title: Space Encyclopedia: A Tour of Our Solar System and Beyond (National Geographic Kids)
author:  David A. Aguilar 
description: This attractive compendium of information about space is encyclopedic in the sense that its scope is broad. The facts are presented in two- to eight-page highly illustrated articles within five thematic sections. The first section, What We Know, comments on matters as diverse as the big bang, dark energy, near-earth objects, and solar storms. The two longest sections are the tour of our solar system (including dwarf planets and the Oort cloud) and the outward-looking presentation on stars, galaxies, and the universe. The final sections, Are We Alone? and Dreams of Tomorrow, look to the future. The articles are clearly written and informative, but the visuals steal the show. Beautifully reproduced on heavy, glossy pages, the illustrations include Aguilars often striking, imaginative artwork as well as many excellent images from NASA. While the large pictures often show dramatically lit views of stars, galaxies, and planets, the smaller pictures include useful cutaway views of planets and stars. An informative volume at a very reasonable price. Grades 5-8. --Carolyn Phelan
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  Ballantine Books Edition, September 1997
  
  
  ISBN: 0-345-37659-5
  
  
  Scanned: December, 2000 V.1.0
  
  
  Formatted for viewing in Word 97
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  CARL SAGAN
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  PALE BLUE DOT
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  A V I S I O N O F T H E
  
  
  H U M A N F U T UR E I N S PA C E
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  F O R S A M
  
  
  Another wanderer,
  
  
  May your generation see
  
  
  Wonders undreamt.
  
  
  
  
  
  SPACECRAFT EXPLORATION
  
  
  OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM
  
  
  
  
  
  **NOTABLE EARLY ACHIEVEMENTS**
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  **UNITED STATES**
  
  
  
  
  
  1958 First scientific discovery in space-Van Allen radiation belt
  
  
  _(Explorer 1)_
  
  
  1959 First television images of the Earth from space
  
  
  _(Explorer 6)_
  
  
  1962 First scientific discovery in interplanetary space -direct observation of
  the solar wind _(Mariner 2)_
  
  
  1962 First scientifically successful planetary mission
  
  
  _(Mariner 2_ to Venus)
  
  
  1962 First astronomical observatory in space
  
  
  _(OSO-1_ )
  
  
  1968 First manned orbit of another world
  
  
  ( _Apollo 8_ to the Moon)
  
  
  1969 First landing of human