Frank R. Paul Award for Outstanding Achievement in Science Fiction Art, Nashville, 1988
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 C 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
Junior Literary Guild Selection, Fall 2013: Recentering the Universe
Ordway Award for Sustained Excellence in Spaceflight History
