Customer Reviews

Visions of Mars

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Visions of Mars" is filled with astounding images of Mars, most of them photographs taken by the Viking, Pathfinder, Spirit, and Opportunity lander missions, some by the Mars orbiters, and others created by computers based upon orbital laser data. Almost all of them are colored according to the best interpretation of what Mars would look like to the human eye (in general, the photographs are constructed from black-and-white images made with color filters, then layered together). We get to see the salmon-pink of the Martian sky and the coppery dust that covers the planet. Many of the orbital images show canyons that dwarf anything to be found on earth, Along the visual journey, the text explains the latest findings and thinking regarding the questions about water on Mars and the possibility of life there.

This book contained some new pictures that I had never seen before. Written narration is good. If you're interested in learning and seeing more of Mars, I highly recommend this book.

What would Mars look like if you could actually get in your own spaceship and fly there right now? And what book would you want to put what you were seeing in context? Well, in both cases, this is your book! The fourth planet from the sun is brought to life in full color in this priceless blend of realistic paintings, actual photographs and informative prose. Great as a gift or for yourself: You'll never have quite the same Visions of Mars ever again!!

Visions of Mars is a very good book. The pictures are great 5 star and its explained much time and effort was given to get the color right.Oliver De Goursac did a great job explaining the pictures and facts of Mars.

We see Mars discussed in 5 segments in Earth, Fire, Water, Air and Man. We see images by the 2 Vikings,Pathfinders mini rover,and later the rovers Spirit and Opportunity.

I really liked the pictures of gullies,and strange formations unseen from earth. The segment on Phobos and Demos was great as was the entire book. This is a coffee table book with fantastic pictures and good writings.

As a lifetime Mars Society Member who has a few dozen Mars books so I can really appreciate this book and the effort put into it. Also as an amateur astronomer of over 40 years I view Mars a lot with my 20 inch telescope. Even at opposition when Mars is closest to Earth due to Mars small size its difficult getting good definition of most Mars objects. I can see the polar icecaps and some of the major features of Mars but its very hard getting definition of other than gigantic objects on Mars. Here's where this book comes in. Really detailed pictures of valleys, gullies, craters,huge volcanoes etc. Also an excellent section of future long range terraforming on Mars.This book has them all.

I really wanted to give Visions of Mars 5 stars but here are some downers. Visions on Mars has white lettering on black for reading. To me its easier to read black letters on white. Also some of the fantastic pictures were full page and the definitions were on other pages. I had to flip from the written explanation to the picture page. I like it when the explanation is on the same page. Also on some of the pictures the page number was not listed. The explanation on another page references a picture page and that page does not have a page number. I know I'm a stickler for detail but I like what I like. A nice counteracting plus was a nice folding out Mars map on both the front and rear covers...that was helpful and a good idea.

I will be very happy showing my kids some of the pictures and reading to them. No heavy math and Oliver De Goursac kept the writings crisp and interesting. If the white lettering on black, some explanations not on the picture page and some pictures not page numbered does not bother you 5 stars. For me 4 1/2 stars....recommended.

This beautifully designed book contains lots of color photos, including a couple of huge foldouts, in addition to much written info. Definitely a must-have book for anyone interested in space exploration.

I like Astronomy very much, particularly I am interested in the Planet Mars. On Mars there is a less gravity, and I am an invalid. Perhaps we can live better there. So far it is the Planet most studied. I think it is very important the idea to explore Mars and to settle it. The different missions are our eyes. This book let us see what our eyes have seen in such a beautiful place very far. I like this French scientist very much. To have this book it is a little to speak with him!