Although most people have some knowledge of the essential structure of the Solar System, few are familiar with the large and varied array of objects that travel with and between the planets in their journeys around the Sun.

Imaging techniques from Earth continue to improve, while missions such as Voyager, Galileo and the Hubble Space Telescope have yielded many excellent images. Most significantly of all, several missions in recent years have shown a huge diversity of objects in close-up for the first time. The book will take advantage of the rich pool of images that is available, to tell a story of the Solar System that has not been told before.

Smaller Bodies will be a collection of approximately 72 stunning images, all from the public domain but not hitherto gathered into a coherent collection, with supporting text and graphics. Each main image will be accompanied by a graphic showing the location in the Solar System of the featured object. All of these graphics will be based in a simple template providing a simple representation of the Solar System. Text will not be extensive, allowing page design to have a high priority, and will be of three kinds. ‘Main text’ (approximately 200 words) will provide stimulating introduction and some key ideas. Text headed ‘The object(s)’ (25-75 words) will provide a brief description of featured objects. Text headed ‘The image’ (25-75 words) will provide information on the source of the image and some brief technical information where required (such as in describing use of false color).

The book is intended for anybody who lives in solar orbit and takes a general interest in the solar neighborhood.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 1 review)

Fascinating

There are introductory sections that explore the Solar System zone by zone, using 'thumbnail' images and clear text to address profound issues such as the lasting impact of the Copernican Revolution. The main parts of the book are set out in two-page spreads, each with a large image facing related text. This attractive layout makes it easy to dip in, to take the stunning images one at a time. Some of the objects are familiar, such as the now much-imaged rings of Saturn, and some are not, like the crazy pathways of Cruithne or the model of the Oort cloud. Each spread has a helpful graphic, a schematic representation of the Solar System that helps the reader to know where they are, and the text is divided into three sections. One of these provides concise and straightforward factual information about the feautured object, and another does the same job for the source of the image. The main texts are full of stimulating insights, thoughtful personal comments, and unexpected takes. The theme running through is of the impact of remote objects on human awareness and human life. This is no mere catalogue of the diversity of Solar System bodies, but a book that puts humanity into the science.
March 19, 2008

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