The Planets

by David; Younger McNab, James Younger

During the last forty years, human beings have broken free of the Earth and ventured out to other worlds orbiting the Sun. We have visited every planet except Pluto, discovered dozens of new moons in orbit around other planets, and put to rest myths and fantasies that have been accepted for centuries. This magnificent book chronicles our planetary travels, explains the creation and evolution of each planet, and tells how our understanding of the solar system has developed from the first stargazers in ancient times to Galileo to the present.In an engaging narrative that draws on interviews with U.S. and Soviet scientists and astronauts, state-of-the-art computer graphics, and space race archives, David McNab and James Younger reveal the wonders of the planets. With the help of striking pictures from the Apollo, Voyager, Pioneer, and Viking space missions, the authors describe planetary volcanoes three times the size of Mount Everest, worlds with seas of methane, rivers of lava longer than the Nile, clouds of sulfuric acid, and frosts of pure shining metal. They also investigate the possibilities of life elsewhere in the solar system, present a new perspective on the Sun and on Earth’s atmosphere, and speculate about the evolution of the solar system over the next five billion years—to what may be its death.The book, which is a companion volume to a highly regarded, eight-part Arts and Entertainment television series, invites us on an amazing adventure, one that will stretch the imagination to its limit.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Astronomy, Space

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second of my space and astronomy books I decided to read this weekend - and another BBC production. This time it focuses on the planets of the solar system. Like the previous book it was printed around 1999 and as such was really at the forefront of the modern (and visual) popular science programs we are seeing more and more of today.

The book as you would expect is glossy filled with many amazing pictures and diagrams. The book is a wealth of information - however this book does vary from others on the solar system in that rather than focusing on the planets (but yes there are some very detailed entries on them) it focuses on more abstract subjects such as the moon and terra-firma.

However to be honest the whole book is filled with information which is often presented in a manner you would not expect. For example on key subjects such as the moon there are timelines presented so you can see certain milestones and achievements.

The whole book presents its information in a fascinating if unexpected manner - for me it make me pay more attention and rather than jumping over subjects I felt I already knew it all (I know you can never truly know it all but you get what I mean) I was intrigued to see what they were trying to say and so payed a lot more attention that I thought I would.

Now the upside to all of this is that it was a different way of approaching the subject the down side is that I feel I should read this book again in the future to make sure get what it is trying to say. Another brilliant book from the BBC

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book looks like a coffee table book, it is more like a well illustrated history of our solar system's exploration in the 20th century. This book is meant to accompany the BBC's TV series The Planets, but I think it stands well on it's own.

I would have liked more full page pictures, overall though a great book.

[Britt Suits · Rating 3 out of 5]

Raamat põhineb 1999. aastal BBCs valminud teleseriaalil ning on Eestis välja antud aastal 2000.

Raamat hõlmab järgnevaid peatükke:
*Teistsugused maailmad,
*Kuu,
*Terra Firma,
*Hiiglased,
*Tähed,
*Atmosfäär,
*Elu,
*Teisel pool Päikest.

Ma ei ole väga kursis, kui palju on ligikaudu kahekümne aastaga muutnud teadlaste nägemused, aga eeldan, et põhiolemuses vast mitte väga. Seda, et Pluutot enam planeetide hulka ei arvata, ma tean, nii et ühe aegunud fakti ma raamatust leidsin.

Üldiselt pani raamat tundma, kui võimas on see, et me üldse olemas oleme, sest see, et Maal on elu, on ikka üsna ebatavaline. Elu Maal aga pole kahjuks igavene. Aukartust äratas teadmine, kui tohutult suur on tegelikult ilmaruum, millest me veel mitte midagi ei tea. Kõige huvitavam oli aga lugeda Ameerika Ühendriikide ja Nõukogude Liidu võidujooksust Kuule. Kuna raamatu on välja andnud BBC, siis sisaldab väga palju autentseid fotomaterjale.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A chronicle of mankind’s planetary exploration, with state-of-the-art computer graphics and space-race archives including interviews with scientists and astronauts. Developed as a companion volume for the Arts and Entertainment television series, this book takes the reader on an amazing adventure. Turn its pages and behold the wonders of space.

Highly recommended.