Review by Choice Review
Only two years ago, large planetary bodies were discovered around a few nearby stars. That achievement has stimulated NASA support to investigate the origin of these systems and heightened public interest in the possibility that extrasolar planets may support life. Goldsmith, a very popular and entertaining science writer, describes the search for extrasolar planets by discussing what they are, whether they can support life, the difficulty of observing planets close to bright stars and how they can be observed, how planets are formed, how many are out there, and the challenges of trying to find evidence of life elsewhere. There are several very stimulating sections that include the importance of liquid solvents to the support of life, an excellent explanation of the twin paradox, and the uncertainties that current observations present to theorists, since only planets larger than Jupiter have been found, and they are often located quite close to their "parent" star--quite unlike our experience in our own solar system. There is a ten-page glossary, a seven-page index, 24 color plates, many of which are drawings or artists' conceptions rather than photographs, and a one-page list of mostly popular articles recommended for further reading. Highly recommended for all levels. W. E. Howard III; Universities Space Research Association
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
In this golden age of astronomy, new discoveries have proliferated in the past year: life on Mars, an ocean on Europa, and planets around other stars. On the heels of Goldsmith's The Hunt for Life on Mars [BKL F 1 97] comes this exciting account of the new planets. Because they cannot be seen, sophisticated methods are being utilized to study these planets, methods that Goldsmith cogently explains in terms of the instruments and reasoning used to claim a new discovery. The burning curiosity, of course, is whether the newcomers could support life: the answer is no; most are gigantic and too close to their stars, and an earth-size planet found orbiting a pulsar would obviously be a crispy critter. Such facts surprised astronomers, upsetting their favored theory of planet formation, possible revisions of which Goldsmith reports with the enthusiasm and clarity essential to popular works. Two dozen colorplates, some imagining the appearance of the new planets, gussy up a wonderful science acquisition for libraries. --Gilbert Taylor
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
Review by Booklist Review
