Mars
Distributed for Reaktion Books
224 pages
|
100 color plates
|
6 3/4 x 8 3/4
- Contents
- Review Quotes
Table of Contents
Contents
1 Communion with Mars
2 The ‘Miniature of Our Earth’
3 Romancing Mars
4 The First Emissaries to Mars
5 Lifting the Curse at Mars
6 Scouting Out Humanity’s Next Home
7 Mars: Our Home Away from Home?
8 The Lilliputian Moons of Mars
9 Observing Mars
Appendix I: Mars Oppositions, 2020–35
Appendix II: Mars Fact Sheet
Appendix III: Mars Missions
References
Bibliography
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements
Index
2 The ‘Miniature of Our Earth’
3 Romancing Mars
4 The First Emissaries to Mars
5 Lifting the Curse at Mars
6 Scouting Out Humanity’s Next Home
7 Mars: Our Home Away from Home?
8 The Lilliputian Moons of Mars
9 Observing Mars
Appendix I: Mars Oppositions, 2020–35
Appendix II: Mars Fact Sheet
Appendix III: Mars Missions
References
Bibliography
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements
Index
Review Quotes
Johannes E. Riutta | Well-read Naturalist
"Presenting the red planet in both fact as well as the many fictions in which it has been featured, and including some of the most up-to-date discoveries from the information collected by the Curiosity rover, this forthcoming book should be of interest to both dedicated astronomers as well as the simply martially curious alike."
Laurence A. Marschall | Natural History
"The raptor-sharp vision of journalist O’Meara is legend among astronomers. In his latest book—the chapter on practical tips for red-planet watchers—he describes sighting Mars in broad daylight during its 2018 close approach to Earth. Less visually endowed observers will still enjoy his finely focused overview of the history of Mars through the ages, with an emphasis on the flood of information received from robotic missions in the past twenty years. . . . Humans have been making plans to join the robotic crew on Mars in the next decade. O’Meara’s book should be required preparatory reading.”
BBC Sky at Night Magazine
"For readers investigating Mars for the first time, the impressive collection of photographs taken by rovers and orbiters will astonish, and may even make you question if what you are seeing is real. If you've ever wondered about life on Mars or what Martian blueberries look like, O'Meara will provide you with the answers. . . . Mars will appeal to historians, planetary geologists, and anyone with an interest in space and exploration. Five stars."
Popular Astronomy
"What sets a book apart is the quality of its writing, the 'voice' of its author. . . . O'Meara's Mars book is written so poetically and with such a beautiful use of language that reading it is like listening to a presentation by a passionate outreacher. . . . A superb book which will be enjoyed by anyone interested in Mars."
PopularScience.co.uk
"This is an excellent book. I suspect that many of the people who buy it—either for themselves or as a gift for someone else—will be attracted more by its stunning array of photographs than anything else. But it would be a shame if readers don’t get into O’Meara’s text too, because it’s packed with fascinating stuff."
Daniel W. E. Green, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University
"This fascinating book on Mars is written from a unique perspective: O'Meara has been observing Mars visually through telescopes for nearly a half century, and as such he understands well the limits that visual observers of the past have had. Combined with his talent for writing scientific history for the lay person, this has resulted in a book that anybody desiring to learn about the history of the red planet, from ancient times up to our modern spacecraft era, will enjoy."
Nature Astronomy
“There are few celestial bodies as fascinating, or as well-studied, as Mars. O’Meara presents a concise summary of everything there is to know about Mars in a richly illustrated book that will appeal to any science enthusiast. From the cultural significance of Mars in ancient times, to first studies with the naked eye and the detailed views coming from modern spacecraft and rover missions, O’Meara shows how our understanding of the Red Planet has changed fundamentally time after time. Our fascination with Mars continues unabated—this month alone marks the arrival of three new probes in the planet’s orbit—with a crewed mission planned for the 2030s.”
Physics Education
"O’Meara, with his extensive experience of writing about astronomy for a general audience, is a natural choice to deliver the lowdown on our planetary near neighbor. Despite the relative compactness of the book, he manages to create a hugely informative and entertaining read in s cool and authoritative style, with an impressive array of cultural references, incorporating Homer, Dante, Swift, and Voltaire. And with 125 well-chosen illustrations, there is no lack of visual appeal."
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Physical Sciences: Physics and Astronomy | Physics--Popular Books
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