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Mars Uncovering the Secrets of the Red
"National Geographic presented a state-of-the-art report on the planet itself, the technology that allows us to explore it, and the prospects for further exciting discoveries. Highlighted by an astonishing collection of more than 125 full-color photographs, MARS includes a stunning 3-dimensional, 8-page panoramic gatefold with images that capture the genuine wonder of discovery at the Pathfinder landing site.
Hardcover
First published June 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 24, 2024
Worth it just for the photos, but packed full of good information. I graduated High School with Matt Golombek; he was a really good guy.
August 3, 2020
This book is OK as far as it goes, even though it's only a limited look at the portions of reality that don't collide with any old beliefs about history or about what could possibly be on Mars. It has some nice photos and information about how some missions were carried out. The really interesting discoveries or clues that this book fails to mention entirely include the things scattered all over that look like scraps of machinery in a junkyard, the thing on the side of a boulder that looked like a crinoid fossil, the infrared imaging that has revealed repeating patterns full of rectilinear geometry hidden under the surface, the constellation of mounds illustrating sophisticated geometry, details about exactly how more recent photos of the "face" were altered and how that made the thing look far more natural, the last minute inspection of a probe that was about to be launched to Mars when it was discovered that a deliberate act of sabotage had been carried out (vaseline smeared all over an important camera lens), and the comprehensive confession and explanation of the motives for such cover ups found in the infamous "Brookings Report". Considering how well educated the author is, this book's shortcomings could only have been deliberate. But some very powerful forces include peer pressure, towing the party line for the sake of career advancement and paranoia about
the far reaching implications of the public questioning what they've been told for a long time by authority figures. Vastly more enlightening books include the ones my Richard Hoagland and Mike Bara, as well as the images that Rami Bar Ilan has been bringing to the public via Facebook.
the far reaching implications of the public questioning what they've been told for a long time by authority figures. Vastly more enlightening books include the ones my Richard Hoagland and Mike Bara, as well as the images that Rami Bar Ilan has been bringing to the public via Facebook.
July 16, 2021
A great book on Mars that covers the science and history of our knowledge of the red planet, up through the Mars Pathfinder mission. While a bit dated, there is still a lot of great information, as well as pictures, maps and scientific explanations of what we know about Mars, and how we learned this through observation and mission to the planet. A National Geographic book, you really can't go wrong. However, I am going to have to fill in the gap of 25 years or so since this book came out. Recommended.
December 6, 2017
Engaging, with plenty of pictorial eye-candy.
August 2, 2024
I was more interested in the photos of Mars than the actual text so I just flipped through the pictures. So as a photo book, I give it a 10/10
June 12, 2013
Mars: Uncovering the Secrets of the Red Planet, by Paul Raeburn, foreword and commentary by Matt Golombek. National Geographic Society, 1998.
Yogi and Barnacle Bill are names for rocks on Mars. They are on the surface of a planet, which has proved to hold a fascination for the potential for life as we know it. In the book is to be found mention of ancient mythology pertaining to Mars, Percival Lowell is shown at the telescope, and Orson Welles is seen at the microphone. But the text is mostly about two NASA missions to Mars, Viking and Pathfinder.
The two already mentioned rocks were named after Pathfinder established itself on Mars. It has been estimated that to fully explore Mars will take centuries. Those two rocks may be long forgotten decades from now. More NASA missions to Mars are planned for 2001,2003,2005, and beyond. Those two rocks and the other named ones in the Pathfinder locale rest on the last of the terrestrial planets. It has seasons, huge dust storms, an atmosphere, sand dunes in abundance, and polar caps. Most now think it once had flowing water, lots of water. Life too? Maybe once. Maybe now. If they are to be found by us, Martians could be microbe-like under the surface.
There is no doubt about Yogi and Barnacle Bill. They are there on the surface. They have brethren here on earth. Twelve rocks have visited us. Some of these SNC meteorites were found in France, India, and Brazil. They were blasted from Mars and eventually fell to earth. Of these, the Allan Hills (Antarctica) rock from Mars shows possible life in its innards. It is not instantly recognized as our life but maybe a life.
If Yogi and Barnacle Bill could talk, would they know of the cratered face of Mars that Mariner 4 first conclusively showed? Mariner 6 and 7 got closer with better cameras. Ammonia and methane were found near the poles. Then would the rocks prefer to comment on Mariner 9's gigantic volcanoes and vast canyons?
Would these two rocks wonder what is the hubbub about life? Presumably these rocks have not been of the living. So what's the big deal about flying cheaper to Mars with the most onboard computer power ever? A non-standard project team put together the Pathfinder mission. A great deal of how the Viking people 21 years before had accomplished their tasks had been forgotten or hard to find.
So lookout Yogi and B Bill, here comes Pathfinder, bouncing along the surface in your rocky backyard. Not like Viking or the moon mission, but coming faster on a flatter trajectory. Pathfinder was surrounded by inflated bags and once Pathfinder stopped bouncing along, the bags deflated and Pathfinder folded down and there's Yogi and Bill. They were found to be there because two and one half years went into selecting a site above which Pathfinder would have 55 seconds left to go, latitude to power the solar cells, and with radar not disappearing into dust. If we could get Yogi and Bill back here, they would probably now be worth more than Pathfinder cost. As it is, Pathfinder was cheaper to fly than "Titanic" was to film.
For a time, an hour and a half before landing, if it hadn't been for fill bits named Jordan Kaplan in the regular reports Pathfinder sent, Yogi and Bill would be nameless. Valves on Pathfinder weren't operating properly, which version of the craft's software was being used? The Pathfinder team needed to know the correct version to correctly communicate with the spacecraft. The correct one contained Mr. Kaplan's name. Did it say Kaplan? Yes it did. Then Yogi and Bill were to come into existence.
The stunning photos make this a book to have. The text intervenes at times, but it covers the main points well enough.
Yogi and Barnacle Bill are names for rocks on Mars. They are on the surface of a planet, which has proved to hold a fascination for the potential for life as we know it. In the book is to be found mention of ancient mythology pertaining to Mars, Percival Lowell is shown at the telescope, and Orson Welles is seen at the microphone. But the text is mostly about two NASA missions to Mars, Viking and Pathfinder.
The two already mentioned rocks were named after Pathfinder established itself on Mars. It has been estimated that to fully explore Mars will take centuries. Those two rocks may be long forgotten decades from now. More NASA missions to Mars are planned for 2001,2003,2005, and beyond. Those two rocks and the other named ones in the Pathfinder locale rest on the last of the terrestrial planets. It has seasons, huge dust storms, an atmosphere, sand dunes in abundance, and polar caps. Most now think it once had flowing water, lots of water. Life too? Maybe once. Maybe now. If they are to be found by us, Martians could be microbe-like under the surface.
There is no doubt about Yogi and Barnacle Bill. They are there on the surface. They have brethren here on earth. Twelve rocks have visited us. Some of these SNC meteorites were found in France, India, and Brazil. They were blasted from Mars and eventually fell to earth. Of these, the Allan Hills (Antarctica) rock from Mars shows possible life in its innards. It is not instantly recognized as our life but maybe a life.
If Yogi and Barnacle Bill could talk, would they know of the cratered face of Mars that Mariner 4 first conclusively showed? Mariner 6 and 7 got closer with better cameras. Ammonia and methane were found near the poles. Then would the rocks prefer to comment on Mariner 9's gigantic volcanoes and vast canyons?
Would these two rocks wonder what is the hubbub about life? Presumably these rocks have not been of the living. So what's the big deal about flying cheaper to Mars with the most onboard computer power ever? A non-standard project team put together the Pathfinder mission. A great deal of how the Viking people 21 years before had accomplished their tasks had been forgotten or hard to find.
So lookout Yogi and B Bill, here comes Pathfinder, bouncing along the surface in your rocky backyard. Not like Viking or the moon mission, but coming faster on a flatter trajectory. Pathfinder was surrounded by inflated bags and once Pathfinder stopped bouncing along, the bags deflated and Pathfinder folded down and there's Yogi and Bill. They were found to be there because two and one half years went into selecting a site above which Pathfinder would have 55 seconds left to go, latitude to power the solar cells, and with radar not disappearing into dust. If we could get Yogi and Bill back here, they would probably now be worth more than Pathfinder cost. As it is, Pathfinder was cheaper to fly than "Titanic" was to film.
For a time, an hour and a half before landing, if it hadn't been for fill bits named Jordan Kaplan in the regular reports Pathfinder sent, Yogi and Bill would be nameless. Valves on Pathfinder weren't operating properly, which version of the craft's software was being used? The Pathfinder team needed to know the correct version to correctly communicate with the spacecraft. The correct one contained Mr. Kaplan's name. Did it say Kaplan? Yes it did. Then Yogi and Bill were to come into existence.
The stunning photos make this a book to have. The text intervenes at times, but it covers the main points well enough.
October 8, 2016
An awesome coffee table book on Mars.
March 2, 2015
Though an older book, it is nonetheless packed with scientific and historical data regarding the exploration of Mars up to its publication date along with dozens of beautiful photographs. It is amazing to read the suppositions and planned explorations for the future in this book and then comparing it with the ones that actually managed to get off the ground (no pun intended - or was it?). This book goes with great detail into the various histories and mythologies surrounding Mars, the impact it had upon science fiction, and the various orbiters and landers over the years in addition to the Pathfinder rover. I especially enjoyed the numerous quotations from team members who gave direct insight into those experiences.
November 4, 2009
Giant, full-page spreads from the rovers, history on our understanding of the planet, as well as what we know of its geography, and 3D glasses!
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December 21, 2016I read part of this with Ryan.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews