The original book was released in 1972, which I bought with my pocket money - and still have.

An emended version was published 5 years later in 1977 - which I also have. The later version was a bit more "science fictiony", possibly as a result of the "Star Wars" effect.

A number of the paintings were amended as well. For instance, in the original book, the depiction of astronauts working on the surface of Mars showed a deep blue sky whilst the same painting in the 1977 book features a corrected orange/pink sky. Of course, between the two books, Viking had landed on Mars and shown us what the view from the surface was REALLY like.

A similar view from the surface of Titan in the 1972 book had a green sky. It was known that Titan had lots of methane in the atmosphere and most artists' impressions showed a greenish hue to the atmosphere. By 1977 it was realised that nitrogen was even more prevelant and that the sky was probably of a more yellow tint. The picture was amended for the 1977 edition.

It's amazing how rapidly our knowledge of the solar system was advancing at that time.

If anyone is interested in space art, the granddaddy of them all as Chesley Bonnestell.

I loved this book as a kid. It was on semi-permanent loan to me from our local library. It dates from 1964