Mars : A Beginner’s Guide to Exploring the Red Planet

The perfect gift for anyone eager to learn more about the Red Planet. Discover all you need to know about Mars – including the history, cultural, scientific background and exploratory missions – with this accessible guide for aspiring and seasoned astronomers, full of stunning images. Gain a deeper understanding of one of the true wonders of our Solar System. And find out the essential equipment for observation and photography. Long before we realised what it was and long before we managed to reach it with spacecraft, the brown-red dot in the night sky was viewed by our ancestors with fascination.

In time, it was joined by similar ‘wandering stars’ – Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn – which together became known as the planets. Owens begins with a history of Mars exploration, from the superstitions early civilisations (who viewed our nearest planetary neighbour with the naked eye) attached to it, to the features that spawned countless stories about Martians and invaders from another world by the time huge telescopes were being constructed.

The very latest in Mars explorers, which have landed on the planet’s surface, dug into it, and more, are also discussed. This true Mars reference guide includes a summary of our current understanding of how the planet formed and evolved.

An ‘atlas’ helps you find your way around the planet when looking at images from spacecraft on or near its surface or through a large telescope. Observing Mars yourself can come with a steep price tag, but there are a range of different entry points for looking at the planet with the eye, through a telescope or by photographing it. Both novice and seasoned astronomers will learn what to expect in terms of detail from a variety of setups and will also gain an understanding of how to process images. Thanks to robotic friends past and present, there is a wealth of imagery that can be explored without spending a penny.

Information about how to get involved in Mars research through citizen science projects and a speculative look at the possibilities of humans living and working on Mars in years to come brings the Red Planet and all its intrigue one step closer.