Neil F. Comins

A look at how life on Earth could be different if the moon did not exist analyzes how the location of the moon in relation to the Earth affects human, animal, and plant life

Voyages to Earths that Might Have Been

What If the Moon Didn't Exist

What If the Moon Didn't Exist?

Attempts to correct common misconceptions about astronomy, from myths about the moon causing tide changes to those found in popular science fiction movies.

Misconceptions about the Real Nature of the Universe

Heavenly Errors

“What if?” questions stimulate people to think in new ways, to refresh old ideas, and to make new discoveries. In What If the Earth Had Two Moons, Neil Comins leads us on a fascinating ten-world journey as we explore what our planet would be like under alternative astronomical conditions. In each case, the Earth would be different, often in surprising ways. The title chapter, for example, gives us a second moon orbiting closer to Earth than the one we have now. The night sky is a lot brighter, but that won’t last forever. Eventually the moons collide, with one extra-massive moon emerging after a period during which Earth sports a Saturn-like ring. This and nine and other speculative essays provide us with insights into the Earth as it exists today, while shedding new light on the burgeoning search for life on planets orbiting other stars. Appealing to adult and young adult readers alike, this book follows on the author’s previous bestseller, What If the Moon Didn’t Exist?, with completely new scenarios backed by the latest astronomical research.

And Nine Other Thought-Provoking Speculations on the Solar System

What If the Earth Had Two Moons?

In this engaging and accessible exploratory work, accomplished astrophysicist Neil F. Comins shows how ten hypothetical astronomical situations would affect our planet and life on it. What if the Moon didn't exist, for example? The Earth would be rotating much faster than it presently does, tides would be lower, and life would be much more primitive than it is today. "What if the Moon Didn't Exist?" has been made into TV, radio, planetarium, and theater shows, and became the theme to Mitsubishi's pavilion at the World Expo in Nagoya, Japan in 2005. Praise for What if the Moon Didn't Exist ..".a new genre...Seductively cunning...All these "what-ifs" have the cumulative effect of making us excruciatingly aware of what a special and precarious place we inhabit - and how easy it would have been for it to be otherwise." -The Washington Post "Imaginative and stimulating." -Booklist "Comins's scientific expertise is dizzying. It takes a rare writer to manipulate so many unknown factors with such ease and convincing detail. This book will thrill everyone who can't help wondering "what if..." -Astronomy Book Club

Voyages to Earths That Might Have Been

Explores the possible hazards facing future space tourists, travelers, and colonists, using fictional log entries of an imaginary astronaut from the future to explain and illustrate actual science fact.

A Tourist's Guide

The Hazards of Space Travel

An astronomer and author of the best-selling What If the Moon Didn't Exist explores ten examples of what Earth would be like if conditions in the universe were slightly altered, in a fascinating journey into scientific scenarios.

William J. Kaufmann

Alan T. Clark

William J. F. Wilson

Marcel Bergman

Observing Projects Using Starry Night Enthusiast

Discovering the Universe (High School) + Ebook Access Cards (2 Cards)

Discovering the Universe + Saplingplus for Discovering the Universe 11th Ed Twelve-months Access

CTB Discovering the Universe 9e

Scientific American

Discovering the Universe And Snb/dse And Secret Life Reader And Planasphere

Discovering the Universe

Neil Comins’ Discovering the Universe confronts the challenges of the one-term astronomy course by heightening student curiosities about the cosmos, by using the context of astronomy to teach the process of science, and by highlighting common misconceptions and showing students how to think their way past them.

Discovering the Essential Universe

Discovering the Universe + Discovering the Universe E-Book + I-Clicker

Discovering the Universe, Fifth Edition is one of the briefest texts available for an introductory astronomy course, while providing the wide range of factual topics that are the hallmark of the text and are consistent with most course needs. By flipping through the book, readers will find it as rich in celestial images and figures as other textbooks for the same audience. It is a balanced approach to content, depth, and breath, with effective teaching resources. It is also up-to-date, reflecting how our knowledge about the universe is expanding at a phenomenal rate.

Loose-Leaf Version for Discovering the Universe

Discovering the Universe from the Stars to the Planets + Astroportal Access Card

William J. Kaufmann, III

Neil Comins’ Discovering the Universe is highly acclaimed for bringing the excitement of scientific discovery to the one-term astronomy course. Vivid writing and images, conceptual and mathematical support, and a focus on common mistakes and misunderstandings have made the book a longtime classroom bestseller. The new edition captures the current state of our understanding of the cosmos, with new findings, new study help, and an expanded new media/supplements package centered on W.H. Freeman’s breakthrough online course space, LaunchPad.

Neil F. Comins

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