For anyone wanting to learn about the solar system without being blinded by science, this book is the ideal way to find out what’s gone on, going on, and will be going on “out there”. The author does a wonderful job in relaying facts and predictions in a manner that’s easy to follow.

Well-known planets, little-known and unknown planets, moons, stars, comets, asteroids, meteors, and the all-important sun are all given attention in this absorbing work. Each section is accompanied by photos or artists’ impressions of the amazing entities that play their part in our diverse solar system.

I was interested in astronomy as a child, though was never into the real technical stuff, like x + y = “Eh?” I say that with no disrespect to the talented scientists, it’s just something that I fail to grasp.

Anyway, my interest in astronomy has remained with me into adulthood, albeit more in the background, but having recently completed a free online course about all the moons in our solar system I found myself wanting to learn more. After reading “New Solar System” my old interest in astronomy has become a fascination. It’s incredible what advances have been made in the last decade or so, and more have been made since this text was published in 2009.

Truth really is stranger than fiction.

Can’t really praise this one high enough. I knew after the first few pages that this would be a five-star book.

A magnificent read. ( )