Miranda

‘Professors, Doctors, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have a startling discovery to tell you about. Unfortunately, this discovery, although very unique, is also very distressing. Some months ago, my colleagues and I were photographing parts of the night sky in order to prepare a new star chart. We do this every ten years so that we are as up to date as possible with what is happening in our galaxy.

‘It was during one of these nights that we accidentally found a new object. This object is moving through space at a tremendous speed and is invisible; that is to say, it is black. Although it is invisible, we know where it is by the occultation of stars in its background and therefore we are able to measure its mass and size.

‘We have called this object MIRANDA, as it is meandering through space. However, Miranda is much larger than we first thought and is heading towards our solar system at a phenomenal speed. In just eight short weeks, it will enter our solar system.’

Mike thought for moment, he was on the right track, this body is having an effect on the gravitational pull of our planet. We are or will be drawn further away from the Sun. With an object the size able to be seen by occultation, it is very big, a planet or a ...... His thoughts died away as he concentrated on the professor. He knew in his mind what he was about to be told.

‘Miranda has all the qualities of a star, a sun. For as most of you are aware, our Sun, is a yellow star and we have named this star our Sun. I said before that the news is also distressing. The news of a star heading towards us is fantastic, but we at the observatory here in Greenwich, other astronomers at Joderal Bank Radio telescope and also Mount Palomar, have deduced from our data, that Miranda will slow down and remain in our solar system. It will not, even with its present speed, travel straight through, continuing its journey through space.’

He paused for a moment turning the sheets of his notes while the room was in complete silence. Everyone was absorbed in the professors’ discovery, and now wondered what would happen to their planet which they called Earth and home.

Terry is writing two more books in the exciting Mars trilogy.

Book 2, takes you inside Mars with the science team, led by Professors George and Cynthia Adams. They find a spectacular model showing a huge Meteorite collide with Mars ripping off the atmosphere and how the people survived deep inside Mars. The team go deeper and discover more about the miracle gas. Finding a cavern with strange symbols, it takes an expert on the Earth Pyramids to open the huge doors, finally revealing the true owners of Mars and Earth. What they discover rocks the new settlers. A message is sent to Professor Anderson telling him they need a new home as swiftly as possible, unless the government can come up with a compromise to stop an interplanetary war.

Book 3 starts with Professor Anderson and two new arrivals. Sarah and Roselin have their babies born in space and both are telepathic, as too is Julie’s new baby back on Mars and the three babies have incredible powers. As the USS Centauri travels to Alpha Centauri, they encounter other space travellers and through discussions, Mike and his team design new engines bringing the stars closer. Back on Mars, Dave updates Mike, who fears the worst for his friends. Reaching Alpha Centauri, they discover the planet is occupied and search further a field in the race to find a new home for their people on Mars who may soon go to war if something doesn’t happen to stop it.