Mars : The Story of the Red Planet [Hardcover]

P. Cattermole (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0412441403 | ISBN-13: 978-0412441400 | Publication Date: September 17, 1992 | Edition: 1st

Using many colour illustrations and Viking images not previously available to the general public, the author deals separately with different regions of Mars - such as the ancient cratered highlands, the volcanic plains and the polar regions. He then demonstrates how the development of each is part of a gradual evolutionary process that included an early bombardment of the ancient crust, subsequent development of rivers and streams (even shallow oceans), widespread volcanism, periglacial activity, and Martian winds. The book concludes with a summary of the planet's geological development as scientists now believe it to have occurred.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

With the next phase of Mars exploration scheduled to begin this fall with the launch of NASA's Mars Observer probe and to continue with the launches of the Russian-led international missions Mars 94 and 96, this is a timely book. It provides an overview of our current understanding of the solar system's most earthlike planet. Writing for an informed audience, the author details the geology and climatology of the Red Planet, drawing heavily on the findings of previous Mariner and Viking spacecraft. The bulk of the book covers the distinctive geological formations that characterize Mars--the enormous volcanos, the 2400-mile-long Valles Marineris rift, the lunarlike cratered terrain, and the polar ice caps. The emphasis on planetary science as opposed to plans for future manned and unmanned Mars missions make this book most appropriate for academic libraries. For public libraries the best general introduction remains John Noble Wilford's Mars Beckons (LJ 6/15/90).
- Thomas J. Frieling, Bainbridge Coll., Ga.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1st edition (September 17, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0412441403
• ISBN-13: 978-0412441400
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,165,813 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mars - The Story of a real planet, February 16, 2001

By 

Nick Hoffman (Bundoora, Vic Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mars : The Story of the Red Planet (Hardcover)

My interests in Mars were sparked by NASA missions such as Viking and Pathfinder but the background knowledge and overview of Mars as a planet came almost exclusively from this volume.

I had it on permanent revolving loan from my local library, and finally bought an out-of-print copy to enable me to scribble notes in the margin without qualms of conscience.

This is an excellent entry-level (for serious readers) book for Mars, distilling the 1000 page Kieffer et al. scientific tome to a manageable and readable volume. With this as a starting point, you will have a good understanding of the Viking era view of Mars.

Despite the passage of 25 years this view has much to commend it. the questions about Mars' evolution and the role of water remain cogent today.

You would have to go far to find a scientist who understood Mars as simply and comprehensively as Peter Cattermole, and who could put his thoughts into publicly-accessible words as clearly and as graphically.

And if you have trouble reading there are lots of good pictures!

Perhaps we will never see the likes of this book again? It dates from a time when one man could hold in his head everything we knew about Mars, and present it clearly to a wide range of readers. Modern Mars is more complicated and detailed than this, but I strongly encourage you to start reading here, and build on this basic but comprehensive undestanding of Mars.