Gr 5-7--While there is a need for fresh, up-to-date material on astronomy, these routine surveys take a step back in quality of presentation. Opening with the incorrect assertion that solar and nuclear energy are the Earth's only sources of heat, the prolific Branley updates his Mysteries of the Planets (Dutton, 1988; o.p.) with a history of the solar system and our exploration of it. He includes phenomena observed by the Voyager and Galileo probes, but barely mentions the sun's inner structure, scants the planets' moons to the point that Ganymede, the largest, isn't even mentioned, and pads the text with tangential side essays on eclipses, the difference between mass and weight, and the like. The full-color photos and paintings do not depict Pluto, but do include an image of the entire Milky Way Galaxy. Marsh's subject is more restricted, enabling her to include a higher level of detail. To her account of the origins, behavior, and study of Asteroids, she adds a tribute to Carolyn Shoemaker and other women astronomers, plus information about how comets and asteroids are named. She does not, however, explain how meteorites of martian or lunar origin reached Earth, and putting the Kuiper Belt "just outside the orbit of the planet Neptune" and extending to a "few hundred times Earth's distance from the Sun" will leave most readers in the dark about its location. The back matter in both books includes several Internet sites, but that's not enough to carry them past Seymour Simon's work or Patricia Lauber's Journey to the Planets (Crown, 1993).

John Peters, New York Public Library

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

All proceeds support Project HOME in our work to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty by providing opportunities for employment. Your purchase of books and other items shares the love and helps us to break the cycle by providing employment opportunities to our residents. Give a gift to someone you love and give back at the same time.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

Project HOME
1515 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, U.S.A.

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

We process and ship all orders within 2 busiiness days.
Our books are sold as-is.
We stand by our descriptions and will work with customers if they are not satisfied.

We accept Returns for any reason within 30 days of sale.
Simply return the book to us in the same condition.as you received it and we will process a refund!

Shipping Terms

All books are pakcaged by hand in bubble mailer envelopes.
We ship most books same or next business day from when you place your order.
Most books arrive in 5-7days.
Expedited shipping is available.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.
Order quantity	2 to 10 business days	2 to 4 business days
First item	US$ 4.99	US$ 9.99

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.