To Pluto and Beyond

by Elaine Scott

New Horizons was designed by NASA to study Pluto and the fringes of our solar system, farther away than any spacecraft has ever explored. Join science writer Elaine Scott as she tells the story of this mission.

For Stephen Hawking, New Horizons signifies that "We explore because we are human and we want to know." This remarkable ship, no bigger than a piano, and using no more energy than a lightbulb, has already traveled three billion miles out to Pluto, and is continuing on to the Kuiper Belt, the farthest reaches of our solar system. The book will feature the beautiful, amazingly sharp photographs it is sending back from its journey, which are letting scientists fill in the blanks in our knowledge of Pluto--and delivering a few surprises along the way.

Elaine Scott tells the exciting story of everyone's favorite planet, from Pluto's discovery through the frustrating attempts to study such a distant object, the creation of the New Horizons project, scientists' hopes and expectations for the mission, and what is being discovered. Her clear, engaging prose does more than narrate the events. By showing how scientists operate, their hypotheses, hopes, and disappointments, and how they make use of them, she gives readers an inspiring portrait of the scientific method itself.

Genres: Nonfiction, Space, Science

64 pages, Hardcover

Published July 17, 2018

Reviews

[Mrs. Melaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this slim volume, former planet Pluto gets some well-deserved attention. There are descriptions of Pluto’s discovery in the remote Kuiper Belt, its naming, eventual demotion from planetary status, and recent revelations from photos sent during a fly-by of the planet by the New Horizons spacecraft. The chapter “To Pluto and Beyond…” which discusses the engineering challenges New Horizons faced in reaching distant Pluto could serve as a STEM exemplar text. However, the best part of the book is the spectacular photos! Many are striking full-page images that reveal a cold, mysterious world with glaciers of nitrogen ice surrounded by volcanoes that spew a slushy frozen substance, deep craters slashing across the center of the planet, and a giant dark red area on its polar cap that is unique in our solar system. Unfortunately, the miniscule pale blue text used for captions makes them extremely difficult to read. A short list of further reading, websites of interest, and an index complete the offering. Recommended for browsing or report writing for readers in grades 4 – 6.

[Jeannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The New Horizon's space mission to Pluto and beyond took off on January 19, 2006. Never before had such an ambitious mission taken place. It would take more than 8 years to reach its destination. Tis book tells the incredible journey and fills the reader in with so much information about space travel, dangers to the craft and the NASA scientists’ ingenuity to ensure the success of the mission. During the voyage, although Pluto was demoted to a dwarf planet, it by no means lessened the importance to the mission. So much data was obtained and actually more is to come as the New Horizon continues to travel far out in space, reporting back to Earth. This is just the beginning.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nonfiction Prose detailing the development of the New Horizons spacecraft, its mission to Pluto, and its future. Numerous color pictures, index, and further readings included. Interesting fact: Pluto was still considered a planet when New Horizons was launched into space and had been demoted to a dwarf planet by the time the spacecraft passed by it.

[Nichole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a great book filled with photos and diagrams to help students understand the history, present, and future of Pluto. Very cool and simple yet not simplistic. I learned a lot from this book.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was quick. Had cool pics. And lots of facts I didn't know.

[Simeon McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

New Horizons is my favorite space probe and it's a very good book.

[Mauricio Bernal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is well witten and easy to understand and it has very good images. This is an introductory book and it doesn't go into technical details. Recommended!!!