Sunday, September 2, 2012

Planet Hunter



With the start of school, it's time to think about  astronomy, the science of searching for other planets. Many amateur astronomers like to observe the night skys looking for constellations.




This week's selection, Planet Hunter: Geoff Marcy and the Search for Other Earths by Vicki Oransky Wittenstein introduces readers to Geoff Marcy, an astronomer working at the W.M.  Keck Observatory, located on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Astronomy has progressed beyond the telescope. Here's a sample:

"Astronomers like Marcy no longer look directly through a telescope eyepiece. Instead, a device similar to a digital camera records the image in the telescope. The image is transmitted to computers for analysis."

Although this book tells Geoff's story, readers are introduced to other astronomers as well. At 48 pages, it is a good choice for grades 3 to 5.

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9 comments:

  1. Jeanne Walker HarveySeptember 2, 2012 at 8:06 PM

    Thanks for hosting Nonfiction Monday today! I like the name of this book -- Planet Hunter. I bet it will grab the attention of children. Thanks for sharing it with us.

    ReplyDelete
  2. shelf-employedSeptember 3, 2012 at 4:52 AM

    No book reviews from me today, just Labor Day greetings, facts, and photos of laborers past. Enjoy the day.http://shelf-employed.blogspot.com/2012/09/happy-labor-day.html

    ReplyDelete
  3. PerogyoSeptember 3, 2012 at 6:01 AM

    Astronomy is the first thing kids in Japan learn about when they go back in September for second semester, since this is the moon month!

    Thanks for hosting Nonfiction Monday today. I reviewed a picture book about animals and habitats.
    http://www.perogiesandgyoza.com/2012/09/natures-patchwork-quilt-understanding.html

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousSeptember 3, 2012 at 6:50 AM

    I loved The Planet Hunter. It's a terrific book. Today I have a book I wrote: The Earth and the Role of Water by Shirley Duke.
    http://simplyscience.wordpress.com/2012/08/29/200th-post-the-earth-and-the-role-of-water/
    Thanks for hosting!
    Shirley

    ReplyDelete
  5. JenniferSeptember 3, 2012 at 7:49 AM

    I've got a biography as well today, First Girl Scout by Ginger Wadsworth http://jeanlittlelibrary.blogspot.com/2012/09/nonfiction-monday-first-girl-scout-life.html

    ReplyDelete
  6. TriciaSeptember 3, 2012 at 7:50 AM

    Hi Deborah,
    Today I review the book BUGS BY THE NUMBERS.
    <a href="http://missrumphiuseffect.blogspot.com/2012/09/nonfiction-monday-bugs-by-numbers.html>http://missrumphiuseffect.blogspot.com/2012/09/nonfiction-monday-bugs-by-numbers.html</a>
    Thanks for hosting!
    Best,
    Tricia

    ReplyDelete
  7. TriciaSeptember 3, 2012 at 10:05 AM

    Hi Deborah,
    Sorry about that broken link. Here it is again.
    http://missrumphiuseffect.blogspot.com/2012/09/nonfiction-monday-bugs-by-numbers.html

    Best,
    Tricia

    ReplyDelete
  8. Jeanne Walker HarveySeptember 3, 2012 at 12:12 PM

    Hi again, I realize the link to my post today about a new picture book biography A PRESIDENT FROM HAWAI'I - President Obama didn't appear so here goes again ...
    http://jeannewalkerharvey.blogspot.com/2012/09/a-president-from-hawaii.html

    The illustrator, Elizabeth Zunon, also illustrated my picture book biography about the artist Romare Bearden (My Hands Sing the Blues) so I was excited to include a quote from her talking about the illustration process

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  9. RobertaSeptember 3, 2012 at 12:24 PM

    It took me all morning, but I finished my post about the picture book biography "It 'Jes Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw" http://blog.wrappedinfoil.com/2012/09/it-jes-happened-when-bill-traylor-started-to-draw/

    ReplyDelete

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