Mind-Boggling Astronomy

School Science and Mathematics, Feb 1998 by Jay, Jeffrey

Mind-Boggling Astronomy

Author

Steve Wills

Cobblestone Publishing, Inc.

7 School Street

Peter Borough, NH 03458

1995; 160 pages

Paperback $19.50

ISBN 0-942389-11-5

Mind-Boggling Astronomy is one fun book! Where else can one find lively, fictional interviews with the "Dream Team" from early astronomy-Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, Newton? Mind-Boggling Astronomy is also irreverent-but the introduction warns the reader of this up front. Yet, the book is not irreverent in perhaps the true sense of the word; it is lighthearted, sometimes comical, and easily enjoyed.

Mind-Boggling Astronomy is a large book divided into four main sections. First, historical astronomy includes perspectives and accomplishments of Native American, Greek, Chinese, and Babylonian peoples, as well as others. For example, the author brings Stonehenge alive for students, with a lively, informative narrative and an activity challenge. The second section contains narrative explanations of concepts and phenomena and many activities relating to the solar system. Activities include measuring distant objects, making a sundial, demonstrating the effect of the moon on the earth's tides, and making scale models. The third section discusses planet Earth and includes subsections on plate tectonics, atmosphere and ozone, and Coriolis. Further, there are many engaging activities such as making a clever Foucault pendulum, designing a solar collector, building an inexpensive rocket, and constructing a space station. The fourth and final section of the book addresses cosmology. Within this section are lively narratives and activities on star birth and death, supernovas, black holes, cosmic time lines and diagrams, and locating stars. At the end of each of the four major sections, the author includes a "Teacher's Companion," with additional activities and solutions to the book's "Mind-Bogglers."

Informative and often humorous diagrams are interspersed throughout Mind-Boggling Astronomy. There are also interesting "factoid" sections; for example, if you were to hike around Saturn's outer ring, say, at 25 km/day, how long would it take you to complete a round trip? In addition, Mind-Boggling Astronomy also answers some questions students will most likely pose when studying astronomy; for example, "How many satellites are in orbit around Earth?" and "Can you see them?" ("yes," the author explains and also provides a phone number for accessing a current list of observable satellites).

Additional resources within Mind-Boggling Astronomy include a list of astronomy-related books and magazines, computer software (including requirements and a brief description), a list of spacerelated organizations, a list of teacher resource centers, a list of future eclipses, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index.

The author claims that Mind-Boggling Astronomy is not designed as an astronomy text. Yet, if we want to actively engage our students in learning, perhaps our astronomy texts should look like Mind-Boggling Astronomy. This book can definitely enhance the classroom, where the narratives, activities, and up-to-date information and resources are infused. I would recommend Mind-Boggling Astronomy to upper level elementary teachers, secondary teachers of earth and space science, and to all librarians for consideration.

Reviewer

Jeffrey Jay

Northern State University

Aberdeen, SD 57401

Editor's Note: S. Wali Abdi's postal address is The University of Memphis, Department of Instruction and Curriculum Leadership, 401 A Ball Hall, Memphis, TN 38152,ande-mail address is abdi.wali@coe.memphis.edu.