Planetary Exploration

The seventh planet from the sun, Uranus is known for its blue-green color and tilted axis, which makes it look like it's spinning on its side. But what causes these distinctive features? This engaging, easy-to-follow resource gives readers insight into Uranus, from its discovery in 1781 to the latest insights about it gained from satellite images, explaining its features, conditions, rings, and moons. Sidebars define challenging vocabulary words and pose thought-provoking questions to stimulate critical thinking about the universe.

The reclassification of Pluto in 2006 not only decreased the number of planets in our solar system by one but also introduced the new category of dwarf planet. Readers will come to understand what separates a dwarf planet from a planet-or for that matter from any of the other bodies found within the solar system. They'll learn about Pluto itself, as well as its fellow dwarf planets, Ceres, Makemake, Haumea, and Eris. Full of recent information, this title is sure to inspire an interest in space science among young readers.

Saturn is one of the most surreal of all the planets in our solar system. With this intriguing curriculum-correlated book, young readers can learn just why. Saturn has many unusual features, such as rings made of ice, ammonia storms, and methane rain. Its density is less than that of water so theoretically it could float on water. The features of its many moons are sometimes even stranger. The Pioneer and Voyager missions in 1970's and 1980's offered stunning images included in the book, which will allow readers to have an armchair experience of exploring this fascinating planet.

This accessible and engaging book teaches young readers the fundamentals of Neptune, one of the most intriguing planets in our solar system. They will learn about Neptune's physical features, it's super storms that can reach 1,500 miles per hour, its ring system, the Voyager missions, and its status as one of the gas giants. Since the book includes images directly from NASA and with those taken by the Voyager missions themselves, readers can feel like they're really there, traveling to the planet and observing its physical features close up.

This curriculum-based, fun, and approachable book offers everything young readers need to know to begin their study of the Red Planet. They will learn about the fundamental aspects of the Mars, including its size, mass, surface features, interior, orbit, and spin. Further, they will learn about the history of the missions to Mars, including the Viking spacecraft and the Curiosity and MAVEN rovers. Finally, readers will learn about why scientists think there's a chance that Mars is or was suitable for life. With stunning imagery from NASA itself, readers will have a front seat-view of the missions to this intriguing planet.

Mercury, the smallest and densest planet in the solar system, was first observed at least five thousand years ago, but its proximity to the sun makes it difficult for scientists to study. This appealing resource illuminates Mercury for young readers with satellite images, helpful diagrams, and vocabulary boxes. Topics covered include Mercury's formation, surface, atmosphere, orbit, and rotation, as well as Mariner 10 and Messenger, the unmanned spacecraft that have flown by Mercury and provided more insight into the planet's features.

Our solar system's largest planet is huge enough that all of the system's other planets could fit inside it. Although Jupiter has been known since ancient times, scientists are still learning exciting new information about the planet and its satellites today. In fact, several of its moons are now believed to have oceans below their icy surfaces. Chapters focus on topics such as Jupiter's orbit and rotation, rings, atmosphere, and moons, as well as on the space missions that have helped us get a closer look at the planet and its moons over the past decades.

This curriculum-based, easy-to-follow book teaches young readers about Earth as one of the eight planets in our solar system in astronomical terms. With accessible text, it provides the fundamental information any student needs to begin their studies in astronomy, such as how Earth spins and revolves around the Sun, why it's uniquely suitable for life, its physical features, atmosphere, biosphere, moon, its past, future, and more. To enhance the learning experience, many of the images come directly from NASA. This straightforward title offers the fundamental information any student needs to spark an interest in astronomy.

This straightforward but fascinating book takes a close look at Venus and shows young people just how different our neighboring planet is from our own. Known as the hottest planet, Venus is an example of the greenhouse effect to the extreme. Young readers will take a tour beneath the sulfur dioxide clouds and see the planet's surface up close with images taken by the Magellan and the Venus Express missions. This book will surely fascinate any young person interested in alien worlds.