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Mirror Earth: The Search for Our Planet's Twin
In the mid-1990s, astronomers made history when they began to find planets orbiting stars in the Milky Way. More than eight hundred planets have been found since then, yet none of them is anything like Earth and none could support life.
Now, armed with more powerful technology, planet hunters are racing to find a true twin of Earth. Science writer Michael Lemonick has unique access to these exoplaneteers, as they call themselves, and Mirror Earth unveils their passionate quest. Unlike competitors in other races, Geoff Marcy, Bill Borucki, David Charbonneau, Sara Seager, and others actually consult and cooperate with one another. But only one will be the first to find Earth's twin. Mirror Earth tells the story of their competition.
Now, armed with more powerful technology, planet hunters are racing to find a true twin of Earth. Science writer Michael Lemonick has unique access to these exoplaneteers, as they call themselves, and Mirror Earth unveils their passionate quest. Unlike competitors in other races, Geoff Marcy, Bill Borucki, David Charbonneau, Sara Seager, and others actually consult and cooperate with one another. But only one will be the first to find Earth's twin. Mirror Earth tells the story of their competition.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2012
13 people are currently reading
637 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 8, 2023
Read: 01092020
Edit I: 01082023
An interesting and intriguing look at the updated state of affairs in the recent advances made in locating earth like planets that are orbiting Sol-like stars within our Milky way Galaxy and the advances that lead to such breakthroughs. Awesome as of the time of publication but has become a bit dated these days with data from the beautiful JWST. Recommended.
Edit I: 01082023
An interesting and intriguing look at the updated state of affairs in the recent advances made in locating earth like planets that are orbiting Sol-like stars within our Milky way Galaxy and the advances that lead to such breakthroughs. Awesome as of the time of publication but has become a bit dated these days with data from the beautiful JWST. Recommended.
March 10, 2017
This book was recommended by Neil deGrasse Tyson so I'd just like to say 'thank you, Neil deGrasse Tyson' because this book was amazing!
The book chronicles the search for planets outside the solar system, with the ultimate goal being to find other worlds that are similar enough to Earth for us to one day colonise or, should they already be inhabited, communicate withand then colonise. If that thought doesn't excite you, you're reading the wrong review.
The author isn't a scientist himself but a science journalist. As he discusses in the first part of the book, though, his father was a scientist and he had a love of science instilled in him practically from birth. This passion for science calls out from every word. Lemonick's enthusiasm for the subject matter is thoroughly infectious; it would take an extremely curmudgeonly soul not to get swept up.
The search is followed step-by-step in a very layman-friendly way. If you're looking for the hard science, you may want to seek out other books, but if you're after a passionately told, succinct overview of this fascinating subject, look no further. I loved every minute of this book.
The book chronicles the search for planets outside the solar system, with the ultimate goal being to find other worlds that are similar enough to Earth for us to one day colonise or, should they already be inhabited, communicate with
The author isn't a scientist himself but a science journalist. As he discusses in the first part of the book, though, his father was a scientist and he had a love of science instilled in him practically from birth. This passion for science calls out from every word. Lemonick's enthusiasm for the subject matter is thoroughly infectious; it would take an extremely curmudgeonly soul not to get swept up.
The search is followed step-by-step in a very layman-friendly way. If you're looking for the hard science, you may want to seek out other books, but if you're after a passionately told, succinct overview of this fascinating subject, look no further. I loved every minute of this book.
August 29, 2020
In this amazingly detailed book of exoplanets, Michael D. Lemonick explained how scientists first found exoplanets. This is one of the best non-fiction novels I've ever read. It is about how many scientists like Bill Borucki, Geoff Marcy, Paul Butler, and many other scientists built upon each other's observations to find exoplanets.
My favorite thing about the book is that the author includes everything that related to the topic, from who found the first exoplanet to approving Kepler, all the way back from the 1960s. He explained each step of the process, how each person made a discovery, then another built upon that idea in a clear chronological order. For example, Dave Latham helped confirm the planet around the star HD 114762 that Geoff Marcy had introduced. They used a technique called "radial velocity", which sounded quite complex and intimidating when I first heard it used. However, the author did a really good job explaining each of these unknown terms. He also included many first-person quotes from the contributing scientists.
Lemonick went on to show how the launch of Kepler was made. The space satellite was a huge step forward in the exploration of exoplanets because it could find multiple candidate stars and map each transit of the planet. But getting it approved and funded by NASA was a pain. Lemonick pointed out each obstacle in that painful process and also how the scientists worked together to solve those problems. Eventually, they got the satellite approved after more than a decade, but it paid off. I liked this book because it was about space and that's always interesting. I would recommend this book to people who would like to know how exoplanets became a thing.
My favorite thing about the book is that the author includes everything that related to the topic, from who found the first exoplanet to approving Kepler, all the way back from the 1960s. He explained each step of the process, how each person made a discovery, then another built upon that idea in a clear chronological order. For example, Dave Latham helped confirm the planet around the star HD 114762 that Geoff Marcy had introduced. They used a technique called "radial velocity", which sounded quite complex and intimidating when I first heard it used. However, the author did a really good job explaining each of these unknown terms. He also included many first-person quotes from the contributing scientists.
Lemonick went on to show how the launch of Kepler was made. The space satellite was a huge step forward in the exploration of exoplanets because it could find multiple candidate stars and map each transit of the planet. But getting it approved and funded by NASA was a pain. Lemonick pointed out each obstacle in that painful process and also how the scientists worked together to solve those problems. Eventually, they got the satellite approved after more than a decade, but it paid off. I liked this book because it was about space and that's always interesting. I would recommend this book to people who would like to know how exoplanets became a thing.
July 24, 2013
The search for a 2nd Earth is something that is almost a fundamental question that will help we humans answer the question "Are we alone in the universe?" & with the 1995 discovery of the planet around 51 Pegasi it opened up a whole new era in astronomy in the field of exoplanetology. In "Mirror Earth: The Search for Our Planet's Twin", Michael D. Lemonick describes the steps & history of this new field of study from the beginning concepts of who scientists were beginning to look for other planets through the launch of the Kepler telescope in 2009. In relatively layman's terms, each chapter explores the questions that were asked about the formation of Hot Jupiters & Neptunes as well as the Super Earths that were formed. There's an excitement each chapter as every new discovery is made & also a curiosity that comes out very well as the questions about just how many planets are out there. As of the books writing in 2012, while we still haven't found a mirror Earth, Lemonick does list other projects by NASA that hopefully if funded will get us closer to doing what Kepler set out to do as we in leaps & bounds get closer to realizing that we may not be alone & that planets such as this pretty blue marble we call Earth are very common.
March 21, 2020
This book was published in 2012.
That said, this book is a great history of the search for exoplanets, with an emphasis on finding those that have the potential to have living organisms on them.
I look forward to Mr. Lemonick's sequel to this book.
That said, this book is a great history of the search for exoplanets, with an emphasis on finding those that have the potential to have living organisms on them.
I look forward to Mr. Lemonick's sequel to this book.
November 7, 2022
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This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2013
A good work of science journalism. Lemonick introduces us to the major figures currently searching for exoplanets, clearly explains the technologies they have devised to aid in their efforts, and summarizes what was found as of late 2012 or so. This is a rapidly moving field, and during the week that I was reading this book a couple of major announcements were made on new findings. As I read news reports I saw quotes from some of the same people Lemonick had profiled, and thanks to his eloquent writing, I felt almost as if I had been spending time with them myself, shared a bit of their excitement, and found myself cheering for them.
He has written a very human story about the quest for life far beyond our planet. Nothing, however, could be more human than the desire to learn what is presently unknown, and to realize that whatever it is, it will be far different from anything we have imagined, and far more fascinating. It will also blow our preconceptions, just as the exoplanet discoveries have, and provoke ever more questions.
He has written a very human story about the quest for life far beyond our planet. Nothing, however, could be more human than the desire to learn what is presently unknown, and to realize that whatever it is, it will be far different from anything we have imagined, and far more fascinating. It will also blow our preconceptions, just as the exoplanet discoveries have, and provoke ever more questions.
November 24, 2014
I checked this book out from the library because I have an interest in exoplanets, and this book delivers! In this book, Michael D. Lemonick tells the history of the search for exoplanets, and will remain relevant into the future, regardless of how many more exoplanets are discovered. And even though it's a history of the search for worlds around other stars, it still contains good scientific information about those exoplanets that have been discovered up to the time of this book's publication.
I found this book very readable. The author does a great job of explaining things in language that is easily understood by laypeople, and also includes vignettes of some of the key scientists who have been involved in the search for exoplanets, which adds a very personal touch to this story. I would recommend this book to anyone who's interested in exoplanets, or to anyone who is interested in books that trace the history of science.
I found this book very readable. The author does a great job of explaining things in language that is easily understood by laypeople, and also includes vignettes of some of the key scientists who have been involved in the search for exoplanets, which adds a very personal touch to this story. I would recommend this book to anyone who's interested in exoplanets, or to anyone who is interested in books that trace the history of science.
January 29, 2013
Lemonick's book MIRROR EARTH, describes and analyzes the idea if we found a planet similar to planet earth. Lemonick writes with honesty and compassion about his experieces growing up and looking out of the stars wondering what law beyond. Lemonick also incorporates a lot of factual information with a lot of personal information about what it would be like to discover a "Mirror Earth." Overall i enjoyed the book, but at times Lemonick would go off topic and present ideas that were not related to his thesis. I recommend this book to readers who are curious about both reading someones lifetime story and learning astronomy and science.
October 1, 2015
So I came into this book wondering, 'Okay, even if we can infer planets similar to Earth that are 'mere' light years away, what will that ultimately mean?'. Turns out, nope, even though we might be able to 'find' them (keep in mind we're not photographing them directly), we're no better off than we were; communicating with these planets (assuming there's life capable of communicating) is a multi-year process, and travel to them is out of the question. So....
December 13, 2013
Very interesting coverage of the hunt for planets in the milky way around other stars that has taken place over the last two decades. In that time period science has gone from no known exo-planets, as they are called, to thousands at present. The hunt now is focusing on finding earth-like planets that could harbor life. A key element in the search is the Kepler satellite which is featured in this history of the search.
February 16, 2013
(read 2/14/2013) This book traces the history of the field of planet hunters. Fascinating if you are interested in the possibility of other worlds in the Milky Way. The way it sounds, there may be more than we realize.
May 14, 2013
Lemonick is fantastic at explaining complicated processes in an easy and engaging style. It shows in this work on the history of "planet hunting". I learned a lot about the culture of astronomers as well as the qualities of 'habitable' planets.
July 10, 2013
Well explained update for those interested in astronomy, a good insight to how current mehtodology will continue to expand over the next few decades
January 27, 2014
Well written tale of the work done by numerous astronomers. A bit of knowledge of astronomy would be helpful although not absolutely required
March 12, 2014
The book is a mix of astrophysics and human interest stories about scientists, and I'm not completely sure it works on either level.
Read
November 12, 2012Think this is a vanity book.
June 1, 2014
Interesting book about the history of the search for planets outside the solar system.
Read
March 28, 2017A good introduction about the process of finding exiplanets. Easy to read, probably could use a bit technical information
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews