Seven Wonders of the Solar System

Part of Smithsonian

Look inside
Travel the near and far reaches of the solar system in this lively, beautifully illustrated Smithsonian nonfiction book!

Ready for a wondrous celestial journey? How about a trip to our close neighbor Mars, home to the largest volcano in the solar system? Or to Europa, a watery lunar world with a really deep ocean? Or beyond the beyond to mysterious Planet 9, an unseen giant lurking in the far outer regions of space?

This extraordinary book puts you right there: breaking through colorful gaseous hazes; exploring the surface of red-hot or ice-cold planets; hurtling through rings of flying, frozen ice chunks; and rocketing on out to deep space. Astronomer David Aguilar is our navigator on these seven wonderful trips through our solar system—journeys that someday may actually happen!
 
The SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION is the world’s largest museum and research complex. Founded in 1846, it includes nineteen museum and galleries, the National Zoological Park, and nine research facilities. Its vast collections house 138 million artifacts, specimens, and works of art, which represent our nation’s rich heritage, art from across the globe, and the immense diversity of the natural and cultural world.
© Aspen Skies
DAVID A. AGUILAR is an internationally recognized astronomer. He is the author and space artist of nine National Geographic and three Random House award-winning books, including: 7 Wonders of the Milky Way, a lively galactic journey through our home in the cosmos and Luna: The Science and Stories of Our Moon. He is an on-screen contributor and space artist for the History Channel's Universe series, the Science Channel's NASA's Unexplained Files, and the NHK (Japanese National Television Corporation) Cosmic Front series. In 2015, he joined NASA's New Horizons Mission Team as part of the historic Pluto Mission, and later in 2018-19, the Ultima Thule Kuiper Belt (KBO) Flyby Mission. In 2010, Asteroid 1990DA was named to honor his exceptional decades-long work to advance science education outreach.
CHRISTINE PULLIAM is the news director for the Space Telescope Institute in Baltimore, MD, and the past manager of media relations for the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, MA. In her spare time, she flies airplanes.
PATRICIA DANIELS has written more than a dozen science and history books for adults and children, including the National Geographic Encyclopedia of Space and Constellations: My First Pocket Guide. View titles by David A. Aguilar
"Aguilar weaves together a narrative of science and imagination—readers can envision what it would be like to set foot on these distant lands . . . Students will be fascinated and educated at the same time." —School Library Journal

Praise for Cosmic Catastrophes by David Aguilar:

★ "Readers who like their adventure and danger on a planetary scale will be captivated by this book . . . Outstanding." —School Library Connectionstarred review

"Chilling, compelling, and clearly explained . . . A wild and thought-provoking look at what potential calamities await our planet." —School Library Journal

About

Travel the near and far reaches of the solar system in this lively, beautifully illustrated Smithsonian nonfiction book!

Ready for a wondrous celestial journey? How about a trip to our close neighbor Mars, home to the largest volcano in the solar system? Or to Europa, a watery lunar world with a really deep ocean? Or beyond the beyond to mysterious Planet 9, an unseen giant lurking in the far outer regions of space?

This extraordinary book puts you right there: breaking through colorful gaseous hazes; exploring the surface of red-hot or ice-cold planets; hurtling through rings of flying, frozen ice chunks; and rocketing on out to deep space. Astronomer David Aguilar is our navigator on these seven wonderful trips through our solar system—journeys that someday may actually happen!
 
The SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION is the world’s largest museum and research complex. Founded in 1846, it includes nineteen museum and galleries, the National Zoological Park, and nine research facilities. Its vast collections house 138 million artifacts, specimens, and works of art, which represent our nation’s rich heritage, art from across the globe, and the immense diversity of the natural and cultural world.

Author

© Aspen Skies
DAVID A. AGUILAR is an internationally recognized astronomer. He is the author and space artist of nine National Geographic and three Random House award-winning books, including: 7 Wonders of the Milky Way, a lively galactic journey through our home in the cosmos and Luna: The Science and Stories of Our Moon. He is an on-screen contributor and space artist for the History Channel's Universe series, the Science Channel's NASA's Unexplained Files, and the NHK (Japanese National Television Corporation) Cosmic Front series. In 2015, he joined NASA's New Horizons Mission Team as part of the historic Pluto Mission, and later in 2018-19, the Ultima Thule Kuiper Belt (KBO) Flyby Mission. In 2010, Asteroid 1990DA was named to honor his exceptional decades-long work to advance science education outreach.
CHRISTINE PULLIAM is the news director for the Space Telescope Institute in Baltimore, MD, and the past manager of media relations for the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, MA. In her spare time, she flies airplanes.
PATRICIA DANIELS has written more than a dozen science and history books for adults and children, including the National Geographic Encyclopedia of Space and Constellations: My First Pocket Guide. View titles by David A. Aguilar

Praise

"Aguilar weaves together a narrative of science and imagination—readers can envision what it would be like to set foot on these distant lands . . . Students will be fascinated and educated at the same time." —School Library Journal

Praise for Cosmic Catastrophes by David Aguilar:

★ "Readers who like their adventure and danger on a planetary scale will be captivated by this book . . . Outstanding." —School Library Connectionstarred review

"Chilling, compelling, and clearly explained . . . A wild and thought-provoking look at what potential calamities await our planet." —School Library Journal

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