A Space Traveller's Guide To The Solar System

Description

An enchanting and wildly entertaining tour of the Solar System Have you ever dreamt of being an astronaut, travelling through the universe on your very own space mission? What would it be like to tour the Solar System, visiting the Sun and the planets, taking in everything from moons to asteroid belts along the way? What would you see, and how would you feel? What would you eat? How would you navigate and produce fuel? How would you survive? On this epic voyage of discovery, astronomer Mark Thompson takes you on that journey. From how to prepare for take-off and the experience of leaving Earth's atmosphere, to the reality of living in the confines of a spaceship and the strange sensation of weightlessness, this is an adventure like no other. Suit up, strap in and enjoy the ride.

Mark Thompson is one of the presenters on the BBC Two award winning show Stargazing Live and the resident astronomer on ITV's This Morning. When not gracing our television screens he is most likely writing about the sky, looking at it or flying through it (as a qualified pilot, not a human cannonball). He writes for a number of websites including Discovery News' Space pages and the Space Exploration Network along with a variety of other publications. He is also a regular on Radio Five Live. Born in Norfolk, Mark has had a fascination with all things in the sky ever since he was a small boy and is proud to be a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Your personal star trek. In this infectiously lively and informative book ... every aspect of this virtual journey is meticulously planned. Thompson is a natural communicator and one comes away with a profound sense of the wonders of space. -- Simon Shaw * Mail on Sunday * Your personal star trek. In this infectiously lively and informative book ... every aspect of this virtual journey is meticulously planned. Thompson is a natural communicator and one comes away with a profound sense of the wonders of space. -- Simon Shaw * Mail on Sunday * Evocative... We're living in a golden age for space exploration, and in A Space Traveller's Guide to the Solar System, Mark Thompson draws upon much of this knowledge to serve as our tour guide to the archipelago of planets and moons that share our Sun with us... Thompson discusses not just the characteristics of the worlds encountered, but also deals with the mechanics of spacecraft and what it takes to keep astronauts alive... Fascinating gems of information glitter from the text -- Lewis Dartnell * The Telegraph * Every step of the way in Mark Thompson's virtual tour of the solar system there's something new and bizarre and fascinating to discover... We'll never go there ourselves, sadly. But losing yourself in this lively, infectiously optimistic book is the next best thing -- Marcus Berkmann * The Daily Mail * Mark is a wonderful promoter of Astronomy. He's tremendously knowledgeable about the geography of the night sky, guiding the experienced amateur and complete novice with equal skill and passion. -- Professor Brian Cox