Our Moon: New Discoveries About Earth’s Closest Companion

Scott (Buried Alive!) provides an approachable guide to our planet’s sole (natural) satellite, invoking human and planetary history, cultural lore, and scientific discoveries from across the centuries. After efficiently charting the lunar theories and studies of Anaxagoras, Harriot, Galileo, and others, Scott moves on to more recent history (including the 1969 Apollo 11 mission), extremely ancient events (the “giant impact theory” behind the moon’s formation), and the possibilities introduced by current and future research (such as the 21st-century confirmation of the presence of water on the moon, as well as a “thin and fragile” atmosphere). Color and b&w photographs, sidebars on topics that include logical reasoning and helio- and geocentric views of the universe, an extensive glossary, and suggested external resources augment Scott’s presentation of how human understanding of the moon has changed, and continues to do so. Ages 10–12. (Feb.)