Planetary Science: Explore New Frontiers (Inquire & Investigate) - Softcover

Wood, Matthew Brenden

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1619305712 ISBN 13: 9781619305717

Publisher: Nomad Press, 2017

Synopsis

What do you see when you look up into the sky at night? The moon, stars, maybe even a comet or asteroid? You can also see other planets!

In Planetary Science: Explore New Frontiers, readers ages 12 to 15 embark on a journey through the solar system and beyond, exploring planets, moons, dwarf planets, exoplanets and everything in-between. For many ancient cultures, planets were mysterious objects that moved against the backdrop of the heavens in strange but predictable patterns. Ever since Galileo Galilee first used a telescope to explore the moons of Jupiter, we’ve known that the planets are much more than mysterious points of light in the night sky. With the creation of incredible technologies such as space probes, giant ground-based telescopes, and Earth-orbiting observatories, we’ve learned that Mars once had water on its surface, that Jupiter’s Great Red Spot has been churning for centuries, and that thousands of exoplanets circle distant suns. Planetary science is also exciting because of what we don’t know. Was there ever life on Mars? Is Planet Nine lurking in the outer reaches of the solar system? Will we ever find another Earth? How far can we go? In Planetary Science, readers examine the latest information on Pluto, the discoveries of the Mars rover Curiosity, and the incredible catalog of distant planets uncovered by the Kepler Space Telescope. They learn about how planets are formed and why they travel on their orbits. Planets, those pinpricks of light you might spot on a clear night, come closer through informative illustrations, links to online primary sources, illuminating sidebars and fun facts, and hands-on, in-depth activities, such as building scale models of planets, hunting for alien worlds through citizen science, and crafting a comet in the kitchen. Planetary Science also promotes critical thinking skills through inquiry, discovery, and research by encouraging readers to explore questions that remain unanswered, such as whether Mars once had life or the possibility of a ninth planet hiding in the furthest reaches of the solar system. With discoveries being made almost every day, it’s an exciting time to be a planetary scientist!

About this title

Review:

School Library Connection, January/February 2018 Issue

This well-written informational book provides readers with accurate, up-to-date planetary facts, vocabulary, primary sources, projects, interesting sidebars, QR codes, and more. Perfect as a reference book for school projects or to satisfy planet enthusiasts, this book’s expository text is organized in a readable, highly engaging style. The text structure, which includes a solid introduction and six chapters, is easy to navigate with consistent headings and page design throughout the book. At the end of each chapter, readers will explore vocabulary in the Vocab Lab and can complete an investigation or experiment, which come complete with detailed instructions and a QR code for additional help. Inquiry is promoted and encouraged throughout each chapter. Illustrations include photographs, diagrams, and drawings. Helping to engage readers is a brief comic-style story that continues throughout the book with the characters focused on each chapter’s content. This book is a great addition to any school or classroom library. Additional Resources. Glossary. Index. Recommended

The Planetary Society: Recommended space books for kids 2017

Planetary Science is essentially a planetary science textbook for middle-schoolers. It would be an excellent addition to a school library or a useful text for a science elective or independent study, with short, informative chapters containing discussion questions and ending with suggested activities. There are also cute little cartoon strips in which two school kids are taken on spaceship field trips to different planets by a hijabi astronomer, which is cool. The text is extremely up-to-date, featuring facts from Cassini, Rosetta, New Horizons, and Dawn, and there are even sections on "Planet 9" and exoplanets.

About the Author:

Matthew Brenden Wood, author of The Science of Science Fiction, is a math and science teacher with a passion for STEAM education. He is also an avid amateur astronomer and astrophotographer. Wood holds a bachelor’s degree in astronomy from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Sam Carbaugh has illustrated several books for Nomad Press, including Forensics: Uncover the Science and Technology of Crime Scene Investigation and Shakespeare: Investigate the Bard's Influence on Today's World, and he wrote and illustrated Comics: Investigate the History and Technology of American Cartooning. Sam lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

About this edition

• Publisher: Nomad Press
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1619305712
• ISBN 13: 9781619305717
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 128
• Illustrator: Carbaugh Samuel