Best Selling Books by Jacqueline Mitton

A revealing account of the second largest moon in our solar system.

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.

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.

Rave reviews for Pluto and Charon: Ice Worlds on the Ragged Edge of the Solar System The story of the quest to understand Pluto and the resulting transformation of our concept of the diminutive planet from that of solar-system misfit to king of the Kuiper Belt is told in this book by Alan Stern and Jacqueline Mitton. Stern, a Plutophile to the core, is one of the most energetic, talented, and savvy planetary astronomers in the business today. Mitton, trained as an astronomer, is an experienced writer and editor of scientific books for nonscientists. Together they have created an immensely informative book . . . Written in an engaging and informal style, Pluto and Charon takes the reader step by step from the discovery of the ninth planet in 1930 to the current understanding of Pluto and its moon, Charon.-Sky & Telescope More than a book summarizing what we know about [the] planet, [Pluto and Charon is] about how far and how fast astronomical technology has come since 1965 . . . Stern and Mitton use the narrative of Pluto research to explain in comfortable, everyday language how such work is done . . . One of the nice touches in the book is that Stern and Mitton tell us something about each astronomer.-Astronomy Pluto and Charon presents the exploration of the ninth planet-written as a vivid historical account-for anyone with an interest in science and astronomy . . . the authors describe in simple language the methods researchers use to explore the universe and the way ever-improving instrumentation helps their knowledge advance.-Physics Today

Identifies the groups of stars known as constellations and discusses their origin, uses, and observation.

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.

A scientific and mythological tour of the solar system.

The first biography of a pioneering scientist who made significant contributions to our understanding of dark matter and championed the advancement of women in science. One of the great lingering mysteries of the universe is dark matter. Scientists are not sure what it is, but most believe it’s out there, and in abundance. The astronomer who finally convinced many of them was Vera Rubin. When Rubin died in 2016, she was regarded as one of the most influential astronomers of her era. Her research on the rotation of spiral galaxies was groundbreaking, and her observations contributed significantly to the confirmation of dark matter, a most notable achievement. In Vera Rubin: A Life, prolific science writers Jacqueline Mitton and Simon Mitton provide a detailed, accessible overview of Rubin’s work, showing how she leveraged immense curiosity, profound intelligence, and novel technologies to help transform our understanding of the cosmos. But Rubin’s impact was not limited to her contributions to scientific knowledge. She also helped to transform scientific practice by promoting the careers of women researchers. Not content to be an inspiration, Rubin was a mentor and a champion. She advocated for hiring women faculty, inviting women speakers to major conferences, and honoring women with awards that were historically the exclusive province of men. Rubin’s papers and correspondence yield vivid insights into her life and work, as she faced down gender discrimination and met the demands of family and research throughout a long and influential career. Deftly written, with both scientific experts and general readers in mind, Vera Rubin is a portrait of a woman with insatiable curiosity about the universe who never stopped asking questions and encouraging other women to do the same.

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.

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.

Presents facts about stars, nebulas, galaxies, and constellations and recounts the Greek myths that provided widely-known names for ten constellations, from Andromeda to Pegasus.

The second edition of this classic reference work has been revised and updated to contain all the recent advances in this fast-developing field of study. Cutting through a maze of technical language, it provides: over 2,800 clear and concise entries with full cross-referencing; coverage of modern and classical astronomy; names of constellations, stars, galaxies, asteroids, comets, and nebulae; terms relating to astrophysics and cosmology; entries on telescopes and observatories; and explanation of abbreviations and acronyms; and information on space missions. Comprehensive and accessible, The Penguin Dictionary of Astronomy is the work of its kind for students and professionals.

Tours the solar system, weaving together mythology and astronomy.

Featuring "Fact Files" on each planet, plus highlights of important discoveries, the authors set out the aims and methods of astronomy, such as how astronomers map the universe. 145 illustrations, 138 in color.

Describes the sun''s family of planets, moons, and comets based on information from space probes.

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. Reprint.

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.

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.

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.

Images captured by the Hubble Space Telescope, including planets, stars, galaxies, quasars, and swirling clouds of gas, are accompanied by non-technical explanations

Everyone knows their own star sign, but how many can identify the constellations in the night sky and the stars that form them? Here is a beautiful illustrated book offering a factual, astronomical guide to the Zodiac and the celestial phenomena in which the Zodiac tradition is rooted. Illuminated by Christina Balit''s dazzling illustrations, this book will appeal to horoscope-devotees, star-gazers and everyone fascinated by the reality behind the myths, whatever their age.

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.

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