Don't Know Much About Space

by Kenneth C. Davis, Sergio Ruzzier (Illustrator)

Overview

• If Earth is round, why don't people on the other side of the world fall off? (see page 26)
• Is Mars red because it's embarrassed? (see page 49)
• If black holes are invisible, how do we know they're there? (see page 86)

Using the popular style that has won millions of readers, best-selling author Kenneth C. Davis blasts off for the stars! With an entertaining question-and-answer format, amusing anecdotes, and fact-filled sidebars, he sets his sights on the mysteries of space.

Humorous illustrations, along with NASA photographs, add fun and excitement to this fascinating and comprehensive book. Davis takes you back to the time when the Babylonians first charted the stars — over three thousand years ago! You'll uncover amazing facts about the planets and stars, read how people were once convinced that Earth was the center of the universe, and discover how the experience of moonwalking astronauts may someday lead us to become pioneers on other planets.

This book is the perfect companion to Don't Know Much About® The Universe — and all the other books in the New York Times best-selling Don't Know Much About® series.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780064408356
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	07/24/2001
Series:	Don't Know Much About Series
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.36(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Kenneth C. Davis is the New York Times bestselling author of A Nation Rising; America's Hidden History; and Don't Know Much About^® History, which spent thirty-five consecutive weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, sold more than 1.7 million copies, and gave rise to his phenomenal Don't Know Much About^® series for adults and children. A resident of New York City and Dorset, Vermont, Davis frequently appears on national television and radio and has been a commentator on NPR's All Things Considered. He blogs regularly at www.dontknowmuch.com.

Sergio Ruzzier is a two-time Geisel Honor–winning picture book author and illustrator. He was born in Milan, Italy, in 1966 and began his career as an illustrator in 1986. Sergio has written and illustrated many picture books, including Fox & Chick: The Party, a 2019 Geisel Honor Book; Fish and Wave, a 2023 Geisel Honor Book; Two Mice; and more. He was a recipient of the 2011 Sendak Fellowship. His work has won many awards, including the Parents’ Choice Gold Medal for The Room of Wonders and This Is Not a Picture Book!

Read an Excerpt

Introduction

A very smart, funny scientist once told a reporter that space isn't so far away. "It's only an hour's drive if your car could go straight up." He was right. That is how close we are to space.

But here's another way to think about space. The galaxies of outer space are filled with stars. Does ten billion trillion stars mean anything to you? It sounds like one of those words that little kids make up when they want to think of the absolutely hugest possible number there is. But that is how many stars astronomers say are out there in the universe. If everybody on Earth -- all six billion people -- counted 1,000 stars per second for twenty-four hours a day, it would take 50 years to count all those stars. You could get tired just thinking about it.

Of course our Sun, which gives light, energy, and life to Earth, is only one of those trillions of stars. Now space seems like a much bigger place, doesn't it?

Don't Know Much About Space is meant to be an easy, interesting, and fun way to help you navigate around all that space. Just like a road map helps show the way to the beach, or a tour book tells you which sights to see when you visit a new city, this book introduces the sights and places that we know exist in our great big universe. It asks and answers a lot of questions you may have about space -- and maybe a few you haven't thought of. It also asks some questions to which science has no answers yet!

As we continue to explore space, with exciting projects like the International Space Station, which was being put together a few hundred miles above Earth even as this book was being written, we'll answer some of those questions. But one thing is for certain: space will be part of our future.

So it's a good idea to get to know the place where you and your children and grandchildren may someday explore and work -- or just take a holiday. Happy space travels!

Editorial Reviews

Davis' isn't-this-great-stuff perspective illuminates every page. ” — ALA Booklist

From the Publisher

Davis' isn't-this-great-stuff perspective illuminates every page.

ALA Booklist