Uranus and Neptune

2023 Outstanding Academic Title * Choice *
Unlike the other planets in our Solar System, the "ice giants" Uranus and Neptune were discovered in the modern era and so are solely scientific objects with no ancient cultural connotations. This latest book by Carolyn Kennett in Reaktion Books' Kosmos series is a concise summary of our knowledge of both planets, as well as their numerous moons. Nepture in the only planet whose discovery was predicted - a result of perturbations in Uranus's orbit - and the book carefully unpicks the complex tale of this discovery, showing who should be credited with which aspect. * BBC Sky at Night Magazine *
Carolyn Kennett manages to make the subject approachable, in large part due to that historical context . . . A useful addition to this attractive series. * Popular Science *
Uranus and Neptune certainly packs a lot of information on these two planets in the 216 pages; covering their atmospheres, interiors, magnetic fields, rings, and satellites, to potential future missions . . . The book is very well illustrated [and] provides a good general introduction to both planets. -- Mike Foulkes * The Observatory *
Kennett offers a succinct, engaging, and liberally illustrated compendium. . . This volume belongs on the shelf of anyone interested in the outer solar system . . . Planetary scientists and laypersons alike will find this an appealing and informative book. * Choice *
Kennett provides a comprehensive introduction to both of those distant worlds. She discusses their discovery and origins, Voyager 2’s flybys, and observations made from space- and ground-based telescopes. Written for a general audience, the text is nontechnical and illustrated with more than 100 images. * Physics Today *
Uranus and Neptune are the most distant and mysterious planets in our solar system. Writer and astronomer Carolyn Kennett [writes] about these ice giants, from their discovery, surfaces and orbits to their multiple moons and future exploration. * The Sunday Post, Scotland *
Uranus and Neptune were just points of green blue light until modern times, as the secrets of these two ice giants, located in the cold outer regions of our solar system, have only recently been revealed. Well designed and lavishly illustrated, Carolyn Kennett’s book will appeal to anyone wishing to discover more about these elusive, distant worlds. Its pages, packed with information, facts and historical stories, will make for a good read on many cloudy nights. * Gerard Gilligan, Chairperson of the Society for the History of Astronomy *
A very concise yet detailed look at Uranus and Neptune. Carolyn Kennett incorporates the history of the outer planets’ discoveries, details of modern observations from Earth and visiting spacecraft in the late 1970s, and rounds off the book with a practical introduction to how these planets can be observed by the amateur. * Kevin Kilburn, founder member of the Society for the History of Astronomy and an honorary member of Manchester Astronomical Society *