Uranus and Neptune

Children's Literature

The "World Beyond" series by the author presents an amazing amount of information about our solar system. This volume deals with Uranus and Neptune, two planets that were discovered by astronomers using very simple telescopes, in the late 1700s and 1800s. Details of these efforts to map the stars seem Herculean by today's standards. The explanation of Bode's Rule and its application to the distances of planets is particularly interesting. The author's illustrations of the planet surfaces, rings, and moons are exquisite. NASA photographs from Voyager 2 are remarkable. The reader will not only learn about Uranus and Neptune but will gain a fine overview of the scientific methods used to determine the makeup of planets, their size and satellites and the interaction of our solar system and worlds beyond. A glossary of terms, bibliography and Web site list assist the reader in further studies of the subject. 2003, The Millbrook Press, Ages 10 to Adult.
— Barbara Youngblood

School Library Journal

Gr 5-7-Miller combines relatively extended introductions to three planetary systems with a mix of NASA photos and wide-angle, computer-generated art, mostly views of planets from their moons' rugged surfaces. Students with a serious interest in the physical history of the Earth and its moon will be engrossed by his account of our planet's first few billion years, the Moon's probable origin, and the rise of life. After describing the searches for Uranus and Neptune in the 18th and 19th centuries, the author recounts what has since been discovered about these planets, their satellites, and their elusive rings, both through Earth-based observation and from the visit of Voyager 2. Miller points out many intriguing features that remain unexplained, from the severe axial tilt of Uranus to the spectacularly tortured surface of its moon Miranda. Sidebars offer historical anecdotes, fact summaries, and even a few simple science experiments. Both volumes are rounded off with generous lists of print and electronic resources. The information here is available elsewhere, at least in deeper subject collections, but the art imparts a captivating sense of "being there" that elevates these offerings above the standard run of space titles.-John Peters, New York Public Library Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.