Table of Contents

Part I. Introduction: 1. Inventory of the solar system; 2. Planetary properties; 3. Formation of the solar system; Part II. Dynamics: 4. The 2-body problem; 5. The 3-body problem; 6. 'Planetary' perturbations and resonances; 7. Long-term stability of planetary orbits; 8. Orbits about an oblate planet; 9. Tides; 10. Dissipative forces and the orbits of small bodies; Part III. Solar Heating and Energy Transport: 11. Energy balance and temperatures; 12. Energy transport; Part IV. Planetary Atmospheres: 13. Density and scale height; 14. Thermal structure; 15. Atmospheric composition; 16. Clouds; 17. Meteorology; 18. Photochemistry; 19. Molecular and eddy diffusion; 20. Atmospheric escape; 21. Evolution of terrestrial planet atmospheres and climate; Part V. Planetary Surfaces: 22. Mineralogy and petrology; 23. Crystallisation of a magma; 24. Surface morphology; 25. Impact cratering; 26. Surface geology of individual bodies; Part VI. Planetary Interiors: 27. Modelling and the interior structure of a planet; 28. Seismic tomography and the Earth's interior; 29. Interior structure of other terrestrial bodies; 30. Interior structure of the giant planets; Part VII. Planetary Magnetospheres and the Interplanetary Medium: 31. The interplanetary medium; 32. Magnetic field configuration: mathematical description; 33. Magnetospheric plasma and the particle motions; 34. Magnetospheres of the individual bodies; 35. Radio emissions; 36. Waves in magnetospheres; 37. Generation of magnetic fields: Part VIII. Meteorites: 38. Basic classification and fall statistics; 39. Source regions; 40. Fall phenomena: atmospheric entry to impact; 41. Chemical and isotopic fractionation; 42. Radiometric dating; 43. Physical characteristics of chondrites; 44. Meteorite clues to the formation of the solar system; Part IX. Asteroids: 45. Orbits; 46. Size distribution and collisional evolution; 47. Observing techniques; 48. Surface composition; 49. Surface structure; 50. Origin and evolution of the asteroid belt; Part X. Comets: 51. Nomenclature; 52. Cometary orbits and comet reservoirs; 53. Gaseous coma; 54. Dust; 55. Magnetosphere; 56. Nucleus; 57. Comet formation and the constraints on the theories of the solar system formetion; 58. Future; Part XI. Planetary Rings: 59. Tidal forces and Roche's limit; 60. Flattening and spreading of rings; 61. Observations of planetary rings; 62. Ring-moon interactions; 63. Physics of dust rings; 64. Meteoroid bombardment of planetary rings; 65. Origins of planetary rings; 66. Summary; Part XII. Planet Formation: 67. Observational constraints; 68. Nucleosynthesis: a concise summary; 69. Star formation: a brief overview; 70. Evolution of the solar nebula: the protoplanetary disk; 71. Condensation and growth of solid bodies; 72. Formation of the terrestrial planets; 73. Formation of the giant planets; 74. Planetary migration; 75. Small bodies in orbit about the Sun; 76. Planetary rotation; 77. Origin of planetary satellites; 78. Confronting theory with observations; Part XIII. Extrasolar Planets: 79. Detecting extrasolar planets; 80. Observations of extrasolar planets; 81. Models for the formation of planets observed to orbit main sequence stars other than the Sun; 82. Planets and life; 83. SETI; 84. Conclusions; Appendices; Tables.

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A comprehensive coverage of this fascinating and expanding field at a level appropriate for graduate students and researchers.

About the Author

Imke de Pater is a Professor at the University of California, in the departments of Astronomy and Earth and Planetary Science. She was born in Hengelo, the Netherlands, in 1952 and received her Ph.D. cum Laude in 1980 from Leiden University. She held a postdoctoral fellowship at the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at the University of Arizona from 1980-1983, after which she moved to the University of California in Berkeley. Jack J. Lissauer is a Space Scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California. He was born in San Francisco in 1957, received his S.B. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1978 and his Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of California @ Berkeley in 1982. He held postdoctoral fellowships at NASA Ames and the University of California @ Santa Barbara, and was on the faculty of the State University of New York @ Stony Brook from 1987-1996.

Reviews

'I am really impressed ... The book covers the important physical processes in all areas of planetary science. My favorite derivations are all there, along with the important figures, graphs, and tables that show the data. The numerous homework problems challenge the student to understand the equations and think independently. The book sets the standard for what we should be teaching those who want to become professionals in this field. I will recommend it to all my students and look forward to using it in my courses.' Andrew P. Ingersoll, Professor of Planetary Science, California Institute of Technology 'Planetary Sciences presents a comprehensive coverage of this fascinating and expanding field at a level ... The book explains the wide variety of physical, chemical and geological processes that govern the motions and properties of planets ... a very useful book ... an excellent textbook for anyone studying astronomy and planetary geology ... a rich source of knowledge ... Highly recommended.' Richard Taylor, Spaceflight '... a comprehensive overview of the planetary science field ...'. Lunar and Planetary Information Bulletin '... the book is essentially excellent. Given their formidable task, de Pater and Lissauer have done as good a job as can be imagined, and I can't imagine two other authors doing a better job.' William B. McKinnon, EOS '... a massive achievement, and the well-considered problems and exercises at the end of each chapter will be particularly useful to students and to test one's own understanding.' Physics Today 'The illustrations and images are excellently produced ... This hardback volume should serve the degree student well throughout their years of study.' Popular Astronomy