Stars and planets are fascinating to both kids and grown-ups of all ages. On Earth, there is one sun in the sky. And we all enjoy the meadows and streams, flowers, bees, and the great facets of nature. However, a planet hosted by the triple star system Alpha Centauri, not too far away from us would be able to face three suns, namely a yellow sun, an orange sun, and a red sun. These suns offer different experiences resulting in both pleasure and imminent danger - as the red sun is a real troublemaker due to fountains of fire, energetic particles, and super-dangerous radiation. In the end, Tom and Arena are happy to be back on Earth, at least type of. But they wonder: Was it a dream, a nightmare, or both? This story is informed by fantasy and hope, as well as by observational data obtained by professional astronomers.
Manfred Cuntz
Manfred Cuntz is a professor at The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). Originally from Germany, he spent extended time at various science institutions in Colorado, Alabama, and Texas. His network of collaborations spans all around the globe, including Europe, Japan, Mexico, and India. He is strongly engaged in research, teaching and public engagements. In 2020, he was inducted into UTA’s Academy of Distinguished Teachers. In 2023, he became a fellow with the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Manfred has spent more than 30 years studying the universe, especially stars and planets, including planets where life might be possible. This book is loosely inspired by the Alpha Centauri system, a triple star system in our immediate cosmic neighborhood, consisting of three suns of different colors (although no effort was made to strictly map the various astronomical data). Red dwarfs, like the third sun, are known to be especially violent. Manfred has been involved in numerous public outreach activities, including being a script writer of planetarium shows, and events for kids and grownups of all ages. Fun with Three Suns in the Sky is his picture book debut.
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