Worlds Without End: The Exploration Of Planets Known And Unknown (Helix Books)

Now we know: other stars have planets, too! What are they like? Do they house beings looking up at us? In Worlds Without End, John S. Lewis answers the first question as best he can and wisely defers the second with a thorough discussion of its possibilities. He knows what he's talking about--as codirector of the Space Engineering Research Center at the University of Arizona, he's on top of the ever-increasing flow of information about our own planet, our neighbors from Mercury to Pluto, and the invisible (but well-established) satellites of distant suns. His prose, at turns studious and droll, captures his enthusiasm for planetary science and infuses the reader with the desire to know more. Whether you want to learn about life or the planets that support it, Worlds Without End should be the starting point for your cosmic voyage. --Rob Lightner