Worlds on Fire: Volcanoes on the Earth, the Moon, Mars, Venus and Io

by Charles Frankel

Anyone who has ever thought that volcanoes and volcanism were restricted to the planet Earth should open any page of this book to discover that some of the most spectacular explosions in the Solar System are not occurring close to home. Charles Frankel provides a detailed tour that describes such volcanic landmarks as the Moon's Aristarchus plateau, Mars' tallest volcano Olympus Mons, the double-cratered Sapas Mons on Venus, and the churning lava lake of Io's Pele caldera. Illustrated with the most recent imagery from spacecraft, his volume introduces the reader to the wonders and excitement of space exploration. Charles Frankel has written on various topics in the earth sciences, including the following two of his many books: Volcanoes of the Solar System (Cambridge, 1996) and The End of Dinosaurs (Cambridge, 1999).

Genres: Science

384 pages, Hardcover

First published March 12, 2004

Reviews

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to volcanism in our solar system. Utilizes our home planet to familiarize the reader with basic jargon and terrestrial examples, then methodically proceeds from our moon onwards to Mars, Venus, and Io. Weaves a fantastic mix of fact and scientific speculation in his proposed field trips of the terrestrial bodies. Brought some facts forth about Venus and Io that this geology enthusiast had over looked. Highly recommend.