Something Interesting! - The Conquest of Space

Here is a book I found at a used bookstore about two years back. The Conquest of Space by Willy Ley with paintings by Chelsey Bonestell showcases an amazing time capsule of space knowledge. Chelsey was an amazing artist who used a combination of traditional painting techniques as well as photography and chemical techniques in order to create what at the time were considered hyper-realistic depictions of space scenes. His techiques appear similar to those imployed by artists like Maxfield Parrish.

I love the depiction of mars in this book. It was once believed that Mars had long river systems spanning across hundreds of miles. Mars did have river systems, however, they are long gone. How amazing would it have been if we never learned those river systems disappeared and that Mars still contained and sustained life?