Beyond Jupiter: The Story of Planetary Astronomer Heidi Hammel

by Fred Bortz

Heidi Hammel is an out-of-this world explorer. With her feet planted firmly on Earth, she takes trips millions of miles out into space. How does she do this? Heidi Hammel is a planetary astronomer, a scientist who uses the world's most powerful telescopes to learn about planets. By making remarkable discoveries in the farthest reaches of our solar system, Heidi also helps us better understand the planet we call home. The giant planets Neptune and Uranus are Heidi's specialties. She was on the team that first spotted Neptune's Great Dark Spot, a raging storm as big as Earth. Heidi also led a team of astronomers tracking the Great Comet Crash, a spectacular event in which a fragmented comet pounded Jupiter for an entire week. There's no telling what Heidi will find when she peers into a telescope. That's what makes her work exciting. Beyond Jupiter is the fascinating story of a scientist and her science. To tell this true tale of adventure, author Fred Bortz draws on firsthand accounts from Heidi and her friends, family, and colleagues. How did a down-to-earth girl grow up to be one of the world's most highly respected astronomers? The life story of Heidi Hammel will intrigue and inspire readers of all ages. This title aligns to Common Core Interest Level Grades 6 - 8; Reading Level Grade level 7.1: Lexile 1080L; Not Available; Guided Z

Genres: Biography, Astronomy, Womens, Science

128 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2005

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW OF THE 2005 EDTION (OPEN LIBRARY)

With his 2005 junior STEM biography Beyond Jupiter: The Story of Planetary Astronomer Heidi Hammel, Fred Bortz engagingly, enlighteningly (but also nicely easy to understand, with not too much scientific jargon being used even when Bortz is explaining necessary and important astronomy details to help explain Dr. Hammel's work, so that Beyond Jupiter: The Story of Planetary Astronomer Heidi Hammel is suitable for readers from about the age of eleven or so onwards, therefore for both young and also for older readers) showcases not only American planetary astronomer Heidi Hammel's life but also how Dr. Hammel has specialised mainly in the exploration and study of the outer planets of the solar system (especially Uranus and Neptune) albeit she also was the team leader for the Hubble Space Telescope observations of the so-called Great Comet Crash of 1994 (when Shoemaker-Levy 9 ploughed into Jupiter) as well as Fred Bortz pointing out how Heidi Hammel spends a considerable amount of time as a science communicator as well (that Dr. Hammel does not just sit in self-absorbed academic isolation in an ivory tower but with speeches, stories etc. strives to get the general public interested in astronomy, in planetary science, something which I personally do find both laudable and also a huge service to and for humanity in general).

And yes, with regard to Heidi Hammel's life, this is indeed being featured warts and all so to speak in Beyond Jupiter: The Story of Planetary Astronomer Heidi Hammel as Bortz tells his readers not only about Dr. Hammel's triumphs but also about her struggles, such as for example her father's losing battle with alcoholism, how Heidi Hammel was originally told she could not attend MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) because her family did not have sufficient financial resources, that while struggling with physics courses at MIT Dr. Hammel became interested in astronomy and after a bachelor degree from MIT in earth and planetary science, Dr. Hammel then went on to get a Ph.D. in astronomy and physics from the University of Hawaii (and that while of course Beyond Jupiter: The Story of Planetary Astronomer Heidi Hammel first and foremost focusses on Heidi Hammer the astronomer and planetary scientist, Fred Bortz also points out that Dr. Hammel is not some one subject nerd or savant, that aside from being a scientist, Dr. Hammel is also a musician, a dedicated Grateful Dead fan and a wife and mother of three children).

Highly and warmly recommended is Beyond Jupiter: The Story of Planetary Astronomer Heidi Hammel, nicely informative as well as being encouraging regarding careers in astronomy (basically for everyone, since Bortz' text is also presented with total equality and no gender related issues). And although the included timeline, glossary and bibliographies are very much appreciated, I do have to leave the caveat that with its 2005 publication date Beyond Jupiter: The Story of Planetary Astronomer Heidi Hammel is of course not contemporary with regard to both the featured supplemental sources (including the online ones) and also current astronomy (so that if using Beyond Jupiter: The Story of Planetary Astronomer Heidi Hammel with younger readers, yes, in Beyond Jupiter: The Story of Planetary Astronomer Heidi Hammel Pluto is still considered to be the ninth planet of the solar system, since the demotion of Pluto from planet to dwarf planet happened in 2008 and thus three years after Fred Bortz penned Beyond Jupiter: The Story of Planetary Astronomer Heidi Hammel).

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent biography series that could complement the Science in the field series that I consider the best science nonfiction series at the moment for youth. The series is called Women's Adventures in Science and is one I do not believe the city system has. I'll have to check for more titles in both county and city. To get to this specific title, Heidi Hammel is a astrophysicist, or as the subtitle states, the story of a planetary astronomer, who is primarily interested in Neptune and Uranus. But that doesn't keep her from wandering off track to take on projects with Jupiter, etc. She is a Dreadful Dead fan and chooses her science projects not by what it will do for her career but how interesting it is to her personally. What I love is that the title gives kids a decent idea what a scientist actually does, although, to be fair, it does not discuss the weeks and weeks of working with the data, just the collection of the data. Nonetheless, it does state that one night of observation can lead to weeks and weeks of work. Heidi was involved in collecting data on the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet and it's collision with Jupiter. She communicated the excitement and interest of this event so well to the public that she became well known both to the public and to scientists in her field. This title was published in 2005 and obviously, science and Ms. Hammel have moved on since then. But that doesn't matter in that the real purpose is to give girls the idea that women belong in science and what is involved in becoming one and what a scientist might do. I'll be looking for more titles in this series!

[Ruhama · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beyond Jupiter

In this biography called Beyond Jupiter, a planetary astronomer named Heidi Hammel- who’s main project is on the two ice giants Neptune and Uranus, it at talks about Heidi’s background, what amazed her to be a planetary astronomer and a lot about Neptune and Uranus. Even with the troubles she’s had with an alcoholic father and with the immense amount of pressure of keeping all her troubles to herself, she manages to break free-sort of- and get her life straight with the help of her mom and music.
As a child, she hasn’t been very close with her dad. In fact the only time she felt really close to him was when he was on a business trip in Thailand. And that way only through his constant e-mails and his postcards that often involved cool gifts. After a while though, her dad was incredibly stressed from his job that he started depending on alcohol to soothe him. He died from overdose of medications and alcohol when Heidi was one year into the University of Hawaii. By then, Heidi was already the assistant of her Astronomy teacher. This book has really guided me and helped me prepare my future years in school and university and whatever comes next. It’s been so helpful that I will share a quote with you to show you what I mean. Page 95-last page of the book- says the following: “ The secret to success is recognizing opportunity facing the challenges that it brings and going for it-for sure”. As a teenager, I have chosen Heidi to be my new role model. Read this fascinating book to find out why this book means a lot to me.
I would greatly recommend this book to all the future-astronomers or anyone who is involved in science. Do you think, Heidi will survive her life or get tossed out of it.

[Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book Beyond Jupiter: The Story Of Planetary Astronomer Heidi Hammel, is a biography about an astrophysicist who mainly studies Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. This book is very interesting and exciting because it contains information that I didn't know and also because I am interested in science and planets. This book also is very detailed which makes it interesting and exciting. Although Heidi is an astrophysicist, meaning she studies planets, the most interesting ones to her are Uranus and Neptune. I recommend this book to all who enjoy science, planets, and space.

[Alfajirikali · Rating 2 out of 5]

When Heidi was in middle school her friend broke her arm, and Heidi felt responsible as the accident happened at her house. So, during that summer she made sure her friend wasn't bored. They played lots and lots of board games. For fun, they made charts and graphs of the monetary distribution (they both enjoyed math) for the games and made up games of their own.

[Stven · Rating 1 out of 5]

Amateurishly written life story of an interesting person who has accomplished some admirable things in 21st century astronomy. The writer treats the reader as ignorant and uninterested about science and never goes into the kind of detail that would make the narrative sensible. Poor organization. Bad writing. Dr. Hammel deserves better.