The NASA Atlas of the Solar System [Hardcover]

Ronald Greeley (Author), Raymond Batson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521561272 | ISBN-13: 978-0521561273 | Publication Date: January 28, 1997

The exploration of our solar system by spacecraft has been one of the greatest scientific achievements of the twentieth century. The mapping of other worlds has resulted from numerous space missions by NASA, extending over many years. The data from these planetary missions have been synthesised by the US Geological Survey to produce detailed maps. Every planet, moon, or small body investigated in NASA missions is discussed and where appropriate mapped. Geological maps, reference maps, shaded relief maps, synthetic aperture radar mosaics and colour photomosaics marvellously present the features of planets and their satellites. This is truly a 'road map' of our solar system. All maps are fully indexed. The gazetteer lists the names of all features officially approved by the International Astronomical Union. The NASA Atlas of the Solar System is the definitive reference atlas for planetary science.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5 Up. Clear a tray in your atlas case for this magnificent tribute to four decades of space exploration. The authors have gathered hundreds of full-color photos, photomontages, and maps (for the most part, precisely drawn) of every solid celestial body ever visited by NASA spacecraft, presenting them all in "uniform scale and consistent format" with specific but jargon-free descriptive essays. Arranged by planetary systems, each of the 30 "objects" is seen from a variety of angles and distances, digitally enhanced, expertly airbrushed or in false color, from the size of your palm to the size of a pillowcase; 26 are also mapped, in full or double-page overlapping segments, with major regions and physical features neatly labeled. The substantial text enhances all of this with lucid descriptions; historical background; and discussions of nomenclature, the special challenges of planetary cartography, and other topics. Back matter includes a complete table of NASA space-probe missions, 1958-1994, plus a gazetteer in which the names of craters and other features are explained as well as listed. This is not a complete catalog of the solar system. To date there have been no flybys of Pluto, and Saturn's moon Titan turned out to be swathed in opaque clouds. They, as well as the Sun and the gas giant planets, receive relatively brief mentions. This authoritative, eye-popping resource will be invaluable to libraries serving serious young planetologists.?John Peters, New York Public Library
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

This atlas is an excellent collection of systematic maps, photographs, and overviews of planets and major satellites, based on data collected over the course of roughly a quarter century of NASA space missions. It is unique in scope and in its use of uniform formats and consistent scales (practicality permitting). After outlining the challenges involved in mapping celestial bodies and the different kinds of maps used in planetary cartography, the text offers an overview of the solar system and a portrayal of each planet or planetary system. Maps, charts, and spacecraft images convey both the similarities among and the unique aspects of the variety of objects in the solar system. The appendixes include a summary of planetary spacecraft missions, data for the planets/satellites, and conversion tables. Also included are a glossary of terms, a list of additional readings, and a useful gazetteer of named features on all the planets and satellites (including many not featured in the atlas). Presented in a very readable manner by two authors who have worked in and written extensively about the field (e.g., Planetary Mapping, Cambridge Univ., 1990), this is highly recommended for public and academic libraries.?Jayashri Nagaraja, Engineering Lib., Princeton Univ., N.J.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 369 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (January 28, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521561272
• ISBN-13: 978-0521561273
• Product Dimensions: 18 x 12.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #636,368 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most complete cartographical Solar System reference avai, February 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The NASA Atlas of the Solar System (Hardcover)

I can remember being a child poring over maps of foriegn countries and wondering what life was like in those far away places. I was fortunate in that my grandmother had quite a collection of antique reference books, from the 19th century but in excellent shape, that she would allow me to examine.

I remember being impressed by the many beautiful, detailed illustrations and maps, artwork that could entice a young reader to dream. The heavy, well constructed tomes imparted a sense of respect to the reader, for here was True Knowledge, presented with an unmistakeable high quality and with meticulous detail.

Over the years my appreciation for quality reference books has increased. Growing up during the early years of space exploration naturally made me interested in books about the Moon and planets. I have many such books, but there is a lot of variance in the amount of meaningful content, print quality, size, and many other factors.

There are things that will bring on happy memories from childhood, and one thing that brought such a happy memory to me was when I received my NASA Atlas of the Solar System. It is a large, heavy, high quality and very serious book that deserves to be in every reference library. Here you will find, in incredible detail, the sum of mankind's cartographical knowledge of the entire Solar System as of 1997. Would-be space explorers will have a field day with maps of all the planets and their satellites, including many in-depth explanations about the many varied geological and geographical features found on the various worlds.

The maps are not simple composited photos, but are meticulously constructed using various techniques from image processing to airbrushing. Color is used extensively to convey information in many ways such as elevation and geologic age. The scaling and image quality is consistent throughout, and for the first time I've been able to compare a feature on the side of the Moon visible in telescopes and compare it directly to features seen on other worlds. Throughout there is related text that complements the maps.

One thing about this volume that impresses me over and over again is the realization of the sheer amount of information we have concerning our planetary neighbors in the Solar System. There is a lot of real estate out there!

Here is a book that can awaken and re-awaken the dream of space exploration for readers of all ages as well as serve as the ultimate reference book on Solar System cartography, geology and geography for many years to come. Whether for a school, public, or private library, the NASA Atlas of the Solar System should be considered an essential reference.

10 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book with captivating pictures., June 7, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The NASA Atlas of the Solar System (Hardcover)

This atlas gives good information on all aspects of the solar system wether you are a layman or a planetary scientist. The pictures and maps are all-encompassing and beautifully composed. This is a wonderful addition to anyone's library

1.0 out of 5 stars Wait for the next edition, July 17, 2000

By 

Stephen Cass - See all my reviews

This review is from: The NASA Atlas of the Solar System (Hardcover)

Although published in '97, this book is already quite dated - the Mars and Jupiter system maps are based on Viking and Voyager data. Given the cost of this book, I'd wait until an edition came out which integrated the Mars Global Surveyopr and Gallileo data. Also, the detail of some of the maps leaves something to be desired - most of the locations listed in the Gazeeter are not marked on the maps. Finally, too much expository text is included (in a large type with generous spacing). I would have prefered these pages to be filled with more maps, rather than text I could have found elsewhere.