The inner planets, Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars, are important for study because they are so similar. All are terrestrial, meaning they have a solid surface. Mercury, being closest to the Sun, experiences the most intense solar radiation. Venus is an example of an extreme greenhouse environment, with temperatures nearing 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Mars offers us great hope for finding an environment that could have harbored extraterrestrial life. This book follows the Next Generation Scie...

The Sun is merely one of some 200 billion stars that make up the Milky Way--and the Milky Way is only one of a billion galaxies in the known universe. Packed with fascinating facts and stunning photography, this book examines the Galaxy humans call home and travels light years away, to the domain of phenomena such as the Oort cloud.

Common to all matter and its smallest and most fundamental unit, the atom determines the properties of a substance and how it responds to other materials and stimuli. Dividing the atom further reveals several smaller particles whose activity forms the heart of nuclear physics. Readers will discover the structure of the atom as well as the ways in which its electrons, protons, and neutrons facilitate both radioactivity and nuclear reactions, both of which have been crucial to technological ...

The universe has been both a subject of study and supplier of fresh mysteries. This book tackles a topic that is infinitely broad with extreme precision and careful organization, bringing the far reaches of the universe squarely into the hands and minds of readers.

The planets closest to the Sun—Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars—include the world we know and its closest neighbors. However, despite our proximity, these rocky, silicate-based planets still represent so many mysteries yet to discover. Through a trove of images and a narrative bursting with detail, The Inner Solar System imparts what is known about this small corner of the Galaxy, and piques reader interest in the unknown.

The night sky is positively teeming with wonders, from star clusters and nebulae to quasars. Astronomy is the means by which these and other similar phenomena are discovered and observed. This stellar resource traces the path of modern astronomy, from initial efforts to map the heavens to today’s use of high-tech telescopic devices that help people delve deeper into celestial discovery.

Space travel is a familiar concept. Such was not the case in the early 20th century, when the United States and the former Soviet Union were locked in a race to send humans into orbit. This book details the history of manned spaceflight, from the development of rockets to the advent of space tourism. Readers also are introduced to the men and women who have been willing to soar into the great unknown.

Beyond Earth’s small, red neighbor Mars lie the gaseous, giant planets of the Outer Solar System. This book investigates these behemoths and dwarf planet Pluto, as well as other curiosities within the solar system’s farthest reaches, such as asteroid fields and the Kuiper belt.

Satellites and robotic spacecraft have long travelled where humankind cannot, or dare not, go. By delving into the pages of this book, readers will learn about the technology, people, and organizations that have made fruitful unmanned space missions a reality.

While the wheel itself has changed little over time, it has immeasurably altered the nature of transportation. This insightful volume examines the various wheeled conveyances that have been instrumental in agriculture and commerce—carts and wagons, for instance—as well as those that have facilitated human travel—coaches, bicycles, cars, and buses, among others. Also explored is the evolution of roads, as they have expanded to accommodate various modes of wheeled transportation.

Following the Next Generation Science Standards focusing on the universe and its stars, this enlightening book delves deep into the scientific study of stars, analyzing their behavior and composition, as well as their life cycles. Readers will learn fascinating facts, such as just how big they can get, how many there are in the universe, and the spectacular fashion in which some die. Readers can explore the universe of nebulae, the interstellar dust from which stars are born. Treat your st...

This fascinating text is a perfect companion for any student interested in a more authoritative source on the subject of asteroids, meteors, meteorites, and comets. Readers will learn, following the Next Generation Science Standards in the area of the Earth and the solar system, the scientific differences between these four celestial objects. They'll also study their features, compositions, characteristics, classifications, and history of their observation. This book is perfect for the stu...