This Is Mars offers a thrilling visual experience of the surface of
the red planet. The multi-award-winning French editor and designer
Xavier Barral has chosen and composed photographic frames, drawn from
the comprehensive photographic map of Mars made by the U.S. observation
satellite MRO (Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter), to revel in the wonder of
Mars. What Yann Arthus-Bertrand did with a light aircraft for The Earth
from the Air, Barral does for Mars--by scouring tens of thousands of
gigabytes of satellite photographs available from NASA, seeking out the
most distinct images of the planet's surface. The result is visionary--a
great science book, a unique artist's book, and a stunning object. The
photographs are accompanied by an introduction from research scientist
Alfred S. McEwen, principle investigator of the HiRISE telescope; an
essay by astrophysicist Francis Rocard, who explains the story of Mars's
origins and its evolution; and a timeline by geophysicist Nicolas
Mangold, who demystifies some of Mars's geological history. Now
available as a mid-sized, accessibly priced edition, This Is Mars will
excite lovers of great photobooks, and everyone curious about the
universe and beyond.
