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When the Earth Had Two Moons: The Lost History of the Night Sky

When the Earth Had Two Moons

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"When the Earth Had Two Moons" by Erik Asphaug is a astronomy book and space science reference focused on Deep Sky & Solar System. Best for students, researchers, and serious astronomy enthusiasts.

An astonishing exploration of planet formation and the origins of life by one of the world's most innovative planetary geologists. In 1959, the Soviet probe Luna 3 took the first photos of the far side of the moon. Even in their poor resolution, the images stunned scientists: the far side is an enormous mountainous expanse, not the vast lava-plains seen from Earth. Subsequent missions have confirmed this in much greater detail. How could this be, and what might it tell us about our own place in the universe? As it turns out, quite a lot. Fourteen billion years ago, the universe exploded into being, creating galaxies and stars. Planets formed out of the leftover dust and gas that coalesced into larger and larger bodies orbiting around each star. In a sort of heavenly survival of the fittest, planetary bodies smashed into each other until solar systems emerged. Curiously, instead of being relatively similar in terms of composition, the planets in our solar system, and the comets, asteroids, satellites and rings, are bewitchingly distinct. So, too, the halves of our moon. In When the Earth Had Two Moons, esteemed planetary geologist Erik Asphaug takes us on an exhilarating tour through the farthest reaches of time and our galaxy to find out why. Beautifully written and provocatively argued, When the Earth Had Two Moons is not only a mind-blowing astronomical tour but a profound inquiry into the nature of life here--and billions of miles from home.

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Best For: Readers interested in planetary geology, astronomy, and the history of the solar system.
Focus: The formation of planets and the geological differences between the near and far sides of the Moon.
Covers: The discovery of the Moon's far side features and their implications for understanding Earth's early history.
Why It Matters: It provides insight into planetary formation processes and challenges assumptions about the Moon's geology, contributing to our knowledge of Earth's origins.

"When the Earth Had Two Moons" by Erik Asphaug is a astronomy book and space science reference focused on Deep Sky & Solar System. Best for students, researchers, and serious astronomy enthusiasts.

Topic: Deep Sky & Solar System

Author: Erik Asphaug

Who this is for:

  • Astronomy students
  • Researchers and advanced hobbyists
  • Readers exploring space science topics

Why this book matters: It matters because it helps readers build a stronger understanding of astronomy concepts, observations, and scientific ideas related to space.

An astonishing exploration of planet formation and the origins of life by one of the world's most innovative planetary geologists. In 1959, the Soviet probe Luna 3 took the first photos of the far side of the moon. Even in their poor resolution, the images stunned scientists: the far side is an enormous mountainous expanse, not the vast lava-plains seen from Earth. Subsequent missions have confirmed this in much greater detail. How could this be, and what might it tell us about our own place in the universe? As it turns out, quite a lot. Fourteen billion years ago, the universe exploded into being, creating galaxies and stars. Planets formed out of the leftover dust and gas that coalesced into larger and larger bodies orbiting around each star. In a sort of heavenly survival of the fittest, planetary bodies smashed into each other until solar systems emerged. Curiously, instead of being relatively similar in terms of composition, the planets in our solar system, and the comets, asteroids, satellites and rings, are bewitchingly distinct. So, too, the halves of our moon. In When the Earth Had Two Moons, esteemed planetary geologist Erik Asphaug takes us on an exhilarating tour through the farthest reaches of time and our galaxy to find out why. Beautifully written and provocatively argued, When the Earth Had Two Moons is not only a mind-blowing astronomical tour but a profound inquiry into the nature of life here--and billions of miles from home.

AuthorErik Asphaug
PublisherCustom House
Published2020-10-06
ISBN-139780062657930
BindingPaperback
Pages368
LanguageEnglish
SubjectsScience
TopicDeep Sky & Solar System

Format: Paperback

Length: 368 pages

Language: English

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