Mars: From Myth and Mystery to Recent Discoveries - Hardcover

Markus Hotakainen

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0387765077 ISBN 13: 9780387765075

Publisher: SPRINGER, 2008

Synopsis

This absorbing book tells the story of Mars since the dawn of mankind's curiosity for celestial wonders. It covers everything, right from our ancient beliefs, through the revolution in our concepts of the cosmos around us in the 1600s, to the present day knowledge and beyond. It takes the reader on a journey all the way to the futuristic visions of science fiction and terraformed Mars with conditions suitable to Earth life. The story is told in a readable form with an absence of technical jargon. The text is supported by informative imagery and a simple, but inspiring layout with some special features such as a "flip movie" of the rotation of Mars.

About this title

From the Back Cover

Mars has always been shrouded in mystery. It is very difficult to resolve through a telescope. For many centuries it remained just a reddish blur in the sky. Even in ancient times, its blood-red color evoked fear and gave rise to myths and legends that are still with us today.

Over the centuries, bits and pieces of data on Mars have accumulated, and as more probes have made their way to the Red Planet, its veil of mystery is falling away. Nearly every week we are seeing exciting new pictures of Mars and learning more about its geology, weather, and history.

What do we actually know about Mars? Is it different from what people once thought they knew about Mars? Is there water on Mars? Is there possibly life that we have missed? What would it be like to live on Mars? What resources are there? Can Mars be terraformed to make it habitable for humans?

Markus Hotakainen’s engrossing tale of Mars: From Myth and Mystery to Recent Discoveries will fill you in and entertain you with unbelievable stories that were once believed about Mars. We have come a long way in knowing our neighbor in space. Join Markus on this journey from myth to reality, and find out what we do know about Mars, and what is still a mystery.

Review

From the reviews:

"With an easily readable, understandable style ... Hotakainen begins this book with a long history of Mars, particularly concentrating on the early-20th-century speculations that the planet contained canals indicating the presence of intelligent life. ... There is an excellent colored map of Mars near the back flap, many photographs accompanied by good explanations ... . Summing Up: Highly Recommended. Libraries serving general readers, lower- and upper-division undergraduates, and two-year technical program students." (W. E. Howard, Choice, Vol. 46 (9), May, 2009)

"The book covers the early observers like Herschel, Schiaparelli and Lowell right through the latest space missions of NASA in the USA and now ESA in Europe. The style is light-hearted, almost flippant in places, and non-technical, as befits a book aimed at a general readership. ... As a beautifully presented, very readable, not-too-technical but scientifically respectable and up-to-date account of interesting things about Mars, the latest contribution ... about the Red Planet is to be welcomed by interested non-specialists everywhere." (F. W. Taylor, Contemporary Physics, November, 2009)

About this edition

• Publisher: SPRINGER
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0387765077
• ISBN 13: 9780387765075
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 273