New and Noteworthy
Springer, 2017, 201 pp., Paperback, $34.99. www.springer.com As advanced in-space propulsion moves from science fiction to reality, the Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR®) engine, is a leading contender for making “Mars in a month” a possibility. A paradigm shift in space transportation, this book is an in-depth and compelling story co-written by its inventor. It traces the riveting history of the development of […]
Springer, 2017, 279 pp., Paperback, $34.99. www.springer.com This book concentrates on some of the odd aspects of comets and asteroids. Strange behavior of comets, such as outbursts and schisms, and how asteroids can temporally act as comets are discussed, together with the possible threat of Centaur-class objects like the Taurid complex. Recent years have seen […]
Cambridge University Press. 2017, 500 pp., Hardcover, $125.00. www.cambridge.org Planetary nebulae, glowing shells of ionized gas, are the spectacular products of the evolution of low- and intermediate-mass stars. For astrophysicists, they are important laboratories for the understanding of atomic, molecular, dust, and plasma processes in different cosmic environments; they enable the exploration of the fundamental […]
Elsevier, 2017, 432 pp., Paperback, $99.95. www.elsevier.com Volatiles in the Martian Crust is a vital reference for future missions — including ESA’s EXO Mars and NASA’s Mars2020 rover — looking for evidence of life on Mars and the potential for habitability and human exploration of the martian crust. Mars science is a rapidly evolving topic with new […]
Bloomsbury Sigma, 2017, 336 pp., Hardcover, $27.00. www.bloomsbury.com The search for planets — and life — outside the solar system is one of the most rapidly growing fields in astronomy, with thousands of these “exoplanets” discovered so far. The detection of these worlds has only been possible in the last decade, with the number of discoveries increasing […]
Workman Publishing. 2017, 308 pp., Hardcover, $29.95. www.workman.com Sit back and enjoy a new view. Aerial Geology is an up-in-the-sky exploration of North America’s 100 most spectacular geological formations. Crisscrossing the continent from the Aleutian Islands in Alaska to the Great Salt Lake in Utah and to the Chicxulub Crater in Mexico, author Mary Caperton […]
Firefly Books, 2017, 96 pp., Paperback, $14.95. www.fireflybooks.com The night sky is always an amazing sight, but it’s a thrill when you can locate stars or catch sight of a meteor. With 2018 Guide to the Night Sky, amateur astronomers can view the sky over the course of the year and not miss a thing. It […]
10-inch (25-centimeter) assembled globe, $250.00; 18-inch (46-centimeter) assembled globe, $450.00; and 30-inch (76-centimeter) assembled globe, $3000.00. www.realworldglobes.com This unique Geological Globe of the World features rich geological information content about Earth compiled from geological maps of hundreds of countries from both national and international organizations. This is a comprehensive and undistorted view of Earth’s global […]
QEB Publishing, 2017, 24 pp., Hardcover. $17.95. www.quartoknows.com Discover all there is to know about the machines used in space by building them with this interactive guide! Space Machines includes everything you will need and full, step-by-step instructions to build nine different space machines with working parts. With a pegboard and 40 sturdy, colorful machine pieces, […]
$39.00. This special edition of the classic board game SolarQuest includes enhanced graphics, the major dwarf planets, magnets on the Fuel Card and game board to hold the Fuel Stations in place, two levels of game play including an easy version that does not require fuel monitoring for younger players, and special rules that make […]
Harper Collins, 2017, 240 pp., Hardcover. $17.99. www.harpercollins.com In this inspiring memoir, young readers will get to learn about Leland Melvin’s remarkable life story, from being drafted by the Detroit Lions; to bravely orbiting our planet in the International Space Station; to writing songs with will.i.am, working with Serena Williams, and starring in top-rated television […]
$19.95. www.davincisroom.com On a deep space mission, your crew is stranded on a planet that’s headed toward a black hole. Your only hope of escape is to race back to your rocket ship to escape in time. This game allows kids to practice early math skills — for example, adding and subtracting 0–9, comparing numbers (greater […]
54 cards. $6.99. www.peaceablekingdom.com Here’s a deck of classic playing cards with a twist: These cards feature planetary artwork by illustrator, author, and computer animator Mark Garlick. For ages 3 and up and for one to several players.
500- and 1000-piece puzzles. $16.00 and $18.00. www.newyorkpuzzlecompany.com The NASA JPL Visions of the Future Poster series features images of imaginative travel destinations. The New York Puzzle Company has created jigsaw puzzles from some of these posters. These 500- and 1000-piece puzzles have a linen-style finish designed to reduce glare and are made in […]
Note: Product descriptions are taken from publishers' websites. LPI is not responsible for factual content.