Introducing children to astronomy can be a tricky undertaking. You want to engage them and give them enough information without getting too complicated. Then there is the question of equipment; not many parents can afford to splash out on an expensive telescope for a child whose initial interest may easily wane by the next week.<\/p>\n\n
This book provides a basic introduction to the subject. It is brightly illustrated and packed with plenty of information to get you started. It doesn\u2019t ask for much in the way of kit: most objects can be seen with the naked eye or at most a pair of binoculars. It gives equal coverage to both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, teaching about the lives of stars and how to recognise a few of the major constellations. It explores our Moon, its phases and eclipses, though it omits to mention solar eclipses or how to view them safely. The planets are discussed as well as asteroids, comets, meteor showers, aurorae, galaxies and human-made satellites.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
There are fun activities to try out, such as creating your own Moon craters and a simple Sun\u2013Earth\u2013Moon orrery.<\/p>\n\n
The text is concise though quite small for reading outside at night. Some terms, \u2018geostationary orbit\u2019, for instance, are missed out of the glossary and need some explanation. There is a helpful list of further reading books, useful websites, blogs and podcasts to explore, but although the text advises the use of apps on mobile devices to aid you when stargazing, none of these are included in the actual list.<\/p>\n\n
A child\u2019s interest in the night sky can grow into a lifelong pursuit<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
As with many astronomy books, the illustrations do not represent what your eyes will see, even through binoculars. Most objects will be just points of light or faint smudges, and perhaps that fact could be stressed more in the text.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
I also found that some of the illustrations were a case of style over substance. The star positions in the constellations, for example, are overpowered by the drawings of the mythical figures and the Moon map could have had more detail.<\/p>\n\n
Niggles and omissions aside, this book provides a good basic primer to the night sky for any young astronomer.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/span><\/p>\n\n
Jenny Winder <\/strong>is a freelance science writer, astronomer and broadcaster<\/em><\/p>\n\n
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Interview with the author <\/strong>Raman Prinja<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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How were you first inspired by the night sky?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
I was starstruck from the moment I first gazed at a clear night sky, well away from the bright lights of London. The first constellation I learnt to spot was Orion, with its coloured stars and fabulous \u2018great hunter\u2019 Greek mythology. Making the connection between stars at night and the Sun as a star also fascinated me. My fascination deepened when my parents bought me my first telescope, at the age of 12.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What are your tips for getting young people into astronomy?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
My top tip is to hold a family or group star party. Pointing out constellations and features of the Moon and planets is a great science adventure. Mix in some fascinating facts about the Universe. It\u2019s great to plan a night sky fun activity if you\u2019re on holiday in a location away from cities, where the darker night can be filled with stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What opportunities await the next generation of astronomers?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
They\u2019ll have some amazing telescopes to study the Universe. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), as well as new 30m-wide telescopes on Earth and radio telescopes, will provide incredible amounts of new data. We\u2019ll need to think up clever new methods, such as artificial intelligence, to study these enormous observations. But they\u2019ll also have the challenge of the increasing glow from artificial satellites and space junk orbiting Earth. This could become a problem as commercial companies are planning to launch 100,000 new satellites over the next decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Raman Prinja <\/strong>is professor of astrophysics at University College London<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n
Plutoshine <\/em>tells the story of a future where humanity has at last spread beyond Earth and alien life has been discovered within our Solar System. But as scientists prepare to transform Pluto from a frozen world to a potential new Earth, a child holding unspeakable secrets could change humanity\u2019s understanding of the Universe forever.<\/p>\n\n
Author Lucy Kissick\u2019s scientific background shines in this debut novel, telling a tale of terraforming, sabotage and friendship, centred upon a mute 10-year-old Plutonian, Nou.<\/p>\n\n
Those interested in how humanity might be able to transform the Solar System\u2019s furthest reaches into habitable new worlds will enjoy the blend of science and story Plutoshine <\/em>offers, but others may struggle with inconsistent pacing and wordy descriptions. In places the plot feels too rushed for relationships and character motivations to be fleshed out, while in others the focus on minute detail makes it difficult to grasp the bigger picture. The dialogue can be stilted, making it hard to empathise with the key characters, and unclear descriptions make it hard to visualise the world in which the book is set.<\/p>\n\n
Despite this, Kissick makes use of a dual narrative to add intrigue and urgency. Fans of Andy Weir\u2019s The Martian <\/em> will love the descriptions of the technicalities of terraforming a distant world, as will those who wonder what humanity\u2019s exploration of new lands might look like, or what life we may find lurking there. <\/p>\n\n
\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n
Katie Sawers <\/strong>is a science writer specialising in physics and astronomy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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PACKED WITH PHOTOS<\/span><\/h5>\n\n
Imaging our Solar System<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
Bernard Henin <\/strong>Springer Praxis Books \u00a324.99 PB<\/p>\n\n
Of all the data returned by space missions, it\u2019s the images that immediately grab our attention. It seems that, as a species, we always wonder what lies over the horizon.<\/p>\n\n
Along with over 100 images, including some of the most iconic pictures yet taken, in Imaging <\/em>our <\/em>Solar <\/em>System <\/em>the author takes us from the earliest flights to carry a camera aloft by balloon, through to the present and beyond.<\/p>\n\n
As most space missions have included some form of imaging system, this book covers a lot of ground. It\u2019s divided into three parts: the early missions to image the Moon and fly by our nearest neighbours; through the digital revolution which brought the ability to really process and manipulate the raw data; to the current \u2018New Golden Era\u2019, which has seen impressive achievements from a growing number of countries. These now include China, Japan, India and the UAE. The most recent mission discussed is Chang\u2019e 5, launched in November 2020.<\/p>\n\n
There is a lot of information here, but it is always presented in a very readable way. The preface and appendices offer more basic information to those less familiar with imaging, as well as mission lists, further reading and a full index.<\/p>\n\n
As we are so spoiled for choice, there will always be some disagreement about which images to include in such a book, but I found the balance between those of historic interest and pure eye candy about right.<\/p>\n\n
It certainly maintains the excellent reputation built up by the Springer-Praxis Space Exploration book series.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/span><\/p>\n\n
Mark Bowyer <\/strong>is an expert in the US crewed space programme<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The Universe<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
Greg Brown <\/strong>National Maritime Museum \u00a39.99 PB<\/p>\n\n
How did the Universe begin? How will it end? Is it infinite? And what do we know about the mysterious dark energy and dark matter that are thought to pervade the Universe? These questions, and many more, are dealt with at lightning pace in this new book, The <\/em>Universe, <\/em>by Dr Greg Brown, an astronomer working at the Royal Observatory Greenwich.<\/p>\n\n
Without assuming any mathematical or detailed scientific knowledge, The <\/em>Universe <\/em>leads us from the basic observations that gave rise to the Big Bang theory, to our modern \u2018standard model\u2019 of cosmology. Dr Greg Brown allows us to pause along the way to consider, among other topics, inflation, primordial nucleosynthesis, the splitting of elemental forces, the epoch of recombination and the cosmological \u2018dark ages\u2019. But the story is told with fluidity and speed, never allowing the reader to get bogged down in complexities and including only enough explanation to keep the journey going. We arrive at a discussion of the eventual fate \u2013 or possible fates \u2013 of the Universe. Always readable, the author has done a fine job of distilling the facts with a text that is both lucid and light-hearted.<\/p>\n\n
The Universe <\/em> is a short book that can be devoured in just a few hours. Written at a level for the absolutely uninitiated, it will find favour with amateur astronomers, but may ultimately prove unfulfilling to the more seasoned reader. Indeed, if you are just starting out on your quest to understand the intricacies of modern cosmology, this is a good place to start. Furthermore, it may just whet the appetite enough to propel you into the plethora of more detailed descriptions that are available. <\/p>\n\n
\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n
Dr Alastair Gunn <\/strong>is a radio astronomer at the Jodrell Bank Observatory<\/em><\/p>\n\n
New astronomy and space titles reviewed<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":31555,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","purple_page_number":"94","purple_custom_meta_purple_page_number":"94","purple_seq_number":"1","purple_custom_meta_purple_seq_number":"1","purple_source_article":"article_94-1.xml","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_article":"article_94-1.xml","purple_source_issue":"May-2022","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_issue":"May-2022","purple_external_id":"May-2022-94-1","purple_custom_meta_purple_external_id":"May-2022-94-1","purple_issue_code":"|0000086552||","purple_custom_meta_purple_issue_code":"|0000086552||","purple_android_product":"com.im.skyatnight.204","purple_custom_meta_purple_android_product":"com.im.skyatnight.204","purple_ios_product":"com.im.skyatnight.204","purple_custom_meta_purple_ios_product":"com.im.skyatnight.204","purple_web_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_web_product":"","purple_publication_id":"075fab74-0a21-4201-866a-899d6c41c40c","purple_migrated":"","kt_blocks_editor_width":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[14],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2022\/04\/0fe75884-8891-404e-aed5-1090dd6cb1c8.jpeg","author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"8","apple_news_title":""},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2022\/04\/0fe75884-8891-404e-aed5-1090dd6cb1c8.jpeg",676,741,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2022\/04\/0fe75884-8891-404e-aed5-1090dd6cb1c8-150x150.jpeg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2022\/04\/0fe75884-8891-404e-aed5-1090dd6cb1c8-274x300.jpeg",274,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2022\/04\/0fe75884-8891-404e-aed5-1090dd6cb1c8.jpeg",676,741,false],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2022\/04\/0fe75884-8891-404e-aed5-1090dd6cb1c8.jpeg",676,741,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2022\/04\/0fe75884-8891-404e-aed5-1090dd6cb1c8.jpeg",676,741,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2022\/04\/0fe75884-8891-404e-aed5-1090dd6cb1c8.jpeg",676,741,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"New astronomy and space titles reviewed","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31165"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31165"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31165\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32158,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31165\/revisions\/32158"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31555"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31165"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31165"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31165"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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