The Secrets of Mercury

by Emma Bernay, Emma Carlson Berne

Overview

Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system, but it still has secrets!  From ancient cultures that watched the skies, to modern scientists who send machines into space, humans are passionately curious about the planet closest to the Sun.  Learn about Mercury's discovery, what it would be like to visit, and what scientists still want to know.  Vivid photos and illustrations, scientist spotlights, and sidebars help unlock the secrets of Mercury.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781491458990
Publisher:	Capstone
Publication date:	08/01/2015
Series:	Planets
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	7.75(w) x 8.75(h) x 0.12(d)
Age Range:	8 - 10 Years

About the Author

Emma Carlson Berne has written more than a dozen books for children and young adults, including teen romance novels, biographies, and history books. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband, Aaron, her son, Henry, and her dog, Holly.

Emma Carlson Berne has written numerous historical and biographical books for children and young adults, as well as young adult fiction. She lives in Cincinnati with her husband and two sons.

Emma Carlson Berne has written more than a dozen books for children and young adults, including teen romance novels, biographies, and history books. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband, Aaron, her son, Henry, and her dog, Holly.

Emma Carlson Berne has written numerous historical and biographical books for children and young adults, as well as young adult fiction. She lives in Cincinnati with her husband and two sons.

Table of Contents

First Rock from the Sun 4

Mythology of Mercury 6

Discovering Mercury 8

A Nearly Absent Atmosphere 10

What's the Weather? 12

If You Were Standing on Mercury 14

The Secrets of Mercury's Craters and Cliffs 16

Odd Orbit 18

Mariner 10: The Beginning 20

Mariner 10: The Successful Mission 22

Messenger: A Deeper Look 24

Messenger: Uncovering Mercury's Secrets 26

Mercury and the Future 28

Glossary 30

Read More 31

Internet Sites 31

Critical Thinking Using the Common Core 32

Index 32

Interviews

Covers Next Generation Science Standards related to stars and the solar system Covers topography, atmosphere, weather for terrestrial planets, gas and ice giants, and dwarf planets Integrates the human aspect of space exploration Info-graphics and timelines Smithsonian brand Fun feature that repeats through the series: If I were standing on the planet; How long is a school day on the planet

Editorial Reviews

...particularly good, with up-to-date science and exploration sections. . . .All the books featured one current scientist (the list includes Louise Prockter, Adriana Ocampo, Mark Bordreaux, Ashwin Vasavada, Steve Vance, Carolyn Porco, Leigh Fletcher, and Heidi Hammel, respectively), and all have a closing page talking about questions for future exploration missions.

Planetary Society

From early human observations of lights in the sky, to past and future research missions, they’ll uncover many secrets about our celestial neighborhood. Comparisons to Earth, fact boxes, maps, and captions all combine to aid understanding. These books support Next Generation science standards, and the Smithsonian’s seal of approval guarantees excellence of this nonfiction set.

Lunar and Planetary Information Bulletin

11/01/2015
Gr 2–4—A visually strong exploration of the eight planets in the solar system. Filled with "Fast Facts," including the planet's diameter, distance from the sun, number of moons, and other relevant details, as well as short, readable sentences, each volume supports Next Generation Science Standards. The inclusion of "Critical Thinking Using the Common Core" at the end of the book will appeal to educators, administrators, and parents and will provide students with an opportunity to articulate and analyze what they've read. Readers are also introduced to the people who study the planets in each book's "Scientist Spotlight." The images of the night sky are stunning, but while the artists' illustrations of planetary scenes are beautiful, their inclusion weakens the authenticity. A minor error appears in The Secrets of Saturn, when the author claims that the "fastest winds on Earth occur during hurricanes," when, in fact, it's tornadoes that are responsible. VERDICT Although attractive, this series doesn't improve on extant series.

School Library Journal