50 Things You Should Know About Space (50 Things You Should Know About . . .) by Raman Prinja

50 Things You Should Know About Space (50 Things You Should Know About . . .) Reviews

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  RumBelle

  Each of the 50 items, from planetary facts to information about galaxies to dark matter was discussed in this fascinating, engaging read. Each item was a chapter, but within that chapter, the larger heading, were dozens of additional things to know. So, in reality, this book shared a lot more than 50 things.
  
  Each chapter presented the facts in an easy to understand way. The language was not overly technical and everything was explained really well. The layout was really well done too. Bright colors, small fact boxes. movement in the illustrations and amazing photos really brought the text to life. Great for children, or adults, who enjoy the topic.
  
  This is my first read in the 50 Things You Should Know About...series, but it will definitely not be my last. A very enjoyable way to present, and discuss, a topic.
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  Tram-Anh Huynh

  Everything I've wanted to grasp about the Universe in the first half of the book: the Big Bang, dark matter, dark energy, types of galaxies, star creation, supernova explosions, white dwarfs, pulsars, black holes, etc. Feels like flipping through a kid's magazine. Images illustrate the concepts perfectly. Wasn't seeking the info on our Solar System's planets (second half of the book), but reading about Hot Jupiters and super-Earths was like a cherry on top.
• 
  Jill

  Like other books in the “50 Things” series, this small book is replete with excellent illustrations, fascinating fact-boxes, and easy to understand information.
  
  The author, Raman Prinja, is a professor in astrophysics at University College London. He is the author of many “popular science” books, as well as the award-winning book for kids Science Crazy.
  
  The subject matter of this book takes us into outer space, from planets and galaxies to the latest theories in cosmology.
  
  I thought several omissions noteworthy.
  
  The first has to do with the author’s small box on the evolution in science from belief in a geocentric universe to that of a heliocentric universe. Dr. Prinja mentions Ptolemy and Copernicus, but not Galileo. While Galileo wasn’t the first to claim that the earth revolved around the sun rather than the other way around, his contribution was extremely important; Galileo's telescope offered evidence of orbital motion around Jupiter by its moons, and he was far more influential than Copernicus in popularizing the notion of a heliocentric system. He also ignited a battle with the Catholic Church that was highly significant for the course of the Enlightenment.
  
  A second odd omission comes with the discussion of Pluto. Most of us grew up thinking Pluto was the ninth planet. Discovered in 1930, students all over the world for the next 76 years learned it was a part of our solar system. The author introduces Pluto only as “a dwarf planet that orbits in the outer Solar System” and never even mentions that it used to have full planetary status.
  
  I thought the author missed out on a great opportunity to bring up some basic concepts in his discussion of constellations. He doesn’t indicate that constellations - pictures perceived out of groups of stars - only make sense when viewed from Earth, because the constituent stars are located in different places in time and space.
  
  I admit to being rather offended that the author remarked on the crucial discovery of cepheid variables only with respect to Edwin Hubble’s study of them.  But Hubble based his own research on the pioneering work of Henrietta Leavitt, his assistant who was paid just $10.50 a week, while Hubble became famous.  For a long time women were not accepted as “astronomers.” I don’t think that fact is, or should be, outside the scope of this book.
  
  In addition, the index is just barely adequate, a common problem in the “50 Things” series.
  
  Nevertheless, there are lots of positives about this book. The author found many ways to include engrossing aspects of a huge subject, and thanks to giant orbiting telescopes like the
  Chandra X-Ray Observatory, some amazing photographs. Importantly, given the mix of pictures, facts, and infographics, I don’t think anyone is going to be bored or intimidated by the subject matter.
  
  Evaluation:  This book does a very good job at introducing the subjects of astronomy and cosmology to students. All the eye-popping pictures and facts will no doubt inspire further inquiries, at which time any omitted portions will become clear. Great infographics with plenty of photos will make the time fly as you learn the basics. Most importantly, the author summarizes very potentially complex subjects, like dark matter and dark energy, in a way that anyone can understand. A brief glossary is at the back of the book.
  
  Rating:  3.5/5
  
• 
  Libby App Audiobook reader

  Read to my kinder for his daily reading assignment... He loved making up his own story after I read the facts on the page to him.