New Release Books by Jacqueline Mitton

The lure of the stars -- An aspiring astronomer -- Cornell and the rotating universe -- Georgetown, Gamow and galaxies -- A professional astronomer at last -- The call of the dome -- The delight of discovery -- Adventures in Andromeda -- Bright light on dark matter -- The dynamic universe -- Speaking out for women -- Wonderful life.

The birth and evolution of our solar system is a tantalizing mystery that may one day provide answers to the question of human origins. From Dust to Life tells the remarkable story of how the celestial objects that make up the solar system arose from common beginnings billions of years ago, and how scientists and philosophers have sought to unravel this mystery down through the centuries, piecing together the clues that enabled them to deduce the solar system''s layout, its age, and the most likely way it formed. Drawing on the history of astronomy and the latest findings in astrophysics and the planetary sciences, John Chambers and Jacqueline Mitton offer the most up-to-date and authoritative treatment of the subject available. They examine how the evolving universe set the stage for the appearance of our Sun, and how the nebulous cloud of gas and dust that accompanied the young Sun eventually became the planets, comets, moons, and asteroids that exist today. They explore how each of the planets acquired its unique characteristics, why some are rocky and others gaseous, and why one planet in particular--our Earth--provided an almost perfect haven for the emergence of life. From Dust to Life is a must-read for anyone who desires to know more about how the solar system came to be. This enticing book takes readers to the very frontiers of modern research, engaging with the latest controversies and debates. It reveals how ongoing discoveries of far-distant extrasolar planets and planetary systems are transforming our understanding of our own solar system''s astonishing history and its possible fate.

Gods, heroes, legends and creatures – amazing constellations light up the night sky, and each has a special story. Dr Jacqueline Mitton’s lyrical text blends ancient myths with modern astronomical facts in this spectacular introduction to the wonder of our night sky. Christina Balit’s stunning, graphic images are the perfect accompaniment to these dramatic tales.

For twenty-five years following the Voyager mission, scientists speculated about Saturn''s largest moon, a mysterious orb clouded in orange haze. Finally, in 2005, the Cassini-Huygens probe successfully parachuted down through Titan''s atmosphere, all the while transmitting images and data. In the early 1980s, when the two Voyager spacecraft skimmed past Titan, Saturn''s largest moon, they transmitted back enticing images of a mysterious world concealed in a seemingly impenetrable orange haze. Titan Unveiled is one of the first general interest books to reveal the startling new discoveries that have been made since the arrival of the Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn and Titan. Ralph Lorenz and Jacqueline Mitton take readers behind the scenes of this mission. Launched in 1997, Cassini entered orbit around Saturn in summer 2004. Its formidable payload included the Huygens probe, which successfully parachuted down through Titan''s atmosphere in early 2005, all the while transmitting images and data--and scientists were startled by what they saw. One of those researchers was Lorenz, who gives an insider''s account of the scientific community''s first close encounter with an alien landscape of liquid methane seas and turbulent orange skies. Amid the challenges and frayed nerves, new discoveries are made, including methane monsoons, equatorial sand seas, and Titan''s polar hood. Lorenz and Mitton describe Titan as a world strikingly like Earth and tell how Titan may hold clues to the origins of life on our own planet and possibly to its presence on others. Generously illustrated with many stunning images, Titan Unveiled is essential reading for anyone interested in space exploration, planetary science, or astronomy. A new afterword brings readers up to date on Cassini''s ongoing exploration of Titan, describing the many new discoveries made since 2006.

The follow-up to Zoo in the Sky presents facts about stars, nebulas, galaxies, and constellations and recounts the Greek myths that provide widely-known names for ten constellations, from Andromeda to Pegasus. Reprint.

An introduction to the planets of the solar system describes the unique characteristics of each planet and compares them to the ancient gods and goddesses who are their namesakes.

The universe is waiting to be explored—and this remarkable guide to the wonders of outer space will get you started on your journey! Explore the farthest reaches of the universe with this stunning visual atlas of outer space. From the big bang to the future of space exploration, The Ultimate Interactive Guide to the Universe gives children a detailed look at how stars and planets are formed, what causes black holes and nebulae to form, and the latest advancements in space travel. Flaps, pull tabs, a model solar system, a poster, and an interactive stargazer’s guide to the constellations of the night sky make this a complete guide to learning about the mysteries of the universe.

This lavishly illustrated new dictionary written by an experienced writer and consultant on astronomy provides an essential guide to the universe for amateur astronomers of all ages. Around 1300 carefully selected and cross-referenced entries are complemented by hundreds of beautiful colour illustrations, taken from space missions, the Hubble Space Telescope, and other major observatories on Earth and in space. Distinguished stellar illustrator Wil Tirion has drawn 20 new star maps especially for inclusion here. A myriad of named astronomical objects, constellations, observatories and space missions are described in detail, as well as biographical sketches for 70 of the most luminous individuals in the history of astronomy and space science. Acronyms and specialist terms are clearly explained, making for the most thorough and carefully assembled reference resource that teachers and enthusiasts of astronomy will ever need.

Shows and describes the animal constellations, including Canis Major and Scorpius the Scorpion, and provides information about some of the more unusual stars that make up the constellations. Reprint.

Provides information on various aspects of astronomy and outer space, including the sun and moon, planets, comets, asteroids, meteors, constellations, the nature and origin of the universe, and more.

What is the Moon like tonight? Its Turn the pages to see its many enchanting phases - from a horned crescent to the plump-faced Man in the Moon, from the icy crystal ring round the Moon to a dark orange eclipse - watched by Owl, Beaver, Koala, Spider Monkey and other creatures around the globe. The final scene has a surprise in store! Brief science notes make this a perfect introduction to the night sky for very young readers.

The authors use information gathered over nearly four centuries to describe Saturn''s moon Titan, the second largest moon in the solar system, and what we know about it based on observations from astronomers, results from the Voyager missions, and other sources.

Explores the possibility of life on other planets, covering such topics as our exploration of space, reports of UFO sightings and alien abductions, and famous extraterrestrials from movies and television.

Describes the life and work of Galileo, the scientist who offered objective evidence that the earth was not the fixed center of the universe.

Offers a factual astronomical guide to the zodiac and the celestial phenomena and ancient myths in which the zodiac tradition is rooted.

A survey of astronomy explains its goals and methods, discusses each planet in the solar system, and describes the life cycle of a star

Our Universe is full of mystery and excitement. The Marshall Children''s Guide to Astronomy provides young readers with the information they need to launch their own mission of discovery. Renowned authors, Dr Jacqueline Mitton and Dr Simon Mitton take the most complex of concepts and explain them in accessible, everyday language. Spectacular photography and illustrations depict such dramatic phenomena as supernovas and exploding galaxies. This stunningly illustrated book begins with the wider picture, looking out at the furthest depths of space and travelling back in time to the origins of the Universe. The reader then learns about galaxies, spectacular supernovas and other amazing space phenomena before discovering out solar system and the way in wich we observe the Universe from our own planet. Budding astronomers will delight in this comprehensive and enlightening guide. It provides hours of pleasure for the young astronomer and accessible information for school projects - an ideal combination of fun and fact.

TreeTops Non-Fiction is an exciting extension to the Oxford Reading Tree TreeTops range. Let''s Go to the Planets - could there be life on Mars and other planets?

The exploration of the ninth planet, Pluto, its moon, Charon, and their relationship to the newly discovered Kuiper Belt, is a tale of perseverance, ingenuity and dedication on the part of the planetary scientists who have been lured by the fascination of these far-flung miniature worlds. In Pluto and Charon, Alan Stern and Jacqueline Mitton turn that story into an entertaining adventure, starting with the discovery of Pluto by Clyde Tombaugh in 1930. In a highly accessible narrative, they bring to life the many ''Plutophiles'', who with skill and resourcefulness have pieced together over several decades an amazingly detailed picture of the nature of Pluto and Charon. The book also documents vividly the struggle by Plutophiles and the public to persuade NASA to fund a mission to Pluto, the only planet not yet explored from close proximity by a spacecraft. Hopes were alternately raised and dashed before eventual victory. At last, New Horizons (led by author Stern as Principal Investigator) is due to be launched in early 2006 on a 9-year journey to Pluto, Charon and beyond. For this second edition, Stern and Mitton have brought their 1998 book fully up to date, including the latest discoveries about Pluto''s ancient relationship with the members of the Kuiper Belt of icy bodies and dwarf planets beyond Neptune. They have also added a completely new chapter on the New Horizons mission.

Held up by the heliopause? Floored by the flatness problem? Intimidated by MACHOs? With the Cambridge Astronomy Dictionary you''ll no longer be defeated by such astronomical jargon! These and 3,200 additional words, names, and abbreviations used in amateur and professional astronomy, are clearly and concisely defined. Entries include information from modern and classical astronomy, including: A comprehensive selection of specialist terms All the constellations, planets, and moons of the solar system Comets, stars, asteroids, nebulae, and galaxies Telescopes, observatories, spacecraft, and space missions Published internationally as The Penguin Dictionary of Astronomy, it is considered the classic reference work in its field. This edition has been completely revised and includes many new entries. Anyone involved with astronomy, either professionally or as a hobby, will find the Cambridge Astronomy Dictionary a handy and invaluable reference. Jacqueline Mitton''s interest in astronomy began when she was a child and she had her first telescope as a teenager. She graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in physics, then obtained her PhD in astronomy at the University of Cambridge. In 1989 she became the Press Officer of the Royal Astronomical Society. She is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, a member of the International Astronomical Union, and a Member of the Division of Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society. She is the author or co-author of 16 astronomy books and writes for both children and adults.

A child''s introduction to the planets in our solar system. Dr Jacqueline Mitton describes each planet, drawing on scientific information. She also discusses the gods that the planets are named after, and examines the relationships between contemporary facts and ancient myths.

Beautifully-illustrated dictionary; an essential guide to the universe for astronomers of all ages.