Beyond the Solar System: Exploring Galaxies, Black Holes, Alien Planets, and More; A History with 21 Activities (49) (For Kids series) - Softcover

Carson, Mary Kay

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1613745443 ISBN 13: 9781613745441

Publisher: Chicago Review Press, 2013

Synopsis

NSTA-CBC Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12 for 2014 list

Humans have gazed into the night sky for thousands of years and wondered, What are those twinkling lights? Though the sun, moon, and planets moved across the background of stars, the stars themselves appeared immovable, forever fixed in constellations. Only when astronomers began taking a closer look did anyone realize what a fascinating, ever-changing universe lies beyond our solar system—red giant and white dwarf stars, spiral galaxies, wispy nebulae, black holes, and much more.

In Beyond the Solar System, author Mary Kay Carson traces the evolution of humankind’s astronomical knowledge, from the realization that we are not at the center of the universe to recent telescopic proof of planets orbiting stars outside our solar system. In addition to its engaging history, this book contains 21 hands-on projects to further explore the subjects discussed. Readers will build a three-dimensional representation of the constellation Orion, model the warping of space-time caused by a black hole, see how the universe expands using an inflating balloon, and construct a reflecting telescope out of a makeup mirror and a magnifying glass. Beyond the Solar System also includes minibiographies of famous astronomers, a time line of major scientific discoveries, a suggested reading list, a glossary of technical terms, and a list of websites for further exploration.

About this title

About the Author

Mary Kay Carson has written more than 30 nonfiction books for children, including The Bat Scientists, Exploring the Solar System, and The Wright Brothers for Kids.

Reviews

Gr 5-8–Beginning with a two-page time line spanning prehistory to 2009, this chronological survey of astronomy covers early observations and discoveries, concentrating on modern findings. Beautiful color photographs of space engage readers from the first page. Drawings and diagrams expand upon theories, and illustrations of Galileo, Newton, and William and Caroline Herschel put faces on these prominent scientists. Activities relevant to each chapter, are sprinkled throughout the book, such as making an astrolabe from string; creating a three-dimensional starscape to demonstrate the distances between the stars in a constellation; inflating a balloon covered with stickers representing stars to measure the changing distances in an expanding universe, and more. The three-page glossary provides short definitions of terms (e.g., “eclipse,” “dark matter,” etc.), and many of these terms are listed in the five-page index and take readers to specifics. For example, the observations and photographs of the 1919 total eclipse of the sun revealed the bending of light around the dark sun, thus validating Einstein's theory of relativity. The resources section lists astronomy websites, sky watching and star-chart sites, and books for further reading. This inviting and informative comprehensive survey will be useful for homework assignments and may send young scientists to further studies of astronomy.–Frances E. Millhouser, formerly with Fairfax County Public Library, VAα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

*Starred Review* With a vast subject and a lengthy time line, this book takes readers on a fast-paced but worthwhile tour of the history of astronomy, beginning with ancient stargazers and ending with the James Webb space telescope, scheduled for launch in 2018. Rather than skimming through centuries of discoveries, the discussion slows at times to consider certain pivotal ones in some detail. At these points, Carson shows unusual finesse in communicating the methods and significance of scientific breakthroughs. Whether describing how Galileo’s observations of Venus through a telescope proved the heliocentric model of the solar system or how Eddington’s photos of a star during a solar eclipse substantiated Einstein’s theory of relativity, the explanations are remarkably clear, vivid, and concise. The discussion gives full weight to women in the field, including Caroline Herschel, Annie Jump Cannon, and Jocelyn Bell Burnell. The many illustrations (most in color) include portraits and photos of astronomers and their equipment as well as images of stars and other space objects. Line drawings illustrate the 21 activities, which offer students opportunities to explore concepts in concrete ways. Notable for its unusually cogent explanations of complex topics, this volume is a worthy companion to Carson’s excellent Exploring the Solar System (2006). Grades 5-8. --Carolyn Phelan

Edition details

• Publisher: Chicago Review Press
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1613745443
• ISBN 13: 9781613745441
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 144