Author: Mark Mortimer

Humans and high speed vehicles have been getting together for a long time. The need for added speed keeps us experimenting. From two horse chariots to four horse, or galleons to schooners, we keep finding ways of getting ourselves moving faster and further. Rocket power swiftly followed the advent of planes, giving us freedom from the grip of land. Then ballistic missiles sent us past the slight friction of our atmosphere and into the near complete emptiness of space. With every advent of new technology and speed, there were flaws and errors. A chariot wheel fractures and dumps the drivers onto the ground. This may lead to no more than a bruised ego. But, when a thin ring of rubber fails on a rocket, the results are much more disastrous. Sad as this may be, one of humanity’s common traits is a greater interest in failures than successes. Hence, though we have made many successful flights into space, it is the failures that interest most people, even a long time after the event and it is this trait that gets treated with this book.

To satisfy this interest, Richard Lawrence has compiled a collection of stories, narrations and articles. These cover the time from planes using rockets in 1953 to the launch of the Rosetta mission in 2004. There is Neville Duke an early air speed record holder who describes rocket flight. Chuck Yeager powers through a description of his first transition through the sound barrier. Buzz Aldrin depicts Apollo 11’s landing, while Lovell repaints his sojourn in Apollo 13. As well, Lawrence with Bryan Burrough, provide their own rendition of the time a Progress supply vessel crashes into the Mir space station. These and others in the collection bring back to life many of the most memorable crises of humans and rocketry.

In addition to the events themselves, the styles of the presentations show the maturation of the technology. The early stories usually refer to only one person who was fully integrated with the craft and often referred to it as an extension of themselves. Later narrations, in particular the very dry excerpts from the commission’s report on the Challenger and Columbia accidents, show the remote controlled nature of flight even to the associated communications. Exceptions do occur though as Jerry Linenger eloquently echos his feelings of almost uncontrollable terror while dangling in the void of space at the end of a boom extending from the Mir station.

In editing, Richard Lawrence chose an excellent collection of narrations covering humans and rocketry. By selecting first hand accounts, or very well placed second hand accounts, he continually places the reader directly at the event. He provides clarification by adding a few paragraphs before each selection to aid the reader in understanding the situation. Though these articles represent a quite superficial and somewhat negative view of humanity’s progress with rocketry, as indicated by the sensationalist title, still many youths might be pleasantly swayed by much of the emotional delivery. That is except for the very dry and bureaucratic style of the selections for the Challenger and Columbia accidents. Certainly there are other thoughtful, technically accurate and strongly emotional narrations for these.

For many good and bad reasons, people contentedly place themselves into perilous situations. Perhaps this is the nature of humanity, to offer your singular service for the greater good. In the book edited by Richard Russell Lawrence entitled Space Exploration and Disasters, there are many stories of people striving to do their best against some astounding challenges. And, as often seen, people were able to adapt, apply innovative thinking and respond successfully.

Review by Mark Mortimer

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Tycho Brahe was a Danish nobleman who spent his life taking the most exact measurements of stars and planets then known. Being of high ranked noble birth, his family’s expectations were for Brahe to enter into court politics. Yet Brahe followed his own path, that being his love for astronomy. Even his slight divergence into alchemy quickly returned to astronomy on seeing the skies brighten from a supernova. Nevertheless, this being Europe of the early 1600’s, politics dominated lives. Brahe was exiled when a new king sat upon the Danish throne and he ended up in Prague as the mathematician of the court of the Holy Roman Empire.

At almost the same time, Johannes Kepler was using his intellect to escape his difficult and lowly lifestyle. Earning passage into a university, he excelled at mathematics and also fell into a love of astronomy and astrology. Kepler equally had difficulties in life and though he married a lady who had extensive land holdings, all their wealth disappeared. The politics of the time was again the culprit. Fortuitously, Kepler had already connected with Tycho Brahe who had given him an invitation to work and live together. Kepler, apparently without any other options, accepted. Much later, after Brahe’s death, Kepler used Brahe’s data to determine his now well known three laws of planetary motion.

Most references, in discussing Brahe and Kepler, provide little more information than the above. The Gilders, however, have gone digging. With the help of many experts and original documents, they build the characters of these scientists. Brahe may have been a nobleman, but he seems to have continually turned his back to the corresponding lifestyle. Kepler was not only smart with numbers but also had a tendency to quickly lose friends through a hot temper. Many details of their lives get reviewed; their parents, their places of birth, their schooling and their relationships. Yet this is not a simple biography of these two individuals. This is a case of murder. For the authors show that Kepler, with his temper and his craving for fame, wanted and needed Brahe’s data to pursue his own postulations about the shape of the heavens.

The key element in the Gilder’s book comes from recent investigations. Brahe’s crypt was recently repaired and, given this opportunity, some hairs were analyzed to try to deduce the cause of his death. The authors use tools of today’s forensic experts to understand a bit of what was happening with Brahe during his final days. In so doing, they combine these results with many pieces of circumstantial evidence to substantiate their belief that Kepler had the opportunity, means and motive. This case is a bit cold, actually more than 400 years old, but the Gilders make it fresh and exciting by reliving the times of these scientists and making the two much more than footnotes in a physics text.

This ability to enliven a well aged event sets this book apart. Very little science graces its pages. Some description of Brahe’s observatories and sextants show the state of the art in astronomical observation. A little on Kepler’s Mysterium Cosmographicum give an idea of the philosophical issues of the times. For the most part, the Gilders dish up a finely flavoured selection of the pertinent points and issues that embellish their belief of a dastardly deed. A delicious undertone questions the drive of scientists and society. That is, just how far outside society’s mores do we allow researchers when the result adds knowledge or ability for all. The answer to this question might have changed in 400 years, but it is still relevant to ask today.

People come in all stripes and colours. Brilliant scientists might be lousy friends. Fantastic leaders might be so inept with numbers as to be unable to balance their own finances. This potpourri of characteristics bring spice to our lives. However, some spices are not as well liked as others. The murder that Joshua Gilder and Anne-Lee Gilder so boldly proclaim in their book Heavenly Intrigue is one such. Perhaps a golden opportunity brought together Johannes Kepler and Tycho Brahe, but read this book and see how other opportunities may have prematurely ended their association.

Review by Mark Mortimer

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Our solar system rates little more than an acknowledgement from the average person. Simple rhymes from grade school help us memorize the planet names and their order from closest to the Sun to farthest out. As the solar system changes ever so slightly in the brevity of the average person’s life, this is reasonable. However, we have been lucky enough to have recently seen the bright comets Halley and Hale-Bopp trek by the sun. Then comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 disintegrated and slammed into Jupiter. In keeping with this awakening interest, we routinely scan the skies for asteroids that might impact our Earth. With all this activity, it becomes obvious our solar system is anything but routine. Hence, a travel guide is an excellent resource for learning more.

Miller and Hartmann’s tour book is a great complement for those wanting to know more about the worlds circling our Sun. Using the tools of artists, together with the concise detailing of science, the far away worlds come alive before our eyes. Distinct chapters highlight individual planets and the smaller worlds. The presentation stresses a view as if for a visitor rather than an occupant of Earth. In following this vein, the authors start with the largest planet, Jupiter. A fairly regular description then ensues. The atmosphere, its properties and constituent matter get appraised. The surface shape, colour, and any novel features characterize the world. Then last, the interior gets mentioned often as a tie-in to the formation process of the solar system. Understandably, the authors have to rely on knowledge gained from probes sent and surveys undertaken by humankind, so the details of Venus, Earth and Mars are lengthy while many others are quite short and rather impersonal. For instance, Asteroid 6178 gets a two page entry, principally due to it being a pure nickel-iron alloy. But it and manner others do get mentioned.

Setting this book apart from your garden variety tour guide are the graphics and images. Hundreds of large and small coloured plates place the reader directly at the subject’s location. There’s one as if the viewer is standing in the middle of Saturn’s ring watching hundreds of fellow ring objects dance along. Or picture yourself on one lobe of the compound asteroid 624 Hektor looking down at a strange connecting valley and on up to the next lobe. Many images are grand vistas where the viewer is on an orbiting world with a planet filling the distance. For example there’s the cliff of Miranda while the ring system of Uranus defines a blue back drop. With accurate angles and perspectives it is often difficult to separate the computer drawn images to real photographs. Nevertheless, with this book in hand, all you need is a vehicle and you’d be off wandering to your favourite.

The format of the book (long rather than tall) further enhances these images, as many two paged vistas are quite breathtaking. These and the complementary text keep the reader pressing forward to find more wondrous natural sights of space. Further, even though this is the third edition, the images and data aren’t dated, as much information is recent. And don’t let the 3D hologram on the front cover make you think this book is purely for children. The detail and presentation is much more apropos for secondary school students or the beginning space buff. However, given the strength of the artwork, I was disappointed at the brevity of the section for worlds Beyond Our Solar System. There would be little to lose and, I think, much to gain from letting learned imaginations fill wide vistas of planets in other solar systems.

Our solar system keeps our special planet Earth in just the right location to allow our own happy lives. This doesn’t, however, bind us to this paradise. Other exciting, unique and pictorially sensational worlds grace our passage about our Sun. So read Ron Miller and William K. Hartmann’s book The Grand Tour, A Traveler’s Guide to the Solar System and get acquainted or re-acquainted with the beauty and relevance of these other worlds that share our immediate space.

Review by Mark Mortimer

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Scientist now accept that the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation results from the big bang. This knowledge was slow in developing. In 1920, Shapley and Curtis debated whether the universe is bigger than the Milky Way Galaxy. Yet, pieces of the puzzle kept falling into place, such as the red-shift indicating an expanding universe. However, we knew by then that mass attracts, so why are stars moving away? For resolution, Einstein introduced a cosmological constant (which he later refuted). The accidental discovery of the CMB in 1964 firmly set the stage for the inflationary theory of the universe, yet knowing its existence wasn’t enough. To delve deeper, NASA first sponsored COBE (from 1976 to 1991) then picked WMAP to “drive down the margin of error and nail down the physical characteristics…expansion rate, geometry, matter density, matter to dark matter ratio…”. Thus cosmology follows the typical tale of scientific advancement; the piecing together of little clues to develop an overarching paradigm.

The technical information that relates to the CMB is humongous. This book is not. Lemonick chooses to go the route of simplicity in conveying the scientific details. For the most part, references come with minimal description. For example, the reader is left to wonder about the relative worth of HEMT’s (high electron mobility transistors) to bolometres as the electronic detector of choice. Or for another, we read of omega, the mass/energy density that relates to dark matter and dark energy and to the shape of the universe. There are some standard descriptions, such as of topology and its doughnuts, but that is all. As cosmology combines the skills of many disciplines, this level of detail is necessary for this size book.

Rather than concentrating on the technical aspects, Lemonick emphasises the people. This is sensible as Lemonick is not a cosmological theoretician, he is a broadsheet science writer. Using a mostly chronological ordering, he presents the prerequisite characters of WMAP and many of the COBE mission as well. We read of anxiety in building the satellite, preoccupation leading to gallbladder surgery, and sleepless nights necessary for processing data. By nicely adding emotion to the description of the scientists, Lemonick puts in a real human flavour. This lightens the topic, but if you’re not interested in the side details, such as procurement strategies for high end electronics, this can be a bit off putting.

Further, continual side steps into this trivia or some person’s characteristic traits makes this book hard to classify. At times, it seems quite eloquent, such as the setting described as “…after a mild winter, the brilliance of the campus in full bloom is almost overwhelming”. This same style relates to system testing where the satellite is “…plunged down to extreme cold, vibrated, bombarded with simulate microwave signals, blasted with sound waves from gigantic loudspeakers four feet across”. With these, the reading is simple but the overall sense is of a smooth series of factoids presented one after the other. Once finished, the reader should feel quite prepared for a game of Trivial Pursuit, the Cosmology Edition (if it exists).

If you’re looking for a well written, entertaining science book that is easy to pick up and put down, this is it. There’s enough substance to keep you interested while sitting on the bus commuting into work. However, there’s not enough to over embellish the lore of cosmology, the established traits of the pertinent scientists or typify the build out of scientific satellites. A clearer title or a clarifying sub title would have been helpful.

Well, how much are discoveries worth? A satellite can answer fundamental questions about our existence, but only if we want to pay the piper. The WMAP mission was such a story as with a ceiling cost, it successfully answered specific cosmologic questions. Michael Lemonick in his book Echo of the Big Bang brings to us the story of this mission, the people involved and the challenges of high-end electronics. In combining a sense of history with the warmth of personalities he gives the average person a great introduction into cosmology and high end science.

Review by Mark Mortimer

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To understand physics is to understand the motion of the objects surrounding our everyday lives. Studying wheels that turn on the ground is simple. Studying galaxies that spin is another thing altogether. However, the principles of a galaxy’s motion and that of a wheel are amazingly similar. Sometimes all we need do is build an imaginary scenario in our minds to postulate one truth, once given another.

Gleiser really promotes this idea of mental model building in his book as he chronologically steps through 3000 years of history. Further, by placing the reader beside the historical figure, he gives a feel for the real person. He does this by locating the person geographically, identifying supporters and detractors, and adding descriptions of any relevant tools. For example, Philolaus of Croton, around 450 BC, lived in Southern Italy but was encouraged by an unfriendly mob to move to Greece. Using Pythagorean principles, he postulated a framework of celestial objects that explained day and night on Earth. In so doing he was the first to place the sun at the centre of the universe. Philolaus had no tools at hand, but he did live with a collection of like minded thinkers. In a style like this, Gleiser not only shows the contributions of many people but he also shows how society’s collective knowledge replaced the belief that god(s) were responsible.

The chronological sequence gets a rough start as Gleiser begins by thoroughly assessing primitive philosophy. The first chapter delves into creation myths of long ago when people without much information tried to build a comprehension of their existence. With this, a reader may expect a strong leaning toward philosophy throughout. This is not the case, as aside from particular researchers involved with both physics and philosophy, the remaining contents fixates purely on the progress of physics. As expected, there are: the Greeks and their postulating, the trials between the Roman Catholic church and science, the empowerment of universities, and the transcendence of the individual. Some early researchers referred to may be unknown, but otherwise Gleiser includes all the big names.

This study of the main contributors turns out to be Gleiser’s actual intent. He uses this book as the text in a large physics class for non-science majors. Hence, though he alludes to the value of physics, he focuses on the people and their contributions. He likely has been doing this for some time as all his descriptions are extremely clear, simple and easy to follow. For instance, he uses the traditional means of describing special relativity; this being a person in a train and another at the station. Yet, he clearly describes the experimental basis for never having light at rest and thus needing light to have the same speed independent of the observer. No equations reside in the pages, nor pictures, though a few simple diagrams facilitate understanding. Because of this, Glacier’s non-science majors are likely very thankful.

However, Glacier short changes his students. Though his knowledge of physics and refined presentation skills comes across very well, he doesn’t tempt the students (or other readers) to deepen their understanding. For example, there is no push for them to spend more time wondering why the physical laws exist and are (apparently) universal. I liked the very brief discussion regarding the big bang and the time immediately before and after. Sadly, I didn’t really see any hooks that might draw in a reader. As such, this book is a great review and summary but does very little to encourage the advancement of knowledge, i.e., the making of new researchers.

The very word cosmology engenders visions of apparently unending borders. Going on a mission to explore where none have gone before seems like the only game in town. Marcelo Gleiser in his book The Dancing Universe provides some real background for those non-specialists who want to know more about the borders. And should society’s interest continue to grow, there just might come a time when people can travel to find if a border exists.

Review by Mark Mortimer

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Twelve people have had the experience of visiting our Moon’s surface. Probes and sensors tried to fill in our knowledge before landing but there’s nothing like first hand observation. Pockmarked with craters, ripped by rills and coated in dust, the gray, still surface stretches onto the horizon. Nothing marks distances, no clues to perception tell you where you are. Valleys may be a gentle slope down a few steps or a brusque drop down a one kilometre precipice. Without trees, bushes or human markers, you feel lost in an ever changing yet hauntingly, similar realm. People’s senses, tuned to the pace of life on Earth, got shocked by this vista but nevertheless were sufficiently able to perform on the Moon.

People and our Moon are the ingredients for this film. Join these two together and we get a taste of philosophy and a bucket full of technology. The beginning features children in a sparse film set responding to history questions. Who were the Apollo astronauts? What did they eat? Would you like to go to the Moon? These all obviously lead to the point of the film: that exploration is in our blood and we need to keep satisfying our craving. The innocense, lack of knowledge and desire of these children mirrors that of the unproven astronauts in the mid 60s.

With this basis, the film jumps into the good stuff. Using the full expanse of the IMAX screen combined with superb audio, the Moon arrives. Step by step, from landing the lunar module, opening the hatch and placing the foot onto the dusty plain, we have the impact of the desolation spreading about. All is still, quiet, transcendent, then a foot falls nearby and a shower of rocks and dust shoot towards us. Ducking, we smile and remember we’re just in a theatre. Interspersed with realistic but artificial events are vignettes of actual Apollo footage. The astronauts do strange shuffles to cross craters or jump with both feet high in the air, experiencing the delicious freedom of the lesser gravity. The film smoothly interweaves these with computer generations to deliver a thorough lunar presence.

The authenticity of the film’s computer generation appears both lifelike and technically accurate. Perhaps this is in part from the sponsorship of Lockheed Martin, a very knowledgeable partner. Renditions of the lunar module have creases in the right locations, antennas pop out appropriately and even dust and smear markings age the vehicle where it stands. As another example, the separation of the ascent stage from the descent stage stresses the technical imagination as no one saw this event from the vantage point shown in the film. Also, the audio wizards were busily at work as well. Actual capcom flow gets precisely overlaid onto computer generated images to increase the feel of authenticity.

Given this technical wonder, you might be worried about too dry a film. It isn’t. Comedy is present as live footage shows astronauts tripping, falling and playing golf. Animation puts us on the rear spoiler while the electric lunar buggy zooms between boulders, through craters all the while bouncing over exotic rough terrain. A little suspense highlights the challenges. Our animated astronauts have a vehicular accident from which to extricate themselves. Though only computer generated, there remains the overlying message, ‘what if this were to really happen?’.

Yet, this is the moon one more time. Some of us luckily enough saw the live broadcasts. Many subsequent films deliver the message of exploration and accomplishment. This is not new. The newness is the huge IMAX screen and the computer generated imagery. Don’t wait to watch this at home! This needs the big screen and the comical but vital 3D glasses. Experience the dust getting kicked into other face, feel the force of the rocket roaring overhead, lean with the car while zipping through a corner. The medium is what brings this alive again.

Adding to the my experience was one special audience member. Dr. Buzz Aldrin attended the special viewing for participants of the International Lunar Conference being held in Toronto. He generously offered a short question and answer session before and after the screening. Sharing of his memories of walking on the Moon and his thoughts for today, dovetailing with NASA’s recent announcement on returning to the moon, amplify the timely and authentic message of this film.

Our Moon spans our history, our culture and our world view. We need it as a stepping stone to greater things. Though indeed desolate, it has its own beauty and special nature that fascinates and attracts us. The film Magnificent Desolation by Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman and Mark Cowen puts our Moon before our eyes and under our toes. Take the easy journey to watch this film and prepare for our much more difficult real life journey to return to the Moon.

Review by Mark Mortimer

Magnificent Desolation starts on September 23 at IMAX theatres around the world.

The particular dream of this book is where people end up easily, routinely and safely flying into space from Earth. In real life, many people and corporations address this topic seemingly at regular intervals. NASA has its own unique capability to start projects along this road only to shy away just before culmination. Jules Verne had his plans, purely fictional ideas for travelling to the moon. Wernher Von Braun had his own plans and dreams. Most daydreamers look at only certain aspects. Engineers, of course, focus on resolving technical issues. Economists might envision profits greater than any known on Earth. Philosophers vouchsafe interstellar travel as the ultimate test for humankind, and dream to pass the test. Within the mind, such events and circumstances can easily shape into a solid looking mirage. Often, that is exactly where they stay, as reality tends to be a lot different and usually much more challenging.

In The Rocket Company, Stiennon and Hoerr put paper to their daydreaming engineering ways. Their premise for getting people safely and effectively space faring begins with an investors group with pocket books just large enough to bank role everyone’s needs. Next, the investors go hire the best engineers with well above typical salary levels and then give them all the babysitting they need to build their rocket ship. Rather than just listing the systems, sub-systems and components, the authors do an excellent job of introducing production elements at appropriate times. First the flight trajectory defines the requirements. Market cases frame the payload size. Then many of the main elements of the craft get analysed and defined. The analysis does include a lot of engineer speak which is great for said specialists but not so much for others.

However, don’t let the preceding fool you into thinking this book is a dry rendition of systems engineering case studies. It is not. The authors artfully and smoothly wrap all the engineer speak into a fictional package that makes reading it a pleasure. The frame of reference for the reader is of looking over the shoulder of the company’s chief documenter. From this first person perspective, the reader is treated to people discussing the pro’s and con’s of various fuel mixtures, we listen to shouting in the boardroom while options are discussed and we taste the thrill of watching the test vehicle successfully launch.

By using this fictional surround to convey their impression of requirements and resolutions, the authors ensure that somewhat dry subject matter gets a fresh and interesting face. They introduce problems like slowing a feedback response to be compatible with human characteristics. Then, they present discussions amongst the fictional characters on some juicy historical similarities. Last, they sum up the issue by having the company’s expert engineer give the appropriate answer for this difficulty. And this is the beauty of fiction and daydreaming as the results work first time.

By using a person in a fictional company to present technical parameters studies, the authors successfully walk a very challenging tight rope. On one side is the chasm of detail. If they fell there, the book would likely have reams of tables of weight, cost and capability. This way they’d have a true technical reference but a very dry and dated one. On the other side of the rope, the chasm leads to pure fiction. That is, the authors provide a good story but what value is it in actually getting people into space? Skilfully though, the authors place the readers between these two gaping pitfalls and nicely balance the rocket design and business case with the fictional encounters of people living the lives within a fictitious company.

In consideration, there must be something people are just missing. We’ve put humans on the moon, we’ve dug tunnels joining Britain to France, and we’ve raised buildings towering high into the sky. So why are we still moribund on this planet? Many answers jump forth, but let the book The Rocket Company by Patrick Stiennon and David Hoerr show you one avenue to escape this tribulation. Sometimes dreams can turn into reality. This is one which many people would happily wish to come true.

Review by Mark Mortimer

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Texts on general courses need to fulfill two goals; they must explain the details, and they must capture the imagination. Those contemplating sticking their toe into the pool of astronomy could understandably get nervous. This field has contributions made from most of the greatest thinkers of our species. In addition, our primitive five senses are woefully inadequate to peel back the shrouds of astronomical mystery. Today, professionals tell tales of trying to contact aliens, go through a spacetime continuum, or detect dark energy. They rely on state-of-the-art technology using ultimate processing power and quirky algorithms to make sense of what the uninitiated would consider random patterns. Yet, in starting from the beginning and keeping the information succinct, an introductory text can supply adequate elucidation and perhaps entice another neophyte to continue past the general level.

The team of Fraknoi, Morrison and Wolff, in their textbook, meet both these goals. For astronomy, they offer completeness. To start, there’s the perspective of astrology based solidly in history. Then they proceed down the chronological path bringing in each contributor and the significant contributions. Orbits, geocentricity, eclipses and tides lay the ground work. However, the text quickly proceeds to the electromagnetic spectrum, radio telescopes, nuclear chemistry and the basis of today’s observation, that is, star types, distances and life attributes. The end brings the reader to current perceptions on relativity, cosmology, and astrobiology. There is no doubt that the authors explain the details, though for the most part they focus on data rather than on rationale.

Trying to capture an imagination without knowing the person is much more nebulous a task. Clearly, the authors assume the reader has no technical background. The powers of ten mathematics notation is the most complex math and has two solid descriptions, one in the text and the other in the appendices. Photographs, diagrams, historical vignettes and charts ease the way forward for those not used to contemplating quantitative descriptions. Analogies appear throughout. For example, did you know the density of a neutron star is similar to squeezing all the people on Earth into the volume of a single rain drop? Lastly, the accompanying CD, with the student edition of The Sky, gives many opportunities to take the data in the text and compare it to night time observations for any latitude or longitude within a time of 10 000 years. If the student truly has interest in astronomy, then this text should capture their imagination, at least until the end of the course.

As a text, this book aims solidly for course work. Each significant subject of astronomy has its own chapter. The chapter layout starts with the history, emphasizing the practitioners, next the current activity emphasizing the equipment, and then ends with expectations emphasizing the research thrusts. At the conclusion of each chapter, a summary, list of group activities, review questions and contemplative questions provide lots of study material. In a unique step, the authors have set up an adoption program whereby they keep all registered users up to date on new material. They also have a help hot line (actually email line) where they promise to quickly answer any (student or lecturer) question regarding this course work.

Given that this version is the third edition, it should and does flow smoothly. Chapters stand on their own. Different styles emerge, likely due to the different authors, but no problems result. The information is current, though it can be necessarily vague, such as the topic on our universe’s size. Also, like most texts, the contents revolves around data and is perfect for digesting and regurgitation. The sparse amount of theory is appropriate for a general introductory text.

September is the time for school and the show of Sagittarius in the night sky. School has surprises but so does Sagittarius. Did you know that within the boundaries of this constellation there lies a galaxy that’s about to get eaten up by our own Milky Way? Read the book Voyages to the Stars and Galaxies by Andrew Fraknoi, David Morrison, and SidneyWolff to learn about the constellations, stars and their marvellously unique and sometimes hungry properties. Anthropic or not, you’ll see that we’re in one amazing universe.

Review by Mark Mortimer

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The Tunguska fireball occured in 1908 in the further reaches of Russia. Bright lights, loud sounds and searing heat signalled this event. Cutting edge measuring devices detected anomalies as far away as Britian, while most people of Europe had the pleasure of seeing a fairy tale like night time sky. Years later, some ground explorers loped into action to find a remarkably wide- spread landscape of shattered trees and burnt surfaces. Further, the tress fell in a pattern as to suggest being blown down by an extremely powerful force. However, given the inhospitable climate of the region, the assessment was brief and decades separated subsequent investigators. Further, given the political climate of the times, almost 50 years passed before international researchers arrived. Nonetheless, with the fertile imagination with which humans are blessed, we have taken what information was available, together with our growing cadre of knowledge in astrophysics, to raise a plethora of rationale for this fireball.

Surendra Verma presents his compilation of the events and possible causes in a smoothly flowing and succintly detailed rendition. He begins by repeating the known facts and figures. People, times, and places fill out the background for the reader and stress the challenges in solving this mystery. Much seems to stem from the brevity of facts and the inaccesibility of the region. In a loosely chronological sequence, Verma pins together the details in a fashion more reminiscent of note taking than of novel writing. He appears to stay to the facts and takes little literary excess with hyperbole of either facts or reactions. However, the reader can easily make their own decuctions. For instance, I was fascinated to learn of the small amount of interest shown by the locals. Instead of acknowledging the fireball and learning from it, their response was to treat it as a sort of mythical situation that was better left alone. Nevertheless, given that there always seems to be some overly curious types, people did consider this event and Verma does bring their observations to the fore.

Once he has established this basis, Verma than treats us to the smorgasbord of hypotheses that arose. He doesn’t solve it himself, as suggested by the sub-title. Rather, he seems to have two other purposes. One is to demonstrate that many natural processes give rise to similar effects. People saw lights, heard explosions and felt heat. The source might have been asteroids, comets, nuclear explosions, anti-matter, mirror matter, black holes, aliens, and so on. The other purpose he provides is to discuss the natural processes themselves. These tidbits will keep the up and coming scientiest curious for many pages. Verma usually isolates each process in individual chapters. As an example, the chapter on asteroids discusses their typical composition, locations within in our solar system and frequency of striking planets. Occassional asides mention the possibility of a companion star for our sun that occasionaly redirects asteroids toward Earth. At the book’s end, Verma does sum up the data and selects his most likely suspect, just like the second last chapter in a mystery novel.

With the combination of scientific and historical background, Verma presents an easy to read treatise on both the fireball and on physical phenomena that could cause such a huge effect upon the flora and fauna on the Earth. Sometimes the description of the science seems to overshadow the event. For instance, a large section describes the extinction of dinosaurs. True, this extinction event, in ways, is just as mysterious as the fireball. However, asteroids and comets were already discussed. The discovery of the Chicxculub crater and its implications seems superlative to the main theme. Given the scarceness of data, there is no surprise on this relative emphasis on the science.

The fireball that blew into Russia’s north may be due to an understood physical event. However, as Surendra Verama shows us in his book Tunguska Fireball we are not exactly sure which event. Much in its history remains obscure, while each of many popular hypotheses rely on contradictory points. Nevertheless, as with any good mystery, there are lots of suspects and enough questions to keep contemplating and enjoy perusing within.

Review by Mark Mortimer

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