Smithsonian Atlas of Space: A Map to the Universe from the Big Bang to the Future

Gr 3-8–Launius gives young readers and researchers the knowledge needed to keep the pace in the space race. The Atlas is organized into five large sections that are sandwiched between an introduction and an index. The large sections provide readers a map for exploring space, starting with a look at “Our Universe,” zooming out next to wander “­Galaxies and Star Systems” and “The Outer Solar System,” then moving to a closer looking at “Our Nearby Worlds,” and finally, wondering “What Might the Future Hold?” Within each section, smaller subsections take a deeper dive into topics in clear, fact-driven and engaging prose. Importantly, Launius shares “ideas of the universe” with young ­researchers with global, non-Western histories of space, including, for example, summaries of Mayan and Babylonian thought. In addition to the gorgeous images and illustrations, short biographies of important “space” people offer readers human faces, experiences, and moments of connection while exploring the vastness and mystery of space.