Venus

Spectacular full-color photographs introduce Earth's "sister planet," from its scorching deserts and clouds of sulfuric acid to the crushing pressure of its atmosphere. From Kirkus Reviews: "In the same large, square format as Simon's books on other planets, a clear, concise text draws on the latest findings and the best of recent color photos. Venus has her special charms—the hottest planet in the solar system, covered with clouds of sulphuric acid, with bizarre surface details—all emerging from photos and radar maps taken from earlier Russian expeditions and NASA's Magellan spacecraft, which is still orbiting Venus. Our sister planet? Not even human siblings exhibit such diversity, and why this is so is an intriguing puzzle." Newly updated (2012).