Physics and Chemistry of the Solar System

Introduction - astronomical perspective; general description of the solar system; the sun and the solar nebula; the major planets; Pluto and the icy satellites of the outer planets; comets and meteors; meteorites and asteroids; the airless rocky planets - Io, Phobos and Deimos, the Moon and Mercury; the terrestial planets - Mars, Venus and Earth; planets and life about other stars; future prospects. Appendices: equilibrium thermodynamics; absorption and emission of radiation by quantum oscillators; exploration of the solar system; basic physical constants.