Part I. Changing Views and Fundamental Concepts: 1. Evolving perspectives: a historical prologue; 2. The new, close-up view from space; 3. The invisible buffer zone with space: atmospheres, magnetospheres and the solar wind; Part II. The Inner System – Rocky Worlds: 4. Third rock from the Sun: restless Earth; 5. The Moon: stepping stone to the planets; 6. Mercury: a dense battered world; 7. Venus: the veiled planet; 8. Mars: the red planet; Part III. The Giant Planets, Their Satellites and Their Rings – Worlds of Liquid, Ice and Gas: 9. Jupiter: a giant primitive planet; 10. Saturn: lord of the rings; 11. Uranus and Neptune; Part IV. Remnants of Creation – Small Worlds in the Solar System: 12. Asteroids and meteorites; 13. Colliding worlds; 14. Comets; 15. Beyond Neptune; Part V. Origin of the Solar System and Extrasolar Planets: 16. Brave new worlds; Index.
With full color images, this classic reference is brought up-to-date, and will appeal to anyone with an interest in planetary science.
Kenneth R. Lang is a Professor of Astronomy at Tufts University. He is a well-known author and has published 25 books. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the Sun (Cambridge University Press, 2001) was recommended by the Library Journal as one of the best reference books published that year. He has extensive teaching experience, and has served as a Visiting Senior Scientist at NASA headquarters.
'Journeys deep into space have revealed dozens of distinctive
worlds of unexpected diversity. Ken Lang presents a richly
illustrated and remarkably thorough guide to the new view of the
Solar System that has emerged, a view that beckons us on further
journeys of discovery.' Edward Stone, NASA Jet Propulsion
Laboratory
'… exceptionally good … so clearly written that it is within the
cope of even the complete newcomer to astronomy, but there are also
sections, usually in boxes, that will be useful to the serious
student … this is a well-written and splendidly illustrated book,
suitable for readers of all kinds. it may be recommended without
hesitation and will be a welcome addition to any astronomical
library.' Patrick Moore, The Times Higher Education Supplement
'In Ken Lang's brilliant guide, he shows us how to read the
character of the worlds of our solar system and how to understand
not only the distinctive nature of each one but how they relate as
families. I came away from the book with my mind liberated from
gravity and the bounds of a human lifespan, images of the
development of other worlds over their 4 billion year history
crowding through my imagination.' Paul Murdin, University of
Cambridge
'… a very readable and informative volume … it is a fascinating
read because the author focuses on the development of ideas about
the planets, on the basis of observations available at the time.
This gives a strong narrative quality to the text, which enlivens
the arguments and allows the reader to appreciate the significance
of key new observations.' Astronomy Geophysics
'Competitively priced in hardback, the book should be a best
seller.' The Observatory
'… very browseable … for those wishing for a well documented guide
to our present knowledge of the Solar system this is very good
value … Recommended …'. Astronomy Now
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