Awards
Frank R. Paul Award for Outstanding Achievement in Science Fiction Art, Nashville, 1988
Award of Merit, Art Director's Club of Washington, DC, 1981
Hugo Award for Best Related Work, 2002: The Art of Chesley Bonestell
Award of Excellence in Science Writing from American Institute of Physics, 2003: Worlds Beyond series
Nominee for 1982 Hugo Award for best nonfiction for The Grand Tour
Ten Best Books of the Year, 1984 --Astronomical Society of the Pacific: Out of the Cradle
Ten Best Books of the Year, 1987 --Astronomical Society of the Pacific: Cycles of Fire
Outstanding Science Trade Book, National Science Teachers Assoc./Children's Book Council, 1987: Stars and Planets
New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age, 1992: The History of Earth
IAF Manuscript Award. Booklist Editor's Award, 1994: The Dream Machines
New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age, 2000: Rockets
Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year, 2005: Venus
National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) / Children's Book Council (CBC) Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12, 2005: The Elements
VOYA Nonfiction Honor List, 2009: Digital Art
2001 Writer's League of Texas Violet Crown Award for best audiofiction: Bradamant
2012 SSLI (Society of School Librarians International) Book Award, Honor Book in the Science 7-12 category: Is the End of the World Near?
VOYA Nonfiction Honor List: Digital Art
NSTA/CBC Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12: The Elements
Junior Library Guild Selection; nominee for Library of Virginia Literary Award for Non-Fiction: Recentering the Universe
Lovie Award for Best Tablet App, Education & Reference: Journey to the Exoplanets
Best Children's Books of the Year, Children’s Book Committee at the Bank Street College of Education: Curiosity's Mission on Mars
Finalist, Locus Award for Best Art Book, 2014: The Art of Space
Finalist, Locus Award for Best Art Book, 2017: Spaceships
Ordway Award for Outstanding Achievement in Aerospace History, 2018