Synopses & Reviews
The Cambridge Guide to the Solar System provides a comprehensive and up-to-date description of the planets and their moons. Writing at an introductory level appropriate for high school and undergraduate students, Professor Lang leads the reader on a fascinating journey of exploration to the worlds beyond our home planet Earth. The book begins with a short introduction to the history of planetary observation and discovery. The major planets and their moons are then introduced by presenting common properties, processes, and themes. This is followed by chapters which focus on individual planets and other solar system objects, including a comprehensive treatment of the various space missions: from the Apollo missions to the Moon, to recent missions to Jupiter and Mars. Filled with vital facts and information, and lavishly illustrated in colour throughout, this book will also appeal to professionals as well as general readers with an interest in planetary science.
Review
"In Ken Langs 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." Professor Paul Murdin, University of Cambridge, former Director of Science at the British National Space Centre
Synopsis
A lavishly illustrated guide to the planets and their moons for introductory students and general readers.
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 430-437) and index.
Synopsis
The Cambridge Guide to the Solar System provides a comprehensive and up-to-date description of the planets and their moons. Writing at an introductory level appropriate for high school and undergraduate students, Professor Lang leads the reader on a fascinating journey of exploration to the worlds beyond our home planet Earth. The book is filled with vital facts and information about each of the planets and the space missions that have visited them. Lavishly illustrated in colour throughout, this book will appeal to professionals and general readers interested in planetary science.
About the Author
Professor Lang is an award-winning astronomy and planetary science writer, having published ten books which have been translated into seven languages.
Table of Contents
Preface; Principal units; 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. Comets; 13. Asteroids and meteorites; 14. Colliding worlds; Appendix 1. Further reading; Appendix 2. Directory of web sites; Index.