discovery was that many stars lie outside this main sequence, such as the sub giants, giants, super giants, and hyper giants (and contrastingly, the white dwarfs). Many stellar types move either onto or off the main sequence as they age.

The lower main sequence is the home of many of the faintest (and coolest) stars, grouped as M0 through M10. These faint stars, nearly all invisible to the naked eye, comprise about 50 percent of all stars. Surprisingly, other very faint stars - like the Mira variables that exhibit substantial variation in luminosity over months and years - are found among the giant stars, especially on the Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB).

The magnificent, beautiful planetary nebulae are among the hottest stars. The brightest stars are actually quite rare, but due to their flamboyance some are well-known to the sky gazer. The largest stars (super giants and hyper giants) are not always the brightest, but are, nevertheless, absolutely awesome. The white dwarfs, among the smallest stars, exhibit a wide range in spectral characteristics; some even have variable luminosities with periods measured in only minutes. Even smaller yet are neutron stars.

The youngest stars, such as the T Tauri variables, as they fire up by burning deuterium, become visible at the "birth line" on the HR diagram, thereafter evolving toward the main sequence. The chapter on oldest stars allows consideration of the evolution of galaxies themselves. A final chapter looks at truly strange stars that reside within the main sequence, their weirdness revealed by their most unusual spectra.

In summary, Kaler's focus on superlatives (brightest, hottest, oldest, etc. ) proves immensely effective. Extreme Stars will appeal both to the amateur astronomer well-acquainted with the night sky and to the scientifically-inclined reader relatively new to astronomy. Five stars to James Kaler for this remarkable book.

The stars are so distant that even at high power through a telescope they look like nothing more than colorful points of light. In "Extreme Stars", Kaler shows us that in fact these little luminaries of our night sky come in an astonishing variety of temperatures, sizes, absolute brightnesses, and chemical compositions. A chapter is devoted to each type of extreme star, e.g. the coolest, brightest, youngest, etc.

To me, the most interesting theme of the book is how a single star can actually change from one extreme type to another over its lifetime. For example, the brightest stars (accounting for 'unseen' radiation like ultraviolet and infrared) are the blue supergiants. These inevitably go supernova and often leave behind neutron star cores, which are both the smallest and hottest of stars. Also, the coolest red giants will form planetary nebulae and leave behind white dwarfs, which comprise one of the hottest types of stars at the outset. Another example is the faintest stars, which are so frugal with their fuel consumption that they have the longest lifespans and therefore will be the oldest stars.

The book is written with great enthusiasm and is well illustrated. I do remember one time that Kaler kind of took it into the deep end with his discussion of electron degeneracy and the Pauli Exclusion Principle, but for the most part the book is easily accessible to the interested layman. Amateur astronomers like myself would really dig it.

After reading the book, it made me want to get the telescope out and simply stare at some of these extreme stars for a while. The easiest ones to learn to identify by naked eye are the bright supergiants, like Betelgeuse and Deneb. But there are plenty of others in the other extreme types that are bright enough to see with the naked eye; these can be located with a decent star atlas.

One minor quibble: I feel that Kaler didn't emphasize enough that the vast majority of stars we see are just regular main sequence stars, ranging from perhaps 0.2 to three or four times the mass of the Sun. Extreme stars are relatively rare.

Highly recommended.

Have you ever wondered how many different types of stars are in space or are there planets orbiting them? The book Extreme Stars, At the Edge of Creation, by James Kaler is a must read for the astronomy enthusiast. This book is a fresh approach at examining the lives of stars. It covers all extremes from black holes and neutron stars to supergiants and hypergiants. Kaler takes a unique way of organizing the stars in sections for example the coolest, the hottest and the brightest stars. In each section Kaler includes lots of diagrams and pictures to help the reader relate to examples from the text. He is also very through about each topic and often explains the history behind the star and the links that change stars from one type to another. In one chapter, Kaler explains that giant Jupiter class planets have been found in orbit around certain stars.
Kaler writes in a way that is very thorough and detailed but where even the most novice astronomer can still understand. The graphs and photos also help to clarify some of the more difficult. For example, when he talks about stars and their spectra he will often include a diagram to help show the relationship.
Overall I enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it to someone interested in astronomy. It is really interesting and shows the great variety of stars that exist in the universe. Especially for people wanting to learn more about stars this book is a must read.

Kaler's descriptive aptly summarises the theme of this fine work. Astronomy done well is always a fascinating read, and Kaler's done a masterful job. He takes us into the realm of the biggest, hottest, smallest, coolest, most dense and diffuse stars in our universe. Each chapter is devoted to a type, with examples, history, evolution and likely finales. The text is clear and unambiguous, obviously written for anyone interested in our stellar neighbours. Diagrams and photographs illuminate complex subjects throughout, including some spectacular colour plates in one section. Kaler deserves high praise for a comprehensive and exhaustive presentation untainted by weighty philosophy or arcane mathematics.

Kaler's uses the nearest star, our sun, to launch a comparative view of the more extreme versions of stellar objects. Placed in the middle of the band of stars fitting on the "main sequence", it's a valid starting point. Main sequence stars range from very large and bright to very small and dim. Within that range they follow fairly predictable patterns for a given size and type. Outside that stable range, however, loom some immense exceptions and a plethora of tiny, almost minuscule stellar objects. Orion's shoulder is marked by a star with a diameter nearly reaching the orbit of Jupiter. Another, even greater, reach nearly to Saturn's. Others, as Kaler notes, would "fit inside a small town". Even these minute objects have a life history that tells us much about the universe we inhabit. Kaler is vivid in his descriptions of these objects, but he's even more spirited when dealing with the nuclear processes going on within them. Some stars truly seem to "run amok"!

Stars are distant laboratories where reactions occur impossible to duplicate in Earth-bound facilities. Kaler describes the activities of chemical elements within stellar objects and how their signals tell us about the events occurring there. As stars burn away their hydrogen fuel, various options, some still not understood, may be followed. Electrons jump from shell to shell emitting or absorbing energy. These signals, he notes, are the indicators of luminosity, temperature and even distance. One such signal, of course, is the most significant of all - the "noise" indicating the Big Bang that started it all. One result, however, is clear - without these processes neither our planet nor we would exist. This is because the stars, which began as clouds of hydrogen and dust, become the forges of heavier elements. As Joni Mitchell once sang, "we are all made of star stuff". You don't have to be interested in astronomy to enjoy this book. You need only care about your origins and environment. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Don't let the small size fool you, this is a complete college level introductory textbook on Astronomy!

For amateur astronomers, you won't need anything else for theory. Using it in the field, might be rather cumbersome, as it is so loaded with information, it might be hard to sift out what you want "On the Fly".

Excellent book!

This book covers the basics on a wide range of topics. The maps are nicely done and easy to read. I have read a number of astronomy books, and this book is among the easiest to understand. The pictures are well done and compliment the text nicely to assist in the particular lesson being learned. If you've had a hard time understanding some other astronomy books, you might want to try this book. I found 3 drawbacks with this book. 1.) The RA/DEC coordinates given for objects in a number of the tables are epoch 1900. More current coordinates certainly could have been used. 2.) The binding is insufficient to be used as a "field guide" for any length of time. 3.) All tables at the back of the book that give times/dates for upcoming events are out of date. They end at 2006 or before.

If you're looking for a basic book on astronomy that covers a wide range of topics AND is easier to understand than most other astronomy books, you should consider buying this book.

The one and only knock against this great field guide (and kudos to the others who have pointed out that it's NOT a children's book, but simply the best introductory handbook to astronomy ever published) is that it will fall apart with regular use within a couple of years. This is inexcusable in a field guide, but the book is so wonderful and user-friendly that it still gets my five stars. If I could split the review: the book would get 5 stars, the publisher 0 stars.

But it's so cheap compared to other guides, like the lousy Norton's Star Atlas, that you can afford another when it shreds in your hands after a couple years use at the scope.

Bottom line: great book, but should be sewn-bound!!!

This little book is a great reference that handles most any issue an amateur astronomer might encounter in his gazing exploits. There is a thorough yet concise treatment of Basic Astronomy, followed by sections on Astronomical Instruments, Stars, The Various planets, and other celestial bodies. The illustrations and charts are wonderful and there is a very thorough treatment of each constellation, many tables, a good bibliography, and index of observatories and planetariums. It amazing what has been packed into this very small book!

Great Book, GREAT Charts (the grey section), but I had to drop a star due to a lack of Messier Photos and the terrible binding. I don't know HOW the review can say "4th - 8th grade reading level". If you find a 4th grader who can absorb this excellent material, he/she's in the wrong class! This book takes you from ignorance to comprehension painlessly. It even lists wonderful items which can be seen with only a pair of binoculars. It explains everything in the charts, listing the Messier objects and describing them, ie. "9th magnitude open-armed galaxy". Includes solar system, moon, stars, and deep space. A well done book, lacking nothing as a "text book", but as a "Field Guide" the above listed deficiences are intolerable. Well worth the small price.

This work brings home the grandeur of our universe (and the creator behind it) as best as any book, video or special I have ever seen. The quotes from theologians, astronomers and prophets that accompany the images do not all point to a singular philosophy or faith, so do not be too hasty to write this tome off as a religious work or creationist propaganda. The photo prints are of superb quality and the quotations are well matched. My personal favorite quote is found on page 128, next to an image of a cluster of Massive Infant Stars: "I find it as difficult to understand a scientist who does not acknowledge the presence of a superior rationality behind the existence of the universe as it is to comprehend a theologian who would deny the advances of science. And there is certainly no scientific reason why God cannot retain the same relevance on our modern world that he held before we began probing His creation with telescope, cyclotron and space vehicles." -Wernher Braun
This text is also a fresh reminder that while popular, secular science writers often demonstrate a lack of wonder and exaggerate the claims of their theories, the real scientists, the Einsteins, Newtons and Keplers, regarded themselves as full of wonder and mere children who had stumbled upon a few pretty pebbles upon the ocean's beach (a paraphrase from Abraham Heschel's "A Philosophy of Judaism"). Regardless of your personal faith proclivities, if you understand that no human has all the answers (and perhaps not even very many) you will enjoy this book, guaranteed.

This excellent collection of pictures from space presents an awesome and inspiring view of space through many of the Hubble photos accompanied by pertinent and profound quotes from thinking peple.

It is a marvelous and thought-provoking encounter with the heavens regardless of your religious views.

I have given it to my children and friends and received 5-star responses from all who see it.

I am not one to give praise easily. In fact, I can't remember when I last reviewed a book. But this book is truly a work of art. It is very well written and will prick the conscience of any agnostic or non-believer. It's as if there is this giant puzzle which nobody has been able to put together, till Michael Reagan came along and assembled the pieces.
Well done, that man. I also believe this book should be in every Primary school library.

If you are looking for a book to provide snippets of inspiration for others who are dear to you, or, perhaps one that will spark your own prayer and devotional time, this may be the book you are seeking.

"The Hand of God" is a collection of photographs taken in space, many by the Hubble Telescope, showing the vast and awe-inspiring wonder of the universe. These photos, a new "eye on the heavens" show every manner of nebula, comet and star formation for the wondering earthbound traveler. Presented in deep and vivid colors, the photos are thoughtfully paired with inspirational quotations, both familiar and obscure.

Of the many gorgeous images, surprises abound. A view of Jupiter's Great Red Spot and its surroundings looks every bit like a segment of Van Gogh's "Starry Night". A shimmering white cross-like photograph of Galaxy NGC 4640A is coupled with these lines from an ancient Jewish proverb: "God said to Abraham, 'But for me, you would not be here.' 'I know that, Lord,' Abraham answered, 'but were I not here, there would be no one to think about you.'"

Here are page after page of vast and panoramic views--both in word and in photograph, ranging from the tender greens and blues of our own earth, to a halo-like image of a filament eruption on our sun.

One would not classify this as a coffee table book per se, since its 8" x 8 1/2" dimensions are much smaller. It is perhaps best called an end table or nightstand book, suitable for an occasional glance or prolonged study. Either way, the unfamiliar images are profoundly inspiring, and invite the reader to move beyond Arthur Schopenhauer's observation, "Everyone takes the limits of his own vision for the limits of the world." This book is sure to expand your limits and inspire your vision, beautifully.

Whatever your religious/spiriual leaning, the inexpressible mystery of creation is evident in these Hubble Telescope photographs coupled with quotations from the world's best minds and hearts.

Let's not forget we're living on a little planet, what some like to call spaceship earth. If earth is a spaceship, this is the owner's manual: THE HOME PLANET. Political boundaries are dissolved by a moon's-eye view of Earth to create bold visions of the planet through 150 color photographs culled from the American and then-Soviet archives. Commentary is provided solely by eloquent quotes from astronauts of 18 nations which are shown both in original language (be it Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese, Hindi, Mongolian, French, German, Spanish, Hungarian, Romanian, Polish, Czech, Bulgarian, Dutch, or Russian) and English translation. The message is simple--we are all citizens of the same global nation.

This superb coffee table book by Kevin W. Kelley is especially apt in this day and age, when so much in life feels precarious and precious. A simple and simply eloquent collection of photographs and quotations, it is so much more than the sum of its parts.

The astronauts who have either landed on the moon or have orbited the earth have so much to tell us and it's easy to see from the photographs why they feel words fail them. Luckily for us, words DON'T fail them. This select, small group of men and woman try mightily to tell us what their experiences were, and overwhelmingly they succeed in conveying the mystery and beauty they saw from their unique perches in space. A few of the better bits include:

"[From space] you have an almost dispassionate platform--remote, Olympian--and yet [seeing the earth from up there is] so moving that you can hardly believe how emotionally attached you are to those rough patterns shifting steadily below."
- THOMAS STAFFORD, USA

"O. Henry, the American writer, wrote in one of his stories that if you want to encourage the craft of murder, all you have to do is lock up two men for two months in an eighteen-by-twenty-four-foot room. Entering 'Salyut,' which was to be both our home and our office for six months, we told each other: We are brothers. I am you and you are me."
- VALERIE RYUMIN, USSR

"Before I flew, I was already aware of how small and vulnerable our planet is; but only when I saw it from space, in all its ineffable beauty and fragility, did I realize that humankind's most urgent task is to cherish and preserve it for future generations."
- SIGMUND JAHN, GERMANY

In no book that I can think of does the phrase "A picture is worth a thousand words" better fit. The photographs herein are astonishing in showing the exquisite planet we occupy. A view of England's North Sea coast looks like a slab of lapiz lazuli, its surface flecked with sparkle and hue. Canada's Lake Winnipeg from space has the appearance of something primal, almost fetal. The Indian Ocean off Madagascar looks like a sheet of slate over which some divine presence has tossed a handful of diamonds. So few of us can ever hope to share the experience of these men and women that this book is all the more precious, and beautiful.

Political boundaries are dissolved by a moon's-eye view of Earth to create bold visions of the planet through 150 color photographs culled from the American and then-Soviet archives. The pictures are allowed to speak for themselves, with only tiny captions describing locales and weather conditions. Commentary is provided solely by eloquent quotes from astronauts of 18 nations which are shown both in original language (be it Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese, Hindi, Mongolian, French, German, Spanish, Hungarian, Romanian, Polish, Czech, Bulgarian, Dutch, or Russian) and English translation. The message is simple--we are all citizens of the same global nation.

Conceived and edited for the Association of Space Explorers, no earthling will be unmoved by the views, both photographic and verbal, regarding our home. From desert to arctic, ocean to breadbasket, this book will delight anyone who's ever looked outside an airplane window to marvel at the forms below.

A wonderfully moving and beautifully compiled collection of images. Mountain ranges and river deltas dissolve into abstract designs of astounding beauty. The accompanying commentaries show a world united in space in a way that is sadly absent on Earth. The book would make anybody want to become an astronaut.

This is the perfect present for any occasion. It has touched the hearts of everyone I know who has ever seen it. Highly recommended.

This coffee table book presents some of the best photographs taken of the Earth and the Moon by both astronauts and cosmonauts. Due to the large size of the book, these photographs are even more stunning. In addition to the photographs, several quotes by those who have flown in space accompany each photograph.

One of things that I really liked about the book is that other than the small quotes, there is very little accompany text. The only real text is at the end of the book, where NASA's chief photographic planner describes "Why Space Photography?" I found thispart kind of chilling where he states, "it is a far more air-polluted Earth today than it was in the past ... twenty years ago"

So much has happened since this book was written. The Space Shuttle Columbia, sadly, was lost on reentry. Scaled Composites won the X-Prize. The X-prize organizers founded the Rocket Racing League (RRL). These are major power quakes in the space field. You'd think Berinstein's book would now be hopelessly out of date. Not so.

In these pages, you'll find the back story behind many of the ideas and personalities driving private space activity today. The interviews are really insightful, and the author profiles just about everybody: Buzz Aldrin, Jim Benson (whose SpaceDev built the engines for Scaled Composites's X-prize winning flights), Peter Diamandis (X-prize and RRL founder), Prof. John Lewis (asteroid expert and author of Mining the Sky), Denis Tito (first private space traveler), Robert Zubrin (author, The Case for Mars) and many more. She lets everyone tell their own story, then provides her own viewpoint, which is sometimes slightly critical (though for truly deep criticism, see Weil's "They All Laughed at Christopher Columbus" or Benjamin's "Rocket Dreams").

Berenstein does leave out a few important figures, such as hotelier Robert Bigelow and Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos. But it was not for lack of trying. Bezos is still keeping mum about his secret rocket company (Blue Origin) and Bigelow wasn't talking much about his inflatable space stations in 2002.

Berenstein's book sets the stage for today's flurry of activity in private space. If you want a good introduction to the people behind it, this is a great place to start.

"Making space happen" is for me a phrase that conjures up visions of the world as portrayed in "2001: A Space Odyssey". But of course the world portrayed in that 1968 film -- one with routine space travel -- has not come to pass. Now, 45 years beyond our first, tentative journeys into space, that situation begs the question: Why not?

Paula Berinstein's book is a valuable component of the answer to that question. One reason is that Ms. Berinstein understands business and finance. Indeed, she makes her living advising others on business ventures. For this book (her sixth), she spent three years researching the economics of such ventures as tourism in space, and interviewing many of the movers and shakers in this burgeoning, but largely unnoticed, area.

Its publication is well-timed, for today the biggest barriers to getting into space are not technical ones; they are political and economic ones. This is why business sense is the important asset. Good businessmen with an interest in space -- space entrepreneurs -- are not so common as the techies; but they do exist. This book profiles a number of them, revealing that while getting into space is no cakewalk, it need not be as difficult as the powers that be maintain. One example is the chapter on Jim Benson. He took a look at NASA's Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) mission, with its $250 million price tag, and decided it could be done a lot cheaper by the private sector. A feasibility study done in 1997 by industry experts confirmed that $25 million would do it. An order-of-magnitude cost reduction is not bad. (And note that this is with the existing stable of launch vehicles -- themselves much more expensive than they might be.)

Each chapter deals with one aspect of the problem (human health in microgravity, funding space ventures, insurance, laws, etc.) and profiles an individual or team of individuals actively working in that area. Those profiles include generous portions of the interviews with the subjects. Along with these interviews, some surprisingly candid, come cogent discussions of the relevant issues, supported where applicable by numbers. At the end of each chapter, Ms. Berinstein gives her own opinion of the facts and views just presented. These opinions reflect her admitted bias in favor of routine space travel, but are often skeptical about specific points.

Following the 20 chapters and an epilog on Dennis Tito, there are four appendices that go into greater detail about space tourism market issues, market surveys, regulatory issues, and propulsion. A bibliography, a glossary, a biographical sketch of the author, and a very thorough index round out the book. There are also 29 color and three black-and-white plates, many from photogrpahs taken by Ms. Berinstein herself.

I'd say this very readable book is a worthwhile introduction to some people who, relatively obscure today, might be making us all sit up and take notice in just a few years.

This is a good survey book for getting up to speed on what's happening in private space development. It's quite exciting to see all the different activities currently happening with private space.

Berinstein covers many different bases. She talks to people inside and outside of NASA and the aerospace establishment, and people from countries other than the US and Russia. She covers politics, with Charles Miller's Prospace organization. She discusses a wide variety of private space efforts, including the Space Frontier Foundation, the Mars and Moon societies, Applied Space Resources, and Spacedev. She also delves into less technical subjects such as ethics, philosophy and property rights.

Some of the most interesting parts of the book are on the history of private space through the post-Apollo letdown of the 70's and 80's. Some recent successes have been many years in the making, in particular NASA's recent friendliness to private space.

It's also fascinating to see the personal histories of space activists. Knowing what Peter Diamandis, Rick Tumlinson, Jim Benson and others have been up to for the last 10 or 20 years makes them all the more interesting, and in some cases inspiring.

My only qualm with the book would be that Berinstein sometimes gets off on tangents, or poses lots of open-ended questions. She does a fairly detailed analysis showing that women are underrepresented in space, and technical fields in general. An important subject, but this is hardly news, and it seemed to distract from the focus of the book.

As of Jan 2005, the book has become somewhat dated. Sometimes in pleasant ways, as with Scaled Composites' X prize win. I'm also unable to find any current info on google about Applied Space Resources, a company featured prominently in the book.

Aside from a couple minor qualms, this is an expansive book, one that makes it easy to get excited about the opportunities for private space. A good jumping-off point for getting more involved in this area.

Making Space Happen fills an important void in the dialog and literature on space exploration, exploitation and the future. Reading the visions and realizing how much is underway to achieve dramatic new breakthroughs is exhilarating. Telling these stories by bringing the cast of characters from out of the mainstream fully into the discussion provides many new insights -- and with solid credibility.

I learned an awful lot about some important and exciting initiatives I'd not been aware of -- though I consider myself a fairly serious student of space development and space issues. My assessment is that the two segments of the space industry -- the mainstream and these entrepreneurs in the Making Space Happen story -- have significant voids in their understanding of one another. This book can address one side of that imbalance -- if it is embraced by the mainstream.

I am impressed with how Paula Berninstein has been able to jump into such a complex field as space and in a very short time, capture so broadly and comprehensively the essence of today's challenges in space exploration. It's not that governments -- and particularly the U.S. -- have not "made space happen" in the past 4-5 decades nor realistically that governments ever will be out of the equation. However, her marvelous research and presentation has reinforced my firm conviction that it will ultimately be the private sector lead by entrepreneurs who, through space exploitation, will force the acceleration of space activities and bring the benefits of space finally back down to Earth in a substantial way.

Paula has taken a segment of the rapidly growing space industry that has been largely ignored by all the space "high-rollers" and put it on the map. It's disappointed me in the past to see senior "aerospace industry leaders" ignore and even belittle the creative thinkers and free-spirits who are suggesting unconventional approaches to long-standing space challenges. If these leaders had all the answers, the challenges would not remain so fundamental as high costs of getting to space and generating healthy return on investments -- from other than public coffers. NASA and the aerospace industry personify the bureaucratic approach to space exploration and real breakthroughs and progress will only come with the high-risk, creative directions such as those she's chosen to describe in this book.

Tom Rogers, for example, is one of the best thinkers of our time with regard to space tourism and the potential impact this new industry can have on our capability to get to space. He also has been justifiably critical of how the billions in public resources have been applied to advancing human presence in space. For this, he has not been well received by the establishment. Well, the establishment and all thinking people need to hear what Tom Rogers and the others in this very informative book have to say -- and moreover what they are actually doing to change the future. Then maybe the two segments of the space business will figure out how to cooperate and together make the next great leaps in space really happen.

This is a great book for long time space enthusiasts as well as those who have just caught the space bug.

This isn't a book about NASA or its programs, though she does discuss them. This is about private citizens who are trying to make space accessible to you and me.

She brings most of the players (individuals and organizations) into this book and what the current burning issues are. There are some people that I wish she would put into the book but this is a very minor quibble.

Her book is an easy read. It doesn't get bogged down in technobabble. She lets the people profiled in this speak themselves through long interviews.

The statistics and data she presents are well placed thus not becoming a distraction or interrupting the flow of reading the book.

There are some people that I didn't know even though I keep up to date on private endeavors. She also brings people in other countries who are involved in private space efforts which is good. We need to know more about what's going on in other nations and what their attitudes are regarding private space efforts and opinions on space generally.

This is a very informative book. She's fair and balance presenting the pros and cons of what it takes for private citizens to get into space.

She presents her opinions at the end of most chapters in a section clearly highlighted as opinion. Her book has helped me crystallized some half form opinions about some of the individuals and organizations that are involved in private space efforts.

If you're interested in who's making things happen space for us and what their technology, plans, and goals are, this is the book.

Good job, Paula!

This is a preliminary review, as I've read only 10% of it so far (probably will edit comments later). However, I already share the excitement and extravagant praise that other reviewers have expressed. Giving it 5 stars immediately.

Witt's style combines deep background in surprisingly relevant fields like set theory, with relentless clarity and logic, and touches of humor. As he says in the preface, it is not necessarily easy reading, but it is well written and very accessible to educated people. (Some prior familiarity with cosmological concepts, quantum mechanics, and set theory is helpful but not essential.)

Every couple of pages another bright conceptual comet flares across the page. There are disarmingly "cute" phrases such as "points are cheap; space is big" that, in context (this book is ALL about context -- context is everything!) will stagger the imagination.

For as long as I can remember, certainly since childhood, I have been fascinated and confounded by conservation of angular momentum. To me there is no greater mystery in Nature than the ballerina speeding up when she folds in her arms, or the gyroscope that resists axis change. The previous most satisfying (not very) explanation I ran across was Mach's ("In the grip of the distant Universe"). But Witt says "Existence is contextual" -- and really nails it. Of course, you have to read the book to understand the context of that remark -- how appropriate! ;-)

Thank you so much, Mr. Witt, for at last elucidating this enigma for me!

You'll also get theological insights from this, although Witt doesn't express those directly. Comparisons to Genesis stirred in me. If you have ever wanted to sit and watch God creating the Universe out of the Void, this is as close a ringside seat as you are ever likely to get. It is a very deep narrative, indeed.

The vast majority believe in the Big Bang theory, that it is the best explanation of how the universe came into being and there is so much empirical evidence to support it. Now, along comes a book which turns everything on its head and gives a totally different explanation and interpretation of the evidence. My faith on this subject has been shattered but rebuilt, with amazing possibilities and new ideas. It is the most important and influential book I have read in a very long time. I love the logical sequence and simplicity of ideas. It just 'feels' right.

Our Undiscovered Universe: Introducing Null Physics: The Science of Uniform and Unconditional Reality
The book Our Undiscovered Universe is a well documented analysis of physical reality from Micro reality to Macro reality. The equations and theories are impressive. The charts and graphs are good visual aids for undertanding the relationship of various elements of reality being considered. The photographs are spectacular. The general conclusions are well written and understandable. Reading Mr. Witt's book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the reality in which they exist.

I have been reading science books for 30 years in my continuous quest to understand the mysteries of science and nature. The "Our Undiscovered Universe" advertisements claimed to have answers to the most perplexing questions that have baffled scientists for hundreds of years. After reviewing website material that further substantiated the concept of Null Physics, I bought the book for a detailed explanation.

It is the best book I have ever read! The text's adherence to scientific principles should set a new standard for science writing. The sections on Null Physics are profoundly insightful and set the stage for the astounding section on Cosmology.

Mr. Witt's text is loaded with one remarkable theory after another. The logical integration of these theories into the Null Axiom, providing a complete explanation of the universe is Genius in its highest form. The author does a most thorough job of presenting all aspects of what constitutes Reality. With Mr. Witt's precise explanations, it is easy to adopt his realization that there can be no other explanation for the Universe. After understanding "OUU" the Big Bang Theory will seem ridiculous.

This book will mark the beginning of a new age in science. It very well could be the most important book ever written.

Jim Grantz
Science Enthusiast

Understanding the universe beginning with Ptolemy, gave us the belief that the earth was the center of the universe. With Copernicus, that the sun was the center of the universe. We then believed that all the stars were contained in the galaxy. With Einstein and Hubble our concept was that we are not the center of anything, that there is no center to the universe. Our Undiscovered Universe gives us a new platform in which we need to reassess the universe. There was never a Big Bang because there was no "bang", only a big event that continues to unfold from beginning to end in our expanding universe. The book, although it is said that it is easy reading, it is a great help to have some knowledge and information whether it be amateur or professional to better understand the book. I highly recommend Our Undiscovered Universe, which I believe will take its place in another step in understanding our place in the universe. We may find out that the universe is one of many in parallel universes, and still we may discover that there is no center. This might best describe our definition of what we conceive as God.

The dictionary definition of `odyssey' is a `long adventurous journey. This single word aptly describes the immense effort that went into the quest for a deeper understanding of the `workings' of nature and what makes up the range of particles that define our universe.

This book competently describes that journey, outlining the `voyage' into the heart of matter, not only into the atom to study the protons, neutrons and electrons that make up what were once thought to be the ultimate `building blocks' of nature, but then going deeper into the `world' of quarks, which we now know are much more fundamental. These, together with leptons (which include electrons) make up all the particles found in nature.

These particles of ordinary matter, i.e. protons, neutrons and electrons are only part of the story. There are myriads of short lived particles that are seen in mesons or generated in particle colliders such as the super proton synchroton at CERN in Switzerland. To make sense of it all, in the form of the Standard Model, is an achievement beyond compare. The Particle Odyssey describes this achievement in an easy free flowing style, and with beautiful, and magnificently descriptive photographs and illustrations.

The work of delving into, and deciphering the inner workings of nature is a tribute to human ingenuity and inventiveness. If a person would like to get to know the people involved, the machines they used, the results they found, and the conclusions they drew, during this gargantuan task, then look no further than this book.

The Particle Odyssey (2002) by Oxford University Press has few, if any peers: an oversized book (a little under 12 by 9 inches) suitable for display on a coffee table, filled with fascinating photos, and yet one that will appeal not only to the enthusiastic layman but even to undergraduate physics majors.

The Particle Odyssey is an excellent introductory overview of particle physics from the unexpected discoveries in the 1890s of electrons, x-rays, and radioactivity to the meticulously planned, large scale experiments in the mid-1980s that detected the W and Z particles (thereby confirming the Standard Model). Furthermore, the three authors - Frank Close, Michael Marten, and Christine Sutton - offer a lucid, intriguing overview of major challenges now facing particle physicists as they continue to unravel the fine structure of matter, and as they join forces with cosmologists to explore the moment of creation.

Even numbered chapters generally focus on the researchers and their massive machines. Odd numbered chapters describe the subatomic particles. Surprisingly, this unusual even-odd arrangement works quite well.

The Particle Odyssey, despite its abundant photos and diagrams, does require careful reading. The reader encounters neutrinos, muons, pions (pi-zero, pi-plus, pi-minus), kaons (K-zero, K-plus, K-minus), J/PSI, D (D-zero, D-plus), upsilon, lambda, sigma (sigma-zero, sigma-plus, sigma-minus), xi (xi-minus, xi-zero), omega minus, and charmed lambda. And don't forget, there is an antiparticle for every particle. There are also various resonance states for many particles.

The three authors (Close, Marten, and Sutton) published an earlier edition, titled The Particle Explosion, in 1987. This new edition, The Particle Odyssey (2002), has two major advantages: one, the material has been updated to cover the years 1987-2002 and two, the graphics are even better.

Recommendation: For a more technical look at the standard model, Deep Down Things (John Hopkins Press, 2004) by Bruce A. Schumm is quite good.

Rarely does a scientific book achieve the successful balance of well-written content and lavish, relevant illustration. The Particle Odessey sets a new standard for popular scientific books. The historical overview of particle physics tell the stories with tantilizing detail without distraction. The photos generously embellish the storyline and in many cases, are astonishing to say the least. This book deserves prominent display on your bookshelf and would be a great gift to the science buff looking for a great read. One of the best books in popular science available...

I've always been fascinated with the large and small extremes of physics and while on the cosmological scale there's a surplus of visually enchanting material there hasn't been as much when it comes to physics on the particle level. This book fills that demand.
Tracking the advances made in particle physics over the last century, the book includes beatiful images illustrating what the scientists of the time saw and the equipment they used. All of this is clearly and simply explained. The difficulty level of the book increases as it progresses through each new discovery which is to be expected as the underlying physics and detection methods became more complex as well. Still, to someone with an interest in science and will to learn this is a great introduction to a mysterious world.

Can you imagine a coffee table picture book on particle physics?

That's what this is, and it's beautiful.

Particle physics began in the 1890's, when the early experiments of Thomson discovered the electron. Things moved slowly, the proton during the teens's. The newtron and several other particles in the 1930's. And that's basically where physics was when I got my physics degree more years ago than I like to remember.

Then beginning in the late 1960's the world of particle physics exploded. There are more than three dozen known particles. New theories about the formation of the universe have come about. What happened at the big bang, what particles existed in the first few nanoseconds? The development of testing machines undreamed of not so many years ago have begun to answer some of these questions.

The title of this book is well chosen. It has been an odyssey. To the outsider, not working in particle physics, it has been mysterious. Newly discovered particles with names like quark, newly discovered attributes like charm, color, and strange have made it impossible to keep abreast of the developments.

Here in one easy to read, beautifully illustrated and rather short book is the whole story laid out in a way that conveys just what you want to know.