Guide to the planets

the long version

An easy to read book which reflected our limited knowledge of the solar system in the mid 1950s. There are chapters on each of the planets (including Pluto, which hadn't been downgraded to dwarf planet status at the time), the asteroid belt, the origins of the solar system, the movements of the planets, "Beyond the planets", "Life on the planets", and "Voyages to the planets". There are also several appendices including details of how to observe the planets and "useful work for the amateur". Many of the stated "facts" and suppositions have now been found to be incorrect and even the best images are basic compared to those gleaned from modern ground and space based telescopes.