Table of Contents

Welcome to Mars.- Welcome to Mars.- Martian landscapes.- Martian landscapes.- Chronology of Mars.- Chronology of Mars.- Birth of a planet.- Before Mars and the other planets.- Very rapid protoplanetary growth.- Formation of the core, crust and mantle.- The evolution of Mars, the Earth, Venus and Mercury.- What Martian meteorites tell us.- The origin of atmospheres and water.- Meteoritic bombardment.- The enigma of the ‘north-south dissymmetry’.- The primordial dynamo and magnetic field.- The moons of Mars: captured asteroids?.- A youthful Mars.- Rivers on Mars!.- The source of Mars’ rivers.- The mystery of the lakes.- Traces of water.- A history of many chapters.- In search of a lost ocean.- The mystery of Mars’ past climate.- The theory of life on Mars.- Hunting for fossils.- A unique witness, 4 billion years old.- The end of an oasis: Mars loses its atmosphere.- Life on Mars today.- The slow metamorphosis.- A sub-surface motor: convection in the mantle.- Giant volcanoes on Mars.- Olympus Mons: the solar system’s biggest volcano.- Lava flows and lava plains.- Ridges and cracks on the surface.- Valles Marineris: the valley of wonders.- A permanently frozen subsurface.- The mystery of the chaotic terrains.- Outflow channels.- A drive around the mouth of Ares Vallis.- A second Siberia.- Climates and storms.- Seasons and temperatures.- The atmosphere of Mars.- Martian winds.- Martian meteorology.- Dunes, ergs and erosion: footprints of the winds.- The dust cycle: ever-orange skies.- The dust cycle: planet of storms.- The dust cycle: whirlwinds of dust.- The dust cycle: global storms.- The water cycle: vapour, frost and ice — water on Mars.- The water cycle: clouds and fogs.- The CO2 cycle: seasonal polar caps.- The CO2 cycle: an atmosphere which solidifies.-The CO2 cycle: the vagaries of carbon dioxide ice.- The CO2 cycle: the residual southern polar cap.- Climate change: when Mars rocks on its axis.- Climate change: ancient glaciers on Mars.- Climate change: surface ice at high latitudes.- Climate change: intermittent water flows.- Climate change: polar sediments, evidence of past climates.- Exploring Mars.- Telescopic voyages.- First visitors: the Mariner probes.- Soviet setbacks.- Viking.- A difficult exploration.- New American initiatives.- Spirit and Opportunity: wheels on Mars.- Europe joins in: Mars Express.- The future of European Mars exploration.- Imagination serves exploration.- The Grail: returning samples.- Astronauts on Mars.

Reviews

From the reviews: "This would be an excellent book to give someone who is interested in Mars ! . Translated from the French, it could be enjoyed by a layperson or undergraduate planetary science student. Richly illustrated and containing many pictures from contemporary missions -- the two Mars rovers and operating trio of NASA and ESA orbiters -- the scientific findings are presented in a succinct, yet easy to follow format. The book is well laid-out and the use of illustrations has been especially thoughtful." (Malcolm Smith, Astronomy Now, April, 2008) "Today, Earth's nearest planetary neighbor is better understood, and this book takes observational surveys and photographic evidence from the Martian surface to give a clear and factual look at this dynamic planet. ! They emphasize recent discoveries of Mars's current atmospheric and climatologic conditions. This coverage is timely, and the intriguing photographic evidence offers an in-depth look at the relentless controversy of liquid water (and life!) once flowing over the Martian surface. ! Includes colorful illustrations. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers, lower-division undergraduates." (L. R. Johnston, CHOICE, Vol. 45 (10), June, 2008) "This book provides an overview of the current understanding of the past and present state of Mars, and a brief introduction to the planet. ! would serve very well as an introductory resource at the undergraduate level. ! provides a superb overview on most topics regarding Mars, and it manages to do so without going into a level of detail that would be considered necessary for a specialist in the topic. For a budding planetary scientist, undergraduate, or amateur, this is definitely a recommended read." (Alex Leatherland, EOS, Vol. 90 (19), May, 2009)