The Planetary System, Third Edition
Average customer rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
  • Stars and Galaxies and Nebula, oh my!
  • Unbelievably boring
The Planetary System, Third Edition
David Morrison , and Tobias Owen
Manufacturer: Benjamin Cummings
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 080538734X

Book Description

Co-authors Morrison and Owen are leading researchers in planetary astronomy today, and this book reflects their expertise and excitement for the subject. Drawing on recent findings, this authoritative, up-to-date book gives a straightforward account of our solar system. Written in an informal style with minimal use of mathematics, this book is ideal for beginning non-science readers. Since publication of the previous edition of The Planetary System, the pace of planetary exploration and new discoveries has accelerated. Also, the new multidisciplinary field of astrobiology has emerged and now provides a fruitful perspective for the study of the origin, evolution, and distribution of life within our solar system and other planetary systems. As scientists who have participated in the definition and development of astrobiology, Morrison and Owen have integrated these new perspectives, as well as many other discoveries, into this new edition to make it once again undisputedly the most authoritative, up-to-date, and exciting planetary book available. For anyone interested in astronomy or planetary astronomy.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Stars and Galaxies and Nebula, oh my!.......2003-11-13

I bought The Planetary System for an Astronomy class and enjoyed the text immensely. I think Morrison and Owen should have added a few more explanations of events/heavenly bodies in a few places but overall this is a great book for introducing astronomy and definitely kept my interest! The cdrom that comes with the book "Voyager Skygazer" turned out to be fabulous fun although a little distracting when I discovered that I was able to track satellite orbits as well as the night sky events with its help.

1 out of 5 stars Unbelievably boring.......2001-10-11

This book is very clear, but it is quite boring. I have to read it for an astronomy class and the hundred dollars I spent on it has been wasted. All the concepts are very clearly explained through pictures, examples from real life and diagrams, but this textbook still sucks nonetheless. IF you know that you have to purchase this textbook for a class, pray the class isnt as dull as the reading
The Search for Life in the Universe (Third Edition)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Jack Kennedy
  • Excellent Overview
  • Great for people interested in SETI ...
  • The search for life in the spotlight.
The Search for Life in the Universe (Third Edition)
Donald Goldsmith , and Tobias Owen
Manufacturer: University Science Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1891389165

Book Description

Long recognized as the "Gold Standard" text for astrobiology courses, The Search for Life in the Universe now appears in a completely revised and updated Third Edition. This book engages students in astronomy by presenting a great, unsolved mystery: How likely is life beyond earth, and how can we find it if it exists? The text covers the fundamentals of astronomy and astrophysics, including the discovery of more than 55 planets around other stars, and also provides an overview of biology, geology, evolution, and the possibilities of interstellar travel and communication. Written for readers with no background in mathematics, the book includes 24 color insert pages and brilliantly rendered illustrations by Jon Lomberg.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Jack Kennedy.......2006-02-27

This book is used as a text by the University of North Dakota Space Studies program where I was exposed to its content. It is an excellent book filled with the recent nuggets of information about the search for life in the universe. It is an excellent guide to understanding the cosmos in galatic and down-to-Earth terms. This book can be read for pure pleasure as well as for general knowledge of astrobilogy and astronomy.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent Overview.......2003-11-07

The new edition of this book still is by far the most comprehensive introduction to Bioastronomy, touching almost every branch of science along the exciting path it follows. Remaining firmly grounded in science it shows that reality is so fantastic that it is in no way necessary to fantasize up facts and fictions. Science still is one of the greatest adventures of mankind, and the search for life in space is one of its most stimulating branches. It also is a good motivation for young college students from other subjects to further their knowledge in science - which is necessary because we live in a science dominated world.

Stefan Thiesen www.bioastronomie.de

5 out of 5 stars Great for people interested in SETI ..........2001-02-27

The book deals with everything from the formation of stars and planets, to how life formed, to even the best ways to search for life and the odds of life being on other planets. It goes step by step, is easy to understand and even has review questions at the end of each chapter (along with a summary). Lots of photos, some in color, along with figures and tables to help explain and give more details. Great for people who want to understand the reasons people are searching for life on other planets, but also great for just understand the science of life on our planet too. All that and humor too.

4 out of 5 stars The search for life in the spotlight........2000-09-04

This book really explaines in simple language how scientists work on this search. It is written in a way that keeps your interest on top all the way.
Hope's Edge: The Next Diet for a Small Planet
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner featured in the book
  • Hope Gained From Insight and Diligence
  • Be gentle on the earth
  • Goes into my life's top 5
  • Honest Hope
Hope's Edge: The Next Diet for a Small Planet
Frances Moore Lappe , and Anna Lappe
Manufacturer: Tarcher
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1585421499
Release Date: 2002-01-31

Amazon.com

Thirty years after Frances Lappe's Diet for a Small Planet changed eating habits around the world, she and her daughter Anna bring us a new round of iconoclastic recommendations that break overwhelming issues down to a simple matter of personal choice. Hope's Edge presents many of the same issues of the original title, but it also provides a wealth of new discoveries and possibilities in this era of genetically engineered foods, worldwide famine, and growing rates of obesity-related health issues.

Beyond discussing a wide range of reasons to become a vegetarian (and that means no fish or chicken either, folks), the authors introduce you to a number of individual reasons for hope--Bob, the Wisconsin cheese maker; Jean-Yves, the farmer from Brittany who created the Sustainable Agriculture Network; and Muhammad Yunas, who has changed the lives of countless living in poverty with his remarkable microcredit programs. Along with these stories and the theories they're based on, you'll also find luscious recipes calling for grains, fruits, vegetables, and a handful of dairy products that will delight your taste buds and your conscience.

The Lappes firmly believe that the choices of low-level consumers have the potential to make positive changes, both in the world economy and in our physical health. By eating a vegetarian diet, shopping with care, and cooking with love, we might all brighten our future tremendously. --Jill Lightner

Book Description

The author of the classic Diet for a Small Planet and her daughter travel the world, discovering practical visionaries who are making a difference in world hunger, sometimes one village at a time.

Thirty years ago Frances Moore Lappé started a revolution in the way Americans think about food and hunger. Now Frances and her daughter, Anna, pick up where Diet for a Small Planet left off. Together, they set out on an around-the-world journey to explore the greatest challenges we face at the new millennium. Traveling to Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe, they discovered answers to the most urgent issue of our time: Whether we are able to transcend today's consumerism and the isolation of "me-first" capitalism and find the paths that each of us can follow to heal our lives and the planet. Featuring nearly seventy recipes from celebrated vegetarian culinary pioneers-including Alice Waters, Mollie Katzen, Laurel Robertson, Nora Pouillon, and Anna Thomas-Hope's Edge highlights true trailblazers engaged in social, environmental, and economic transformations.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner featured in the book.......2006-10-13

This is a very interesting book. It features in one part a detailed description of 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus and his Grameen Bank, who used microloans to help Bangladeshis, especially women, get out of poverty and earn for themselves. By issuing very small loans, the people of Bangladesh are able to build their businesses or working conditions and change their lives. I recommend this book.

5 out of 5 stars Hope Gained From Insight and Diligence.......2006-08-16

Thirty years after the publication of the highly acclaimed "Diet For A Small Planet", Frances and her daughter Anna Lappe have come out with a potent sequel and a beautiful statement of hope for a more equitable world through the world-wide spread of organic and sustainable agriculture techniques and locally controlled "fair" market modalities now challenging the status quo of chemical fed, toxic pesticide/GMO laden crops, and the lopsided "free" market capitalist WTO agenda that has been reaping havoc on the environment and small farmers everywhere.

The Lappes traveled to 5 continents while researching this book and their travels are both fascinating and uplifting as they report on people all over the world demonstrating that going organic and controlling their own markets are reaping major benefits in healthy, abundant food production while cleaning up the environment.

The Lappes do not reject world trade or capitalism, rather, they demonstrate how unregulated "free" markets monopolized by huge international corporations have been inadvertently causing food scarcity, bankrupting and polluting people all over the world, yet with an injection of regulation in the form ethics, strict fair trade measures, etc., they believe capitalism can "evolve" to a more sustainable, equitable, and healthy method of food distribution- a similar optimistic view shared by Lovins and Hawken in their book, "Natural Capitalism".

The inefficiencies of nutrient and food distribution is brought home in quantifying the huge amount of crops, water, and land required to feed cattle. The amount of energy necessary to produce an ounce of meat could feed hundreds of people on a much healthier vegetarian diet, hence, the myth of food scarcity and the need to grow more food to feed the world.

Every chapter finishes with a recipe and there are many more at the end of the book along with several pages of resources and contact information on a host of organizations advocating social responsibility.


5 out of 5 stars Be gentle on the earth.......2006-02-22

Good copy. Excellent vegetarian recipes. Explains why we need to eat lower on the food chain. If we do, we can feed the world's hungry people.

5 out of 5 stars Goes into my life's top 5.......2004-11-21

I won't say much here, because the other reviewers have described the book well. All I will say is that this is one of the very best books I have ever read. Not only does Lappe have an incredible way with words, but she summarizes her profound insights in such a way that really organizes one's thoughts for genuine reflection. Add to that a well-documented and researched approach, as well as fascinating stories of different communities around the world which they themselves visited.

5 out of 5 stars Honest Hope.......2004-05-25

Hope's Edge is a Must Read for Everyone! The book puts it all together in an easy-to-understand, personal and honest fashion: the connection between consumerism, 'brainwashing', oppression, global economy, poverty, exploitation etc. etc. The concepts presented in this book are sophisticated and have depth. I liked the personal tone of the book, the story telling. The book is very honest, the stories told utterly inspiring. Frances and Anna never 'whitewash' the porlbmes the projects they are describing are facing. This truth-telling makes the stories even more impressive, more credible. The very existence of these projects defy the global systems as we know them. The way they do 'business' defies the global system of exploitation and competition. This book makes us take an honest look at ourselves, our values, the daily choices we make, what we consume, how we live. This is not just 'about food' or poverty or world hunger, this is truly food for thought and inspiration of how to create a better world."
The Universe and Beyond (Third Edition)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Excellent Beginner's Overview of the Universe
  • Wonderful for beginners!
  • Most amazing book you'll ever read
  • Great book overall!
  • A good general text for the beginning astronomer
The Universe and Beyond (Third Edition)
Terence Dickinson
Manufacturer: Firefly Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1552093611

Book Description

Award-winning astronomy writer Terence Dickinson takes readers on a factual journey in space and time from the Earth's surface to the most remote boundaries of the universe - and beyond. This major revision of an astronomy classic features 50 new photographs and illustrations, including the latest images from the Hubble space telescope, the Galileo spacecraft and other NASA missions. Additional imagery of the universe is from recently completed giant telescopes situated at remote mountaintops in Hawaii and Chile. This edition also includes extensively updated information on Mars and Jupiter; a completely new section on comets; full coverage of the latest evidence for the existence of black holes; an expanded section on galaxies and the mysterious "dark matter"; a fully updated section on the size, age and destiny of the universe; and expanded data tables using information released in 1998 from the Hipparchos satellite, which achieved a tenfold increase in the accuracy of celestial distance determination.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Excellent Beginner's Overview of the Universe.......2007-06-11

For the layman who is often intimidated by the scope of astronomy and science in general, this book is the ideal place to get started. I've been fascinated by the universe and outer space for as long as I can remember. There is nothing that is quite as majestic and beautiful in the physical world we observe as the unimaginable grandeur of the universe.

The book starts out with a good general overview and then starts out from home (Earth) and then gradually moves out towards other objects in the Solar System, the nearby starts, our Milky Way galaxy, and ultimately out to the farthest reaches of the universe (quasars, galaxies out in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field), examining the deepest cosmological questions.

The writing is non-technical and is easy for the uninitiated to understand. There are plenty of the latest breathtaking photos from the Hubble Telescope as well as clear illustrations. I bought a copy for my mother who has never delved into astronomy and she advised me that the book has been most enjoyable and that it opened her eyes to the wonders of space that she had never known about.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in astronomy but never had the chance to really dig in for whatever reasons. I also recommend this book to the experts who want to encourage their loved ones and friends to appreciate the universe as well. It makes a great gift to high school students, parents, and friends as well. It's one of those books that people will refer to over and over again and contemplate our place in this amazing structure we know of as the universe.

5 out of 5 stars Wonderful for beginners!.......2007-04-07

I have always been interested in astronomy and just recently picked it up as a hobby. Terence Dickenson does a wonderful job conveying concepts to the average person. He has made it so easy to understand and so interesting it is difficult to put the book down. The pictures are perfect for those of us with little imagination. My ten year old is even reading it with me. Excellent!

5 out of 5 stars Most amazing book you'll ever read.......2007-01-30

I have never, and I mean never, had my mind blown as much as when I read (still reading, will never stop reading) this book. I can't believe the pictures in this book. You think you've seen everything insane and out of this world there is to see and then you open this up. Ever seen one galaxy side-swipe another galaxy? The images in this book will change you, you will never be the same. I feel so small yet I feel like I'm part of this insane monster of a grand scheme. The descriptions are fantastic, you need no prior astronomy/science education to totally immerse yourself in the cosmos. Starting from earth and reaching out to as far as we have gone this book reads as if you are the explorer aboard your space craft taking it all in for yourself. There isn't a dull second during this read. Every paragraph will make your mouth drop. Realize the creature around you that is your Universe.

4 out of 5 stars Great book overall!.......2003-11-13

Well laid-out book with awesome pics and logical flow. Definitely a professional work. It does not get very deep in explanations but there is enough material for a novice to get started. Overall: VERY GOOD!

5 out of 5 stars A good general text for the beginning astronomer.......2000-12-01

A friend and I are taking an intro to astonomy course and this is one of the recommended texts. I can certainly see why. It's a very clearly written work with a heavy emphasis on planetary and solar astronomy and a lucid discussion of stellar objects visible with personal telescopes, subjects that the noviate astronomer is most likely to find of interest. The author also dedicates two chapters to the subject of theoretical astrophysics at the very basic level of cosmology, ie) the theory of the origin, the possible ultimate destiny of the universe, and the liklihood of the existance of coevil universes parallel to our own. Dickinson also throws his lot in with those who would believe in UFOs, to the extent that while he doesn't believe in the sightings people report--however well meaningly--he does believe that intelligent life is out there and may well already know of our existance. He gives a thorough and lucid outline of why he believes this to be the case. He also summarizes the SETI project and the ultimate change in position on this topic of high visibility astronomers like the late Carl Sagan, Iosif Shklovskii, and Ben Zuckerman. A very interesting book, and one that whets the appetite for further information.
Lonely Planet Russia & Belarus, Third Edition
Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
  • Belarus, huh?
  • Don't be paranoid!
  • Big Russia
  • A Guide for the 17,000,000 square kilometers of Russia
Lonely Planet Russia & Belarus, Third Edition
Richmond Simon , Mark Elliott , Patrick Horton , Steve Kokker , Baty Landis , Wendy Taylor , and Mara Vorhees
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | Europe | Travel | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Belarus & Ukraine | Europe | Travel | Subjects | Books
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  4. Ukraine (Lonely Planet Travel Guides) Ukraine (Lonely Planet Travel Guides)
  5. St. Petersburg (Lonely Planet City Guides) St. Petersburg (Lonely Planet City Guides)

ASIN: 1740592654

Book Description

Cosmopolitan cities, bubbling volcanoes, spectacular mountains and breathtaking art - Russia is as diverse as it is dramatic, while Belarus satisfies those in search of a Soviet experience. Untangle the conspiracy theories and immerse yourself in the rich heritage - from Minsk to Moscow, Siberia to Kamchatka, make sure you're carrying this best-selling guide to the world's most enigmatic destination.

CULTURAL CONTEXT - in-depth background information brings you up to date on Belarusian politics and Tuvan throat-singing

DISCERNING REVIEWS - hand-picked listings from our team of expert authors reveal Moscow's swankiest clubs and Siberia's finest adventure tours

140+ MAPS - detailed, grid-referenced maps throughout

COMPREHENSIVE LANGUAGE CHAPTER - includes Cyrillic script

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars Belarus, huh?.......2006-10-15

What to say about Belarus? Well, we spent the day the White Russkis commemmorate the end of WWII there, so I've seen it in all of its "grandeur". Not much to recommend it, go and see Belarus if you missed out on the post WWII East European dictatorships, because Belarus is the last of its kind. A genuine personality cult around the president runs politics, and you can get a feel for what it was like in 1970's E. Europe. Guess what- you will not like it. Take some pics of Minsk & move on to Moscow. And if you can find a decent hotel in Minsk, you've done better than my wife and I did.

3 out of 5 stars Don't be paranoid!.......2006-10-04

There is a wealth of information in this book but some of the information is way off. For example the restaurant Lechaim is said to be "excellent" and the cooking is "served in hearty portions". I got a small portion of fish, two soups and salad for an outrageous price of $50. LP warns that prices change but the book is only a few months old. Also the authors are overly sensitive about fitting in by suggesting that you use a plastic bag like the locals instead of a backpack to carry your things. First of all what is wrong with looking like a foreigner? Are they suggesting that Russians don't like foreigners? Anyway many locals use back packs. I also didn't get stopped by police outside the Moscow railway station. The book sanctions some level of paranoia possibly to protect themselves. Maps are accurate and so are many of the museum schedules. I would suggest trying some of the restaurants not mentioned in the book. You can find some good food that way.

3 out of 5 stars Big Russia.......2005-08-19

The only problem with this book is that if you're planning to travel just to an area of Russia, you won't need as much information of others. Russia is huge so the place you're travelling to, probably just will have a couple of paragraphs....

4 out of 5 stars A Guide for the 17,000,000 square kilometers of Russia.......2004-01-06

So you have already seen the present (Moscow) and former (St. Petersburg) capital, and now you would like to see the "real Russia", or you have an airplane conference to attend in Kazan, or you have adopted a child from Murmansk, or you are meeting a prospective bride from Magadan (don't laugh--whenever I answer questions from people who are traveling to regions outside of Moscow/St. Petersburg, 80% are going for adoption or marriage!). There are almost no current guidebooks to regions such as Perm, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Volgograd, Crimea, Minsk, and the Far East. The 'Lonely Planet Russia and Ukraine' has the largest area coverage of any guide currently published in English.

It is also ideal for those taking a river cruise between Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The coverage of the famed Trans-Siberian route is ok, although I think the 'Trans-Siberian Handbook' and 'Siberian Bam Guide : Rail, Rivers & Road' do a better job for those particular regions.

The Moscow/St. Petersburg sections are ok as well, although anyone spending more than a few days in each of those cities should look into guides that cover only those cities.

Restaurant, hotel and travel information are good, although could use more details. The history sections are adequate considering the scope of the book. Also, the twice-yearly updates at Lonely Planet's web site, although lacking in breadth and depth, provide some more timely information than what appears in the book.

Marc David Miller, Discovering Russia, New York
The Third Planet from Altair (Choose Your Own Adventure #7)
Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
  • Mysterious aliens, science and the great Dr. Vivaldi
  • The Third Planet From Altair
  • Packard's version of 'Space and Beyond'
The Third Planet from Altair (Choose Your Own Adventure #7)

Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0553139789

Product Description

You are flying through space -- past Mars, Jupiter and Saturn -- toward the third planet from the star Altair. You descend to a strange world of deserted cities, glowing caves and man-eating plants. You are here to find the source of the mysterious signals being transmitted to earth. Depending on how you decide to go about your search, you could be captured by alien beings, flung millions of years into the future through a time warp, or you could witness the creation of the universe.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Mysterious aliens, science and the great Dr. Vivaldi.......2005-04-26

I adore Dr. Vivaldi, one of the strongest female figures in fiction I saw growing up. The crew of the intrepid expedition encounters all kinds of aliens in a multitude of endings. Edward Packard loves adventure, and although this is no "Hyperspace" in terms of aliens, it's just terrific.

2 out of 5 stars The Third Planet From Altair.......2005-04-01

Like most Choose Your Own Adventure books the choices you made don't always result in a way that makes sense. But this book makes more sense than most as you can, if you pick correctly, end up on the planet Altair.
Earth has detected messages from outer space. The source happens to be from the third planet in orbit around Altair, a yellow-white star 16 light years away. The messages repeat themselves and are from an intelligent race but nobody can understand them.
You, and a three others, are selected to take the spaceship, the Aloha, to seek out who, or what, is sending the messages.

3 out of 5 stars Packard's version of 'Space and Beyond'.......2005-01-07

This is not among Edward's Packard's finest works, but it's still a good read. There is more of a fast and frenzied pace on this one compared to the more psychological 'Space and Beyond'. You find yourself being the tie breaker to critical decisions which could mean survival and sudden death aboard the spaceship. Some of the endings are really creative such as when your spaceship runs into it's own weapons after firing them at hyperspeed. Some of the other endings are abrupt and will leave you scratching your head. I actually reached the planet Altair but lost contact with the mothership. So I was sucked on board an alien craft. The friendly aliens came up to greet me and it was the end. Shrug. At least this book, unlike 'Space and Beyond', allowed the reader to, at least, reach the third planet of Altair. It was damn near impossible to reach at least one of the planets on 'space and beyond'
Planetary Astronomy: From Ancient Times to the Third Millennium
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Planetary Astronomy 101
  • Fascinating book by a knowledgeable insider!
  • Well written history!
  • one of the best books I read last year
  • Thoughful history of the evolution of planetary astronomy.
Planetary Astronomy: From Ancient Times to the Third Millennium
Ronald A. Schorn
Manufacturer: Texas A&M University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

AstronomyAstronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0890967873

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Planetary Astronomy 101.......2004-05-13

This book provides an excellent overview of the evolution of human knowledge about the Solar System from the first observations in recorded history to the latter 1990s. Its emphasis is on communicating a basic understanding of planetary astronomy rather than focusing on scientific details. This makes the book an outstanding introduction to a complex and fascinating subject. The general public rather than astronomers and space scientists are the primary audience for this work, but conceivably specialists in the field could read this book with profit. Jurgen Rahe, NASA's late director of Solar System exploration, sponsored this work as a formal effort to provide general readers with a reliable, well-written overview of planetary astronomy. He succeeded in that objective as author Ron Schorn has published a fine entree to comprehending the breadth of the subject.

Of course, planetary astronomy is generally categorized as consisting of the outer planets and inner planets of the Solar System. Schorn begins with a discussion of the nighttime sky and what one may view there. While he discusses the possibilities for origins of the universe, and the galaxies on view every night, his focus is on what planets one might view with the naked eye, relatively simple telescopes, and then more complex instruments. At that point he journeys back in time to the earliest observations by the ancients and how they constructed their understanding of the universe based on astronomical observations. He then quickly moves forward to the twentieth century when understandings of planetary astronomy changed rapidly in response to ground and airborne observatories and especially space probes sent to the various planets of the Solar System.

Schorn discusses at some length the many spacecraft that have been sent to the inner planets by the United States and the Soviet Union, as well as European and Japanese consortia, traveling to Mercury, Venus, and particularly Mars. This book explains well the story of such missions as the Mariner series that journeyed to these planets, the two Viking spacecraft that landed on Mars in 1976, and plans for future explorations of the red planet. Some spacecraft have been sent, but far fewer, to the outer planets. Visits to the gas giants of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, and the small distant rock known as Pluto have been largely the province of the United States' efforts. NASA, for example, sent Pioneer 10 and 11 on a "windshield" tour of Jupiter and Saturn in the 1970s; following soon thereafter with Voyagers 1 and 2 that flew past the gas giants beginning in the latter 1970s through the 1980s. This activity, Schorn asserts, represents a golden age for Solar System exploration.

Schorn is at his best in discussing the decline of planetary astronomy in the early twentieth century--as astronomers led by Edwin Hubble focused their attention on galaxies beyond the Milky Way rather than on the Solar System--and its recovery in the 1960s as NASA reenergized planetary exploration with the first probes to Venus and Mars. This reemphasis on planetary astronomy was actually quite practical. The recently created NASA held a mandate to undertake exploration of the cosmos with both human and robotic spacecraft. Since the technical capability for planetary exploration existed, NASA's scientists focused their attention there. Even more important, according to Schorn, these scientists also emphasized lunar exploration as an adjunct of NASA's Apollo program to humans on the Moon. These efforts revitalized scientific study of the Solar System and yielded an enormous harvest of understanding about our immediate corner of the universe.

Easy to read and dased on a wealth of sources, both oral and written, "Planetary Astronomy" is a wonderful introduction to an enthralling subject. Enjoy!

5 out of 5 stars Fascinating book by a knowledgeable insider!.......2003-04-03

This is a fascinating history of the field of planetary astronomy written by an insider. Dr. Schorn was once head of planetary astronomy for Nasa. As such, he's known most of major figures of the field from the last half of the 20th century. What distinguishes this book is it's very literary style. Dr. Schorn not only knows the field, he writes of it in an engrossing style that the layman can understand. If you have any curiousity about how study of the planets has grown, then languished for decades, only to re-emerge during the space age, then this book is for you.

4 out of 5 stars Well written history!.......2001-09-27

This book is a good read for anyone who has a limited knowledge of astronomy, especially from a historical perspective. I would have rated it five stars, however I would have like to have seen a little more discussion about celestial mechanics (the movement, alignment, and rotation of the planets) along with illustrations. I found it somewhat cumbersome to intereperet some of the early models of the universe without charts or other illustrations. Overall though a very well written book.

5 out of 5 stars one of the best books I read last year.......2000-03-30

This book is surprisingly well written and very engrossing. The author never gets ahead of himself--each new nugget of knowledge about the heavens above is evaluated using the science of the day, not with a modern bias. Consequently, you never feel that ancient astronomers were somehow stupid for missing things that are so "obvious" to us, such as the heliocentric model of the solar system or the nature of comets. The very first chapter is an especially good gem--it puts you in the shoes of someone two thousand years ago and asks "what could you logically deduce from looking at the heavens above?" Utterly captivating and a must-read.

5 out of 5 stars Thoughful history of the evolution of planetary astronomy........1999-03-04

This book is a must as a historical reference. It offers a fresh insightful look at Planetary astronomy as it happened. Schorn has a way of keeping you on the edge of your seat at the turning points of discovery (i.e. Newton... sunlight through a prism... but spectroscopy wasn't to be discovered for another 2 centuries...), minutes, purpose and impact of the US/USSR space race...
Living on the Third Planet
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Living on the Third Planet
    Hannes Alfven , and Kerstin Alfven
    Manufacturer: W.H.Freeman & Co Ltd
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    ASIN: 0716703408
    Third Planet from Altair
    Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
    • Exciting discoveries
    • A must for someone who likes to explore new stuff.
    Third Planet from Altair
    Edward Packard
    Manufacturer: Bantam Books (Mm)
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    Literatura y ficciónLiteratura y ficción | Libros en español | Formats | Books | Autores, A-Z | Cartas y Correspondencia | Clásicos | Cuentos Cortos | Drama | Ensayos | Ficción de La Mujer | General | Género Ficción | Historia y Crítica | Libros y Lectura | Literatura Mundial | Poesía
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    Ambrose Video Presents: The Miracle Planet Volume One; The Third Planet; NTSC Format 1VHS, No Books
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Ambrose Video Presents: The Miracle Planet Volume One; The Third Planet; NTSC Format 1VHS, No Books

      Manufacturer: Ambrose Video Presents
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback
      ASIN: B000GX81F2

      Product Description

      "Please Notes: This is the NTSC format 1VHS. No books. Playable with multisystem VHS players in the world." [from the experience] "THE MIRACLE PLANET VOLUME ONE: THE THIRD PLANET; Earth, Wrapped in clouds, suspended like a jewel in space. A planet of intricate systems, perfectly balanced and totally unique. This landmark PBS series, THE MIRACLE PLANET, is also unique. It combines an American talent for presenting the latest scientific material in an accessible manner, with a Japanese sense of aesthetics and devotion to quality. Co-produced by KCTS/9 Seattle and NHK/Japan,... hosted and narrated by nationally respected TV journalist Bill Kurtis. This distinguished series is unprecedented in scope and visual imagery. THE THIRD PLANET looks at the origins of the Earth and the events collisions with meteorites...storehouses of our planet's history, they were witnesses to the birth of our world. Can they help explain one of the great mysteries of all time, the sudden disappearance of the dinosaurs? Other programs in the series are: THE HEAT WITHIN; LIFE FROM THE SEA; PATTERNS IN THE AIR; RIDDLES OF SAND AND ICE; THE HOME PLANET." [from the case] "If your interesting other programs in the series are: (1.) The Home Planet, NTSC format 1VHS (playable with multisystem VHS players in the world), ASIN / ISBN B000GX7M7U, No books. (2.) Riddles of Sand and Ice, NTSC format 1VHS (playable with multisystem VHS players in the world), ASIN / ISBN B000GX7Q1M, No books..." [from the experience]

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      1. The Search for Life in the Universe (Third Edition)
      2. The Search for Life in the Universe (Third Edition)
      3. The Sleepwalkers: A History of Man's Changing Vision of the Universe (Arkana)
      4. The Stargate Conspiracy: The Truth about Extraterrestrial life and the Mysteries of Ancient Egypt
      5. The Transit of Venus
      6. The Transit of Venus
      7. The Trouble With Physics: The Rise of String Theory, the Fall of a Science, and What Comes Next
      8. The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
      9. The View from the Center of the Universe: Discovering Our Extraordinary Place in the Cosmos
      10. The View from the Center of the Universe: Discovering Our Extraordinary Place in the Cosmos

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