Our Explosive Sun (PDF)

Pal Brekke is a Norwegian solar physicist with a doctorate from the University of Oslo in astrophysics and is now a senior advisor for the Norwegian Space Centre . He has worked with state-of-art space-based solar telescopes since 1985 and has published over 40 peer review articles, 70 proceeding papers, and more than 30 popular science articles. Pal wrote much of this material while working at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center for 6 years, as the Deputy Project Scientist for the SOHO mission. He also has written articles for CNN, USA Today, BBC, and DerSpiegel). Brekke has been the PR "ambassador" for SOHO, traveling around the world to give lectures about the Sun. He is the recipient of the Fulbright Fellowship, ESA's Exceptional Achievement Award, and the Laurels for Team Achievements from the International Academy for Astronautics.

From the reviews:

“Our Explosive Sun is a book for beginners, be they amateur astronomers, aurora watchers, high school students, or interested non-experts of any description. There’s plenty of elementary information about our mother star and the Solar System, and about how to observe the Sun safely or photograph the Northern Lights. Making the book distinctive are a mass of extraordinarily vivid and up to date illustrations, plus the occasional insights you get only from a true expert.” (Calder’s Updates, January, 2012)

“Brekke provides a detailed introduction to the dynamics of the Sun and how it affects Earth, both scientifically and culturally. … In addition, the book is lavishly illustrated with photos and paintings of the Sun. … Bernhard Fleck … said, ‘I find it to be the most beautiful and informative popular science book dedicated to our star: spectacular imagery, interspersed with clear and very informative graphics and illustrations, all presented in a very clean, fresh and modern design. Stunning! 5 out of 5 stars!” (Hobbyspace, February, 2012)

“Book provides a detailed introduction to the dynamics of the Sun and how it affects Earth, both physically and culturally, and … layouts and visuals in the book are truly stunning. The book includes a number of images never published before. With beautiful illustrations accompanied by insightful explanations Brekke gives here a fascinating account of how the stormy Sun affects our technology-based society. … the book can certainly be recommend to general readers as well.” (Oddbjørn Engvold, Advances in Space Research, April, 2012)

“A great introduction to solar astronomy and the effects of the Sun on the Earth, very much aimed at a young readership, especially those who are not heavily into science, for example, those who are studying art subjects at high-school level.” (Kenneth J. H. Phillips, The Observatory, Vol. 132 (1230), October, 2012)

“If you want to learn about