Science Book Reviews

Solar System

Nigel Hey takes the reader on a voyage through our planetary system and the Sun. launches by teaching us about the history of space exploration from its earliest inception in ancient times to modern conceptions of astrophysics before touching down on the state of present and future space exploration as currently planned by scientists and administrative bodies.

Whether exploring basic questions such as, 'what do the planets and their moons look like?' or more technological queries like, 'what are all those bits and bobs on the space shuttles doing there anyway?', is consistently clear, informative and interesting. The language in this book is as lush and colourful as the galactic worlds it sketches and as intelligent and creative as the science and technology it describes. This is not just a compilation of the major discoveries and theories developed since the start of modern-day space science; it is a fascinating narrative following the ups and downs of an ever-changing universe and the ingenuity of its human students.