The Solar System - Astronomical Studies & Observations, Children - Science & Technology, Astronomy

Pluto: A Dwarf Planet

Name: Pluto: A Dwarf Planet
Author: Gregory L. Vogt
ISBN: 9780761349884

by Gregory L. Vogt

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Overview

Presents information on Pluto, the farthest known planet, and its moon, Charon. Includes a glossary and "Pluto Quick Facts".

Presents information on Pluto, the farthest known planet, and its moon, Charon. Includes a glossary and "Pluto Quick Facts."

Synopsis

Presents information on Pluto, the farthest known planet, and its moon, Charon. Includes a glossary and "Pluto Quick Facts".

Children's Literature

The most distant planet in our solar system, Pluto continues to be a bit of a mystery. First noticed in 1930 by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh it was named by an eleven-year-old girl from England named Venetia Burney. Pluto is smaller than our moon and is over 4,500 million miles from the sun. At such a distance the pull of the sun's gravity is greatly lessened. Indeed, it takes Pluto 248 years to fully orbit around the sun. Pluto is a planet that has a frozen atmosphere that many scientists believe to be made of nitrogen. Some astronomers argue that Pluto should be classified as an asteroid rather than a planet as it is smaller than many moons in the solar system. Even the most powerful man-made telescopes can produce only ghostly and ill-defined images of this distant planet. Pluto is an enigma in this planetary system. Yet, author Gregory Vogt does an excellent job of describing Pluto's construction, nature, and mankind's efforts to study it in this volume of "The Galaxy" series. As is the norm for this excellent series the text is linked to fascinating visuals. Young readers of this book will gain knowledge about Pluto while at the same to remaining awed by the vastness of space. 2000, Bridgestone Books, Romaneck

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Editorials

Children's Literature

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-Another series that introduces the planets of our solar system. Vogt provides a bit more information than in corresponding titles by Seymour Simon (Morrow). Like Simon, he also features exceptionally fine full-color and black-and-white photographs and artists' renderings, making these good choices for both browsers and report writers. One caveat-in Pluto, the planet's unusual orbit is misstated in what is clearly a typo, but will still confuse readers. There is no shortage of comparable titles. Decide how many your library needs and choose accordingly. These will certainly be serviceable additions.-Elaine Fort Weischedel, Turner Free Library, Randolph, MA

School Library Journal

Gr 3-4-Brief but meaty introductions to the outer planets, combining seldom-seen color photos with single-page "chapters" of text. Though sometimes oversimplified, the information is a lively mix of basic facts, nonstandard background material, and recent discoveries about each planet's rings, atmosphere, physical features, and selected moons. Special terms are defined in appended glossaries, and generally in context, too; sizes, revolution and rotation periods, and distances are given both in the narrative and in accompanying charts. Each volume closes with an easily reproduced science demonstration, plus two-to-four-item lists of books, addresses, and Web sites. Though the photos have a cramped, over-enlarged look-probably due to the books' small trim size-such shots as a radiophotograph of Jupiter showing its massive magnetic fields and Hubble Space Telescope views of Pluto before and after computer enhancement will grab the attention of young space enthusiasts. Consider these above-average titles as alternatives-or better yet, companions-to equivalent volumes of "True Book" series updates (Children's).-John Peters, New York Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|