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Visiting the Solar System
Credit: Steve Thomas/Random House
In "Vacation Guide to the Solar System" (Penguin Books, 2017), authors Olivia Koski and Jana Grcevich bring readers through the finer points of visiting the top solar system destinations, from skiing on Mercury to taking a wheeled submarine down to the surface of Venus. Here are some of Space.com's favorite images from the book, illustrated by Steve Thomas.
Disposable Clothes
Credit: Steve Thomas/Random House
In space, you wear clothing as long as possible but then dispose of it rather than doing laundry. To tour the solar system, you'll be spending a lot of travel time in your space capsule.

Scenic Spots
Credit: Steve Thomas/Random House
Visit the moon's vast Tycho Crater.
Challenging Passtime
Credit: Steve Thomas/Random House
Baseball on the moon is a fun (and challenging) pastime in the universe of "Vacation Guide to the Solar System."
Day and NIght
Credit: Steve Thomas/Random House
On Mercury, the terminator line separating night and day is a fascinating location — just don't get caught on the sunny side.
Dangerous Atmosphere
Credit: Steve Thomas/Random House
Venus' upper atmosphere is the spot in the solar system with temperature and pressure most like Earth's. It's the perfect place for floating cities, as long as you've prepared for the corrosive clouds.
Limited Access
Credit: Steve Thomas/Random House
Venus' surface, on the other hand, is far too hot and high-pressure to visit for long. Probes rarely last long, and exploration would take a very heavy-duty vehicle.
Loose Connection
Credit: Steve Thomas/Random House
Mars' moon Phobos is the closer and larger of the Red Planet's two moons, featuring very low gravity and a stunning view of Mars. You have to travel at 25 mph (41 km/h) to reach escape velocity from this moon, though, so don't worry about jumping all the way off.
Easier to Explore
Credit: Steve Thomas/Random House
Gravity on Mars is a little more than one-third of Earth's, giving a helpful boost to anyone exploring the Red Planet's striking canyons
Beauty in the Sky
Credit: Steve Thomas/Random House
Look toward Jupiter's north pole for its stunning aurora display.
Cosmic Sea Exploration
Credit: Steve Thomas/Random House
Go diving in the intriguing sea below the ice of Jupiter's moon Europa.
High Radiation
Credit: Steve Thomas/Random House
Your trip to Jupiter and its Galilean moons may be cut short by an untimely death from radiation poisoning.
Interesting Destinations
Credit: Steve Thomas/Random House
Saturn's enormous north pole hexagon makes for an intriguing landmark.
Visiting Uranus
Credit: Steve Thomas/Random House
Tourist season on Uranus comes every 42 Earth years, according to "Vacation Guide to the Solar System" — when one pole faces the sun and the other is shrouded in shadow.
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