Books with title The Planets: Exploring the Solar System

"Stargazers have observed Mercury, Venus, and Mars--the other small, rocky planets in our solar system besides Earth--for thousands of years. More recently, we have begun to explore our neighbors in outer space via flyby spacecraft, probes, and rovers. Readers will learn how these expeditions have expanded our knowledge of these planets' atmosphere, surface, features, and even potential for life. A must read for anyone interested in discovering more about space exploration's past, present, and future"--

In this visually spectacular tour of the outer reaches of our solar system, readers discover many intriguing facts. For example, the outer planets are separated from the inner planets by the asteroid belt. And, in addition to discovering Jupiter's moons, Galileo, in the early 17th century, observed the phases of Venus and made careful studies of sunspots. Readers also learn why humans could never live on one of the gas planets. The physical and chemical features and movement of the outer planets and their moons are detailed. Sidebars pique readers' interest in space missions, spacecraft, and space-related data and terminology.