Planets, Stars, and Galaxies: A Visual Encyclopedia of Our Universe

David Aguilar's "Planets, Stars, and Galaxies: A Visual Encyclopedia of Our Universe" is a beautiful and well-done book that does a very good job giving a general overview of the latest astronomical knowledge. This book even includes the latest on the new designation of dwarf planets and Pluto's demotion.The book is full of beautiful photos and computer illustrations of the planets, nebulae, neutron stars, and galaxies. These illustrations really bring the book to life. They are enhanced by well-written, informative text.Although this is a great book, I do have a couple of criticisms. The first is that the tour of the solar system is done through a narrative device: a spaceship that flies from Earth to the sun and then back out. Venus is thus covered first, followed by Mercury, the sun, then Mars, then (after the rest of the planets are covered) finishing with Earth. While that is consistent with the narrative device, it's confusing to anyone just scanning the book.Also, there are a handful of errors in the book: The book states that Mars is the closest planet to the Earth; on one chart, Jupiter's moons are incorrectly labeled (my 3 year-old correctly identified the pictures, but I mistakenly corrected him based on the incorrect labels); Callisto is referred to in one place as "Saturn's moon;" and the book states that Voyager 1 and 2 visited Jupiter in 1973. I was surprised to see such obvious errors get past the editors and appear in a National Geographic book.I bought for my three year-old, who has fallen in love with the planets and stars. Although the book is a bit advanced for him, the beautiful illustrations and straightforward text make this a wonderful book to own.

This book published by the National Geographic Society, known usually for their factual accuracy, is beautiful in its pictorial content as other reviewers have said, but contains serious errors in the text. If you are thinking of buying for your 3-year-old, or your 5-year-old, they'll love the pictures and won't care about the mistakes. If you're contemplating buying it for your 6th grader's report on anything within the bounds of the solar system, don't.The text on Mars states in its opening paragraph that Mars is the same size as Earth and is the planet nearest us. Wrong twice! In fact Mars is barely over 1/2 the diameter of Earth, and Venus orbits closer to Earth than Mars. (Diameters: Earth, 7926 miles; Mars, 4221 miles. Orbit of Venus is about 35 million miles from Earth's, Mars orbit is about 49 million miles from us. Their orbits, like Earth's, are elliptical, so I quote averages.)On the Mars page, the text does not agree with the chart or illustrations, which are correct.The asteroid / dwarf planet Ceres is described as being "roughly equal to the size of our moon". Not even close! Sparing you the math, let's just say the Ceres is approximately 1/4 the size of our Moon. The text is again in disagreement with its own charts. As before, the charts are correct, the text is in error.Those mistakes were found just in browsing. Extensive examination may find more - but the errors above are enough to cast doubt on the rest of the book.(Reviewer is a librarian, amateur astronomer, parent of 4, grandfather of 3.)

Children 6 and 8 liked the photos. Reading skill was a bit challenging for the 8 year old. 6 year old needs to have read to her.

Bought this book for my 8 year old daughter and it was a BIG hit! Great pictures, very colorful and fun. Not too much information over load, just enough to keep her wanting to read and turn the pages. I would not classify this book as a child's book but it is a good book for 8 years old and up.

I love the book

Bought this for my sons report at school, it was an easy read for him and for him to get the Information he needed for his report. Good buy!

This was a gift, the recipient loves the book and would like more like it. I didn't see the contents, the gift went to a young adult.

High quality book with beautiful illustrations!

So much knowledge packed inside. Complete with illustrations! Would be fantastic for an adult or a teenager, it’s written well enough. But I know most of what’s in here already due to my hobbies — I bought it to share with my kids, who will continue to grow into the book for the next decade or more. My 4 year old loves it, even though he’s not old enough to understand it all yet — his imagination goes crazy.

My son loves the book. He has a bottle of milk and a good quality book and goes to sleep. My son loves it he has autism and he loves the book. I would buy it again.

My son loves this he said mum the best book you bought me. Mesmerised by pictures. My son happy I’m happy.

gift

My eldest nephew loves books about planet and stars and also books about the world - general knowledge facts etc.