Mercury: The Elusive Planet

by Robert G. Strom

A popular treatment based upon recent findings. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0874748925
• ISBN13: 9780874748925
• Release Date: April 1987
• Publisher: Smithsonian Books (DC)
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.1" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Concise Summary of the Current Knowledge About Mercury

Even though this book is almost fifteen years old, it is not out dated at all, since the last space exploration mission to Mercury was flown in 1974 by the Mariner 10 space probe. It is one of the few books, other than children's books or NASA publications, which provides a detailed description of this planet.The first chapter of the book "The Elusive Planet" opens with the knowledge acquired from Earth based observation, which is very minimal, hence the title of the book and chapter. The book then proceeds to the development of the Mariner 10 space vehicle, mission plan and flight to Mercury. The remainder of the book deals with the discovers made by the Mariner 10 space probe, such as, the general surfaces features, the planet's interior, how impact craters are formed, and some of the unique geological features found on Mercury.This book is extremely easy to read, since it does not contain any unnecessary geological terms. In addition, there are plenty of nice black and white photos and numerous line drawings.