11 Planets: A New View of the Solar System [Hardcover]

David A. Aguilar (Author)

Book Description

Release date: March 11, 2008 | Age Range: 8 and up | Lexile Measure: 1090L (What's this?)

National Geographic proudly presents the essential reference book for what is now officially a NEW AGE in space.

In August 2006, the International Astronomical Union redefined the word "planet" and relegated Pluto to the status of a dwarf planet, along with Ceres and Eris. Naturally, National Geographic is there to map out this new view of our solar system. In 11 Planets, David Aguilar, an expert who works on the leading edge of this astounding shift, explains and explores our new galactic knowledge.

Using spectacular computer artwork, exclusive to National Geographic, and simple engaging text, this colorful book profiles all 11 planets in our newly categorized solar system: terrestrial Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars; gas giants Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune; and dwarf planets Pluto, Ceres, and Eris. The author of the hugely popular Planets, Stars, and Galaxies now leads young minds through into this exciting new view of space, giving readers a vivid "you are there" sensation through his photorealistic artwork.

David Aguilar’s 11 Planets is a simple yet compelling introduction to the solar system as it is now classified. This beautiful volume also includes informative spreads on: The Sun Earth’s moon Mars’ moons, Phobos and Diemos Ceres, one of the new dwarf planets The Asteroid Belt Pluto and its moon, Charon Sedna and Eggland, two large Kuiper Belt objects Saturn's rings and moons Comets and the Oort Cloud Other new worlds now being discovered

This engaging volume also includes fun activities for young readers. Aguilar’s text presents the latest discoveries in space to young imaginations in a compelling and scientifically accurate way, encouraging understanding of mankind’s new view of our solar system. This is the volume that every library needs; and the book that every child should have access to as the ultimate reference for the new age in space.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4–6—Though trailing the main rush of solar system updates that followed the International Astronomical Union's 2006 reclassification of the planets, this fluently written, handsomely designed tour makes a good choice for smaller and less-well-budgeted collections. Steering a typical itinerary, Aguilar begins with the Sun, visits each terrestrial planet, dwarf planet, and gas giant from Mercury to Eris, then closes with glimpses of other solar systems, plus a compressed set of comparative charts and useful Web sites. His grasp of classical mythology is not firm (Apollo was not "the mightiest of all the gods"), but his astronomical information is both accurate and expressed in lively ways: "A soda can dropped on the surface [of Venus] would be crushed by the atmospheric pressure. These thick clouds also work like windows in a car, trapping incoming sunlight." The author's big, bright digital paintings, supplemented by an occasional photo, offer a gallery of close-ups, group portraits, moons, comets, diagrammatic views, and cutaways that will attract casual browsers as well as budding astronomers and assignment-driven readers. Use as a replacement; it's past time to retire any title on your shelves that refers to "nine planets."—John Peters, New York Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Although the title sounds unorthodox, Aguilar uses the classification by the International Astronomical Union (which demoted Pluto to dwarf status in 2006). In addition to the eight full-fledged planets, the group of 11 includes the three dwarf planets, Ceres in the asteroid belt beyond Mars and Pluto, and Eris in the outlying Kuiper belt. The book offers a visually impressive tour of major objects in the solar system, whether one defines them as planets or not. A typical double-page presentation of a planet, moon, or other topic includes a dramatic full-page, color image, one or more smaller ones, as well as a paragraph of text and several informative captions. Fast facts, such as diameter and temperature range, appear on an appended chart, along with a glossary and a seemingly down-to-earth project that demonstrates the relative sizes and distances between objects in the solar system. An attractive and timely addition to astronomy collections. Grades 5-8. --Carolyn Phelan

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic Children's Books (March 11, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1426302363
• ISBN-13: 978-1426302367
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 0.5 x 9.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #842,997 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

David A. Aguilar is the author and illustrator of multiple National Geographic books on astronomy including "PLANETS, STARS, AND GALAXIES: A Visual Encyclopedia of Our Universe", winner of the 2008 VOYA (Voice of Youth) Award, 13 PLANETS - winner of the 2011 Eureka Gold Award for best science book for kids, and "SUPER STARS!". His next book, "ALIEN WORLDS" examines just how bizarre alien life might be. Published as an adult book, kid's book and I-Pad AP, Alien Worlds will be released in Spring 2013.

His writings are widely recognized for their ability to communicate the wonderment of science to enthusiasts of all ages. David also created the illustrations for each book which have been featured on the History Channel's "The Universe" series, Time magazine, CNN, USA Today, National Geographic and Astronomy magazine.

To see an online gallery on his space art visit www.aspenskies.com.

David is the past director of the Fiske Planetarium & Science Center and the originator of the Science Discovery Program at the University of Colorado in Boulder, and now the popular host of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for the Astrophysics "Observatory Nights" program. He also leads Smithsonian study travelers to destinations around the globe to explore celestial phenomena with telescopes and even binoculars! David and his wife Shirley reside near Cambridge, MA and part-time at their home and new observatory located outside Aspen, CO.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice Little Book March 19, 2008

By Robert Thorbury

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

If a third-grader were to ask you how many planets there are in our solar system, how would you answer? Back before August of 2006, it would be pretty simple -- nine: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. Ceres, which is found between Mars and Jupiter, was once considered a planet, but in 1850 was reclassified as an asteroid.

Growing up in the 1970s and 80s, I looked forward with excitement to the possibility that they would, some day, discover a tenth planet, way out there in the icy wastes beyond Pluto. In 2005, they announced just that -- the discovery of the body now known as Eris, just a tad bigger than Pluto, but three times farther away from the Sun.

And then, after lots of arguing back and forth, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in August of 2006 decided to lump Ceres, Pluto and Eris into a special new category of their own, the "dwarf planet". So now, you'd tell that third-grader that there are eight planets -- unless you include the dwarfs.

Basically, the scientists are still arguing about exactly what they mean by a "dwarf planet". Meanwhile, author David A. Aguilar, along with his publisher, National Geographic, made his own decision -- as shown in the newly released book "11 Planets: A New View of the Solar System". I first learned about it when National Geographic announced that a girl named Maryn Smith, of Montana, came up with a nifty new mnemonic for learning the 11 planets: "My Very Exciting Magic Carpet Just Sailed Under Nine Palace Elephants". This appears at the very start of the new book.

Now, I'm a bit older than the target age group of ages 9 to 12, but enjoyed flipping through the pages. The book does an excellent job of giving the basic solar system layout in easily understood terms. First, there's the four terrestrial planets, then Ceres and the asteroid belt, then the four gas giants, and finally Pluto, Eris and the Kuiper Belt. And a little bit about the Oort Cloud, meteors, comets and planets around other suns. And our own Sun, of course.

Each section has a little discussion of the god, or goddess, the planet was named after (such as Ceres, the goddess of agriculture), along with nice drawings of the planet and its moons, if any. Included are some interesting facts, such as Jupiter's Giant Red Spot having existed for hundreds of years, or that Uranus is on its side, not more or less upright like the other planets. There are separate sections for Earth's moon, as well as the moons of Jupiter and Saturn. In back is a handy glossary and a table showing how much children of various sizes would weigh on various planets -- at least, those with a solid surface.

To give your budding astronomer some idea of the relative sizes of the planets, there's a fun list of ingredients you can buy from the store (a grapefruit, an orange, peas, a cherry tomato, a grape, some sugar, baking soda and salt) and how you can lay them out -- if you don't mind walking 1000+ yards to get to where Eris would be on that scale.

The one thing that might prove controversial is the author's decision to actually number the dwarf planets in among the bigger ones. Thus, Ceres is the fifth planet, Pluto the tenth and Eris the eleventh. Aguilar skips the more technical aspects of the IAU's decision, such as the fact the dwarf planets "fail to clear their neighborhood". He prefers to simply classify the planets by their size: small, medium and large. Given the book's target audience, that's just as well. Personally, I like his approach.

As more dwarf planets are added to the list, as is very likely, it may become increasingly unwieldy. I doubt anyone but the most die-hard future astronomer would want to memorize fifteen or twenty planets, never mind several dozen. But eleven is a nice number, and will do for now.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful illustrations, easy to read June 12, 2008

By tita

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this book for my daughter a few months ago when she turned 5, and she loves it. It has beautiful illustrations and only one page with info per planet (and sometimes another page for the planet's moons), so it's easy to read. The language is simple enough for a little kid to understand. It also talks about comets, Oort clouds and other solar systems. I like it so much that I've bought a few more for birthday presents.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A simple yet fascinating look at the scientific wonders beyond Earth May 8, 2008

By Midwest Book Review

Format:Hardcover

Recently, modern astronomers came to a new consensus on how to view the solar system: the relatively tiny celestial body Pluto no longer qualifies as a planet, but is rather a "dwarf planet", and at least two more celestial bodies in our solar system (Ceres and Eris) deserve to be called "dwarf planets" as well. 11 Planets: A New View of the Solar System is an up-to-date look at the planets for inquisitive young minds, filled with fun facts about the eight planets, Pluto the dwarf planet, various planetary moons, Ceres and the asteroid belt, the Kuiper belt and Eris, and more. Illustrated with space photography as well as breathtaking artwork, 11 Planets is a simple yet fascinating look at the scientific wonders beyond Earth, highly recommended for children's library collections.