Space: From Earth to the Edge of the Universe

by Carole Stott, Robert Dinwiddie, David Hughes

Featuring a wealth of incredible astronomical photographs, Space is perfect for anyone interested in astronomy, space imagery, and the history of space exploration. Space takes us on an imaginary journey that starts on a launch pad, goes toward the center of our Solar System to see the inner planets and the Sun, and then flies outward past the outer planets and on to the fringes of the Solar System.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Astronomy

360 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2010

About the author

Carole Stott has written more than 20 books on astronomy and space, and is a feature writer for the UK magazine Astronomy Now. Carole authored Kingfisher’s popular I Wonder Why Stars Twinkle and Other Questions About Space and The Best-Ever Book of Astronomy. Before turning to full-time writing, she was curator, and then head, of the Greenwich Royal Observatory.

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Space: From Earth to the Edge of the Universe (2010) is a nice large-format "bookazine" covering the topic of outer space. It's similar to How It Works: Book of Space (2016) but longer and with more detail. It's full of spectacular photographs and drawings, and very readable text.

As the book came out in 2010, it's getting a little out of date. For example the book mentions the Thirty Meter Telescope as planned for completion in 2018, but as of 2022 the project is tied up in protests and hasn't started construction. Similarly, many of the satellites described in the book as active have since gone out of service, such as ICESat (replaced by ICESat-2). However, the dated material is still of historical interest and you can check Wikipedia for the latest information on most of the projects mentioned in the book.

[Tristan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very comprehensive….mind blowing…and beautiful. Love it! ❤️

[Blog on Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

For as long as we can remember there have been atlases of the earth. But what about an atlas for space? After all, it was famed physicist Stephen Hawking who declared that “I don’t think the human race will survive the next thousand years unless we spread into space.” For now, DK’s “Space: From Earth to the Edge of the Universe” may be our guide.

The book covers, in easy to understand layman’s terms, most of the sweeping aspects of space, various international space programs, the solar system and beyond. Chapters abound with well illustrated coverage of space stations, global launchsites, earth from space as well as the resources (atmosphere to oceans) that are affected by space.

Beyond the earth, our entire solar system, planets, moons and the sun are mapped out with ample details utilizing the latest photographs from NASA and other sources, highlighting not just the planets, but specific regions of the planets (the Valles Marineris and Tharsis regions of Mars, the rings of Saturn, the ‘red spot’ of Jupiter, etc.) Beyond the planets, extensive data, photos and illustrations depict the specifications of galaxies like the 200,000,000,000 stars of the Milky Way, asteroids paths, comets, nearby and distant stars and a host of planetary nebulae. The vast array of equipment, both here on earth and launched into the cosmos is revealed in illuminating detail as well.

While not a scientific tome, per se, “Space: From Earth to the Edge of the Universe” is a comprehensive volume that will give the non-scientist a wide view of what’s out there from the earth to faint objects that are billions of light years away. Combining the best of the NASA imagery from our universe is a broad goal, but one this 360-page, large format book seems to accomplish well.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly comprehensive.

[Indah Threez Lestari · Rating 4 out of 5]

719 - 2019

[Ethan C · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first picked up the book Space: From Earth to the Edge of the Universe, I had no idea what I was in for. The cover is nothing spectacular, just a picture of one of the gas giants of the solar system (I forgot which)... But once you open the book, you get a stunning display of high definition images coming from a wide variety of ground based, and orbiting telescopes. Adding to the images, you can also see a wide variety of diagrams showing star birth, black holes, and other interesting concepts. The text is just as good, explaining subject such as the big bang, quasars, pulsars, planetary nebulae, and many other wonders of the universe. I will admit that this book was probably a little advanced for me in 7th grade, but it was interesting none the less. It is definitely worth the 40$ price tag.

[Ian]

Awesome. One to buy.

[Ahmad Anz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book! With great images and illustration. I'm not a physicist but interested in astronomy and cosmology. This book gives me new enlightments about it.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interstellar eye candy!

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filled with stunning images, this book takes the reader from Earth all the way through the planets and moons of the solar system, through the Milky Way, and on to the farthest reaches of the observable universe. The pictures are beautiful and the explanations are easy to understand, although once the topics move towards faraway galaxies the vast distances and sheer enormity of it all is hard to wrap my brain around.
At nearly 7 years old (published in 2010), this book is starting to show its age. Surely many important changes have happened since its publication. Just a few that I can think of off the top of my head are the ending of the Space Shuttle program, the ending of Cassini later this year, and the Juno craft sent to Jupiter. I'm sure there are many others that I am not aware of.
It would be wonderful if an updated 10th anniversary edition could be published in 2020 to include all the advances we've made since the original publishing.