The exploration of our solar system is one of humanity's greatest scientific achievements. The last fifty years in particular have seen huge steps forward in our understanding of the planets, the sun, and other objects in the solar system. Whilst planetary science is now a mature discipline - involving geoscientists, astronomers, physicists, and others - many profound mysteries remain, and there is indeed still the tantalizing possibility that we may find evidence of life on another planet in our system.Drawing upon the latest results from the second golden age of Solar System exploration, author Peter Bond provides an authoritative and up-to-date account of the planets, satellites and smaller debris that orbit the Sun.
Written in an informal style, with minimal use of mathematics, this book is the ideal introductory text for non-science students and other readers with little or no science background. With the aid of numerous illustrations, many in full colour, this exciting book brings to life the weird and wonderful worlds that populate our corner of the Universe.
This book:
* Assumes no background in physics , astronomy or mathematics
* Carefully explains key concepts
* Gives balanced coverage to areas of controversy or uncertainty in planetary science
* Is in in full color throughout and richly illustrated
An interview with Peter can be found at http://wisciblog.com/2012/02/28/exploring-the-solar-system/
Rezensionen / Stimmen
"This is an excellent account of our present knowledge of the Solar System. The text is clearly written, and the full-colour illustrations are magnificent and each one has a substantial caption...I recommend it to all who know little or nothing about the Solar System." (The Observatory, March 2013)
"This textbook is right up to date, containing many recent results from our robotic emissaries currently exploring Venus, Mars and the Saturnian system, especially the astounding discoveries the Cassini-Hygens mission has made about the moons Titan and Enceladus." (BBC Sky At Night, 1 June 2012) "The book would make an excellent introduction to the planets, and the focus on exploration offers a different, less structured approach to an exciting and active research field, that will appeal to the interested non-specialist as well as students in the field." (Astronomy & Geophysics, 2012)
"I highly recommend the accessible and very informative book Exploring the Solar System by Peter Bond, to undergraduate students in science or in non-science related fields, and anyone in the general public seeking an understandable yet comprehensive overview of the Solar System. This book provides the up to the minute information about the Sun's family that will enrich your understanding of science in general, and outer space in particular." (Blog Business Word, 31 March 2012) "Peter Bond's Exploring the Solar System takes a different approach, presenting a comprehensive overview of the exploration of our planetary system, with a focus on what we have found out about the planets, dwarf planets and moons of the solar system. This is the place to find out about the spacecraft that have contributed so much to our understanding of our planetary neighbours, providing a strongly practical, "how do you know that?" slant on planetary science. The book gives a general overview of the solar system, organized by planet, as well as covering the discovery of other planetary systems. It does not have the emphasis on calculation of the OU texts, but gives extensive and detailed descriptions of our planetary neighbours. Bond emphasizes the discoveries arising from different spacecraft and evolving techniques, and includes comprehensive information about the history of exploration, with useful lists of missions in the appendix. Each chapter concludes with questions for the reader to think about (without answers), including discussion topics such as "Is it worth spending money on SETI?" The book would make an excellent introduction to the planets, and the focus on exploration offers a different, less structured approach to an exciting and active research field, that will appeal to the interested non-specialist as well as students in the field." (Astronomy & Geophysics, 2012)
Auflage
Sprache
Verlagsort
Verlagsgruppe
Zielgruppe
Für höhere Schule und Studium
Maße
Höhe: 28.2 cm
Breite: 22 cm
Dicke: 2.6 cm
Gewicht
ISBN-13
978-1-4443-5108-8 (9781444351088)
Schweitzer Klassifikation
Award winning author, Peter Bond, is a Fellow of both the Royal Astronomical Society and the British Interplanetary Society. He has written 10 books and hundreds of articles about astronomy, space exploration and planet Earth, and contributed to, or edited, numerous others. Peter has been a consultant and writer for the European Space Agency for many years, and was a press officer for the Royal Astronomical Society 1995-2007.
Autor*in
Royal Astronomical Society
Introduction 1
1 Beginnings 3
2 Sun 23
3 Earth 52
4 The Moon 86
5 Mercury 112
6 Venus 133
7 Mars 156
8 Jupiter 210
9 Saturn 243
10 Uranus 281
11 Neptune 298
12 Pluto and the Kuiper Belt 314
13 Comets, Asteroids and Meteorites 335
14 Exoplanets 379
Appendices 412
Glossary 432
Further Reading 437
Index 450