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Mirror Earth: The Search For Our Planet's Twin (2012)

by Michael D. Lemonick(Favorite Author)

3.72 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

080277900X (ISBN13: 9780802779007)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

Walker & Company

review 1: A good work of science journalism. Lemonick introduces us to the major figures currently searching for exoplanets, clearly explains the technologies they have devised to aid in their efforts, and summarizes what was found as of late 2012 or so. This is a rapidly moving field, and during the week that I was reading this book a couple of major announcements were made on new findings. As I read news reports I saw quotes from some of the same people Lemonick had profiled, and thanks to his eloquent writing, I felt almost as if I had been spending time with them myself, shared a bit of their excitement, and found myself cheering for them. He has written a very human story about the quest for life far beyond our planet. Nothing, however, could be more human than the desire ... moreto learn what is presently unknown, and to realize that whatever it is, it will be far different from anything we have imagined, and far more fascinating. It will also blow our preconceptions, just as the exoplanet discoveries have, and provoke ever more questions.
review 2: The search for a 2nd Earth is something that is almost a fundamental question that will help we humans answer the question "Are we alone in the universe?" & with the 1995 discovery of the planet around 51 Pegasi it opened up a whole new era in astronomy in the field of exoplanetology. In "Mirror Earth: The Search for Our Planet's Twin", Michael D. Lemonick describes the steps & history of this new field of study from the beginning concepts of who scientists were beginning to look for other planets through the launch of the Kepler telescope in 2009. In relatively layman's terms, each chapter explores the questions that were asked about the formation of Hot Jupiters & Neptunes as well as the Super Earths that were formed. There's an excitement each chapter as every new discovery is made & also a curiosity that comes out very well as the questions about just how many planets are out there. As of the books writing in 2012, while we still haven't found a mirror Earth, Lemonick does list other projects by NASA that hopefully if funded will get us closer to doing what Kepler set out to do as we in leaps & bounds get closer to realizing that we may not be alone & that planets such as this pretty blue marble we call Earth are very common. less

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