Overview

The first popular book to explain the dramatic theory behind the Moon's genesis This lively science history relates one of the great recent breakthroughs in planetary astronomy-a successful theory of the birth of the Moon. Science journalist Dana Mackenzie traces the evolution of this theory, one little known outside the scientific community: a Mars-sized object collided with Earth some four billion years ago, and the remains of this colossal explosion-the Big Splat-came together to form the Moon. Beginning with notions of the Moon in ancient cosmologies, Mackenzie relates the fascinating history of lunar speculation, moving from Galileo and Kepler to George Darwin (son of Charles) and the Apollo astronauts, whose trips to the lunar surface helped solve one of the most enigmatic mysteries of the night sky: who hung the Moon? Dana Mackenzie (Santa Cruz, CA) is a freelance science journalist. His articles have appeared in such magazines as Science, Discover, American Scientist, The Sciences, and New Scientist.

Full Product Details

Author:   D. Mackenzie ,  Dana MacKenzie
Publisher:   Turner Publishing Company
Imprint:   John Wiley & Sons Inc
Dimensions:   Width: 16.10cm , Height: 2.10cm , Length: 23.60cm
Weight:   0.504kg
ISBN:  

9780471150572

ISBN 10:   0471150576
Pages:   240
Publication Date:   01 March 2003
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Undergraduate ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   To order  
Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us.

Table of Contents

Reviews

A A...Dana MackenzieA...reveals the truthA...A (The Mail on Sunday, 30 March 2003) ...this is a most useful and interesting bookA...A (New Scientist, 7 June 2003) A most useful and interesting book. (Patrick Moore in New Scientist ) A A...an absorbing and informative account of the quest to explain the genesis of the moonA...A (Astronomy & Space, June 2003) A A...fascinating! For everyone with even the slightest interest in astronomyA...an insightful and entertaining readA...A (M2 Best Books, 14 July 2003) Besides telling an interesting tale well and elucidating how science progresses, Mackenzie's book emphasizes the fact that impacts have been the primary creative and destructive process throughout the history of the Solar System. (NATURE ) The Big Splat is a superb exploration of an important chapter in the history of Earth and its satellite. Every Moon--buff will want a copy. (Astronomy) ...a comprehensive travelogue of lunar nativities throughout history... (Astronomy Now, March 2004)

Dana Mackenzie reveals the truth (The Mail on Sunday, 30 March 2003) ...this is a most useful and interesting book (New Scientist, 7 June 2003) A most useful and interesting book. (Patrick Moore in New Scientist ) an absorbing and informative account of the quest to explain the genesis of the moon (Astronomy & Space, June 2003) fascinating! For everyone with even the slightest interest in astronomy an insightful and entertaining read (M2 Best Books, 14 July 2003) Besides telling an interesting tale well and elucidating how science progresses, Mackenziea s book emphasizes the fact that impacts have been the primary creative and destructive process throughout the history of the Solar System. (NATURE ) The Big Splat is a superb exploration of an important chapter in the history of Earth and its satellite. Every Moon--buff will want a copy. (Astronomy) ...a comprehensive travelogue of lunar nativities throughout history... (Astronomy Now, March 2004)

Dana Mackenzie reveals the truth (The Mail on Sunday, 30 March 2003) ...this is a most useful and interesting book (New Scientist, 7 June 2003) A most useful and interesting book. (Patrick Moore in New Scientist ) an absorbing and informative account of the quest to explain the genesis of the moon (Astronomy & Space, June 2003) fascinating! For everyone with even the slightest interest in astronomy an insightful and entertaining read (M2 Best Books, 14 July 2003) Besides telling an interesting tale well and elucidating how science progresses, Mackenzie's book emphasizes the fact that impacts have been the primary creative and destructive process throughout the history of the Solar System. (NATURE ) The Big Splat is a superb exploration of an important chapter in the history of Earth and its satellite. Every Moon-buff will want a copy. (Astronomy) ...a comprehensive travelogue of lunar nativities throughout history... (Astronomy Now, March 2004)

Author Information

DANA MACKENZIE holds a doctorate in mathematics from Princeton University. After teaching mathematics at Duke University and Kenyon College for more than a decade, in 1997 he completed the Science Communication Program at the University of California at Santa Cruz. Since then he has been a freelance science writer, with articles appearing in such magazines as Science, Discover, American Scientist, Astronomy, and New Scientist. He lives in Santa Cruz with his wife as well as three cats and a dog.

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