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For the Love of Mars
A Human History of the Red Planet
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For the Love of Mars
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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
A tour of Mars in the human imagination, from ancient astrologers to modern explorers.
Mars and its secrets have fascinated and mystified humans since ancient times. Due to its vivid colour and visibility, its geologic kinship with Earth, and its potential as our best hope for settlement, Mars embodies everything that inspires us about space and exploration. For the Love of Mars surveys the red planet’s place in the human imagination, beginning with ancient astrologers and skywatchers and ending in our present moment of exploration and virtual engagement.
National Air and Space Museum curator Matthew Shindell describes how historical figures across eras and around the world have made sense of this mysterious planet. We meet Mayan astrologer priests who incorporated Mars into seasonal calendars and religious ceremonies; Babylonian astrologers who discerned bad omens; figures of the Scientific Revolution who struggled to comprehend it as a world; Victorian astronomers who sought signs of intelligent life; and twentieth- and twenty-first-century scientists who have established a technological presence on its surface. Along the way, we encounter writers and artists from each of these periods who take readers and viewers along on imagined journeys to Mars.
By focusing on the diverse human stories behind the telescopes and behind the robots we know and love, Shindell shows how Mars exploration has evolved in ways that have also expanded knowledge about other facets of the universe. Captained by an engaging and erudite expert, For the Love of Mars is a captivating voyage through time and space for anyone curious about Curiosity and the red planet.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
For the Love of Mars by Matthew Shindell has been praised for its comprehensive exploration of humanity’s fascination with Mars, tracing this interest through history, literature, and culture. Reviews highlight the book's rich narrative that connects our past curiosity with current scientific endeavours, illustrating how Mars has influenced not only science but also societal and cultural perspectives. This engaging and multifaceted account is recommended for those interested in astronomy, history, and the broader implications of our quest to understand the Red Planet.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780226821894
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 18 May 2023
Country: United States
Imprint: University of Chicago Press
Illustration: 12 color plates, 20 halftones
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 28.0mm
Width: 152.0mm
Height: 229.0mm
Weight: 594g
Pages: 248
About the Author
Matthew Shindell curates the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s collection of spacecraft, instruments, and other artifacts related to the exploration and study of our Earth and solar system. He cohosts the museum’s AirSpace podcast. A historian of science, he is also the author of The Life and Science of Harold C. Urey, coauthor of Spaceships and Discerning Experts, editor of Lunar, and coeditor of Smithsonian American Women.
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