Page 103 - BBC Sky at Night - September 2017 UK

BOOK REVIEWS SEPTEMBER 103

Vacation Guide substantial or interesting moons, and
always with a focus on what to see and do The Earth
to the Solar in these amazing, alien environments. Gazers
We first get briefed on what to pack,
System BOOK what to expect in different gravities
OF THE
MONTH – including artificial – choosing a Christopher Potter
Olivia Koski and Jana Grcevich spacesuit and how to not die as you Head of Zeus
Square Peg are exposed to radiation that could cook £25 z HB
£12.99 z PB a steak in nanoseconds. Then the fun
starts. After a visit to the Moon, we The Earth Gazers
Would you like to reach sunwards to find Mercury, before tells the story of the
ski on Pluto? Tour the heading outwards, stopping at every Space Race from a
blistering surface of planet along the way until we reach more personal
Venus in a giant Pluto and beyond. perspective, rather
submarine on wheels? Each chapter is broken down into than a solely
What about plunging sections detailing how to get there, technical one. It
into the subsurface, when to go, what to do, getting around, considers the long-
briny ocean of and so on – like a regular travel guide, lasting effect on those who saw Earth
Europa? Look no with an emphasis on scientific accuracy. from such a detached vantage point,
further than this lavishly illustrated But what really brings this book alive both in person and from the many
tome and you’ll find out how to do all are the stunning illustrations, all done iconic images returned home.
of this – and more. in an art-deco style, like the travel The book opens with Charles
Vacation Guide to the Solar System reads posters of yesteryear. My only quibble is Lindbergh and his historic
like an actual travel guide. However, the the persistent and frustrating use of transatlantic flight, and takes us
destinations are far more exotic than Fahrenheit. But still, superb. through the development of rocket
anything on this overpopulated and HHHHH flight, both in the US and the
polluted Earth. This is a study of the Solar USSR, up until the final manned
System at its most majestic; a blow-by-blow MARK GARLICK is an illustrator, author lunar landing. From rocket pioneer
account of all of the major planets, selected and computer animator whose work Robert Goddard in the US to the
dwarf planets, and some of the more graces our Exoplanet Excursions column
advancements made by Germany
during World War II – and how
The Spirit and the Sky that went on to influence both
sides of the Iron Curtain – it’s a
Lakota Visions of the Cosmos very human story.
Despite this refreshing take on the
Mark Hollabaugh material, the book is sadly spoiled by
University of Nebraska Press counts”. The people measured winters numerous factual errors. The author
£41 z HB instead of years, and every winter each states that by the end of the 14-day
tribe would draw an image that best
Our perspective of the represented that year. Celestial phenomena Gemini VII flight, the crew “had been
night sky is shaped by were clearly of importance to them, as the in space more than twice the length
our culture and our winter counts show the 1833 Leonid of any of the future Apollo missions”,
knowledge of science. meteor storm, as well as solar and lunar which lasted up to 13 days. He
Science has unveiled the eclipses from that century. These have the wrongly describes Gemini as having
secrets of meteor showers, added importance of helping to synchronise a launch escape system similar to
eclipses and aurorae, the winter counts with our own calendar. that found on Mercury and Apollo,
but to some cultures It does seem apparent that celestial rather than the ejector seats that
throughout history these spectacles objects played a part in the Lakota were actually used. Apollo 15,
often had a spiritual meaning. spiritual beliefs – for instance they had rather than Apollo 17, is said to
In The Spirit and the Sky, Mark their own names for the stars and be the mission that spent the longest
Hollabaugh investigates how the Native constellations – but some of the time on the lunar surface, and so
American Lakota people might have connections made in the book do seem the errors continue.
interpreted the night sky in the 19th quite vague. It is also obviously quite It’s a great shame that these
century. Understanding how they viewed a niche subject, which can make it errors weren’t spotted as the book is
astronomy is surprisingly difficult. The difficult to appreciate, although it may otherwise well written and takes a
Lakota had no written language at the still intrigue those with an interest in different, more personal viewpoint
time, and much of what is known comes the history of astronomy. than many others on the subject.
from the often biased accounts produced HHHHH +++++
by the American settlers. Despite this,
Hollabaugh brings together all of what is AMANDA DOYLE is a freelance science MARK BOWYER is an expert in the
known about Lakota astronomy. Of writer and a postdoctoral researcher at US manned space programme
particular interest are the Lakota “winter the University of Warwick

skyatnightmagazine.com 2017