Distant Worlds

Discovering Distant Worlds.- Mercury: The Iron Planet.- Venus: The Runaway Greenhouse.- The Moon: Queen of the night.- Mars: The red planet.- Asteroids: Vermin of the skies.- Jupiter: King of the planets.- Saturn: Lightweight lord of the rings.- Uranus: The toppled giant.- Neptune: The last giant.- Pluto: King of the Kuiper Belt.- Comets: Cosmic icebergs.

Peter Bond is a Press Officer for the Royal Astronomical Society and Consultant for the European Space Agency.

From the reviews:



"The author describes the achievements of the astronomers, space scientists, and engineers ... . This compelling account of the Space Age includes dramatic accounts of the daring, resourcefulness, and ferocious competitive zeal of renowned as well as almost-forgotten space pioneers; clear explanations of the precursors to modern astronomy ... 100 informative photographs, maps, simulated scenarios, and technical illustrations, many in full color; appendices on the physical properties of our solar system; as well as a comprehensive list of 50 years of solar system missions." (The Lunar and Planetary Information Bulletin, May, 2007)

"Peter Bond, a professional Science writer with close ties to the Royal Astronomical Society, provides a comprehensive and well-illustrated summary of planetary exploration ... . The account is both accurate and up-to date. ... This is an ideal introduction to the current state of Solar System science, whether you're a science student, amateur astronomer or interested layperson." (Fred Taylor, BBC Sky at Night, August, 2007)

"In an overview of 'where we stand today', Peter Bond describes the remarkable achievements of the astronomers, space scientists, and engineers who have made it possible to unravel the mysteries of the distant worlds that make up our Solar System. ... More than 250 illustrations, including photographs, maps, artists' impressions, and explanatory diagrams-many of them in full color. ... Bond shows how the great enterprise of planetary exploration can justifiably be regarded as one of the great triumphs of human civilization." (www.eurekalert.org, May, 2007)

"The author writes with a fresh, fast pace that captures the excitement of exploring each planet in those heady, early days of space exploration ... . The text is fully up-to-date, including results from the Huygens probe to Saturn's moon Titan, and the discovery of new moons orbiting Pluto.