4th Rock from the Sun

The Story of Mars

Nicky Jenner

$32.99

Hardback

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English

Bloomsbury Sigma
01 June 2017

History of science; Popular science; Solar system: the Sun & planets; Space science; Popular astronomy & space

Everything you ever wanted to know about the red planet revealed in an up-close and personal tour of Mars

Mars is ingrained in our culture, from David Bowie’s extra-terrestrial spiders to H.G. Wells's The War of the Worlds. The red planet has inspired hundreds of scientists, authors and filmmakers — but why? What is it about this particular planet that makes it so intriguing?

Ancient mythologies defined Mars as a violent harbinger of war, and astrologers found meaning in the planet's dance through the sky. Stargazers puzzled over Mars's unfamiliar properties; some claimed to see canals criss-crossing its surface, while images from early spacecraft showed startling faces and pyramids carved out of rusty rock. Did Martians exist? If so, were they intelligent, civilised beings?

We now have a better understanding of Mars: its red hue, small moons, atmosphere (or lack of it), and mysterious past. Robots have trundled across the planet's surface, beaming back astonishing views of the alien landscape and seeking clues on how it has evolved. While little green Martians are now firmly the preserve of literature, evidence is growing that the now arid, frozen planet was once warmer, wetter, and possibly thronging with microbial life. Soon, we may set foot on the planet. What challenges are involved, and how are we preparing for them? Is there a future for humanity on Mars?

In 4th Rock from the Sun, Nicky Jenner reviews Mars in its entirety, exploring its nature, attributes, potential as a human colony and impact on 3rd Rock-culture — everything you need to know about the Red Planet.

By: Nicky Jenner
Imprint: Bloomsbury Sigma
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 135mm,
Weight: 415g
ISBN: 9781472922496
ISBN 10: 1472922492
Pages: 272
Publication Date: 01 June 2017
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

1 Mars Fever 2 Earthlings on Mars 3 Pop culture Mars 4 Mars in Sci-Fi 5 Mars and the History of Science 6 The Martian Story 7 Martian Moons 8 Pranks and Hoaxes 9 Life on Mars? 10 Robot Cars on Mars 11 Why Mars? 12 The Martian future

Nicky Jenner is a science writer and editor. Her work has appeared in a variety of international magazines, including New Scientist, Nature, BBC Sky at Night, Physics World and Astronomy Now. She writes and edits for the European Space Agency, European Southern Observatory (the organisation responsible for both the Very Large Telescope and the upcoming European Extremely Large Telescope), and the Hubble Space Telescope, for which she was formerly the European press officer. Nicky lives in Bristol, UK. nickyjenner.com / @nickyjenner1