An Introduction to the Solar System / Edition 3

by David A. Rothery, Neil McBride, Iain Gilmour

Overview

Ongoing advances in Solar System exploration continue to reveal its splendour and diversity in remarkable detail. This undergraduate-level textbook presents fascinating descriptions and colour images of the bodies in the Solar System, the processes that occur upon and within them, and their origins and evolution. It highlights important concepts and techniques in boxed summaries, while questions and exercises are embedded at appropriate points throughout the text, with full solutions provided. Written and edited by a team of practising planetary scientists, this third edition has been updated to reflect our current knowledge. It is ideal for introductory courses on the subject, and is suitable for self-study. The text is supported by online resources, hosted at www.cambridge.org/solarsystem3, which include selected figures from the book, self-assessment questions and sample tutor assignments, with outlines of suggested answers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781108430845
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	01/11/2018
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	440
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 10.30(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

David A. Rothery is a volcanologist and planetary scientist at The Open University, with a background in geological remote sensing and a special fascination for the satellites of the outer planets. He has been involved in several space missions, and leads the Surface and Composition Working Group for the European Space Agency's BepiColombo mission to Mercury.

Neil McBride joined the Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute, at The Open University, in 2000 as Lecturer in Planetary and Space Science. His major teaching interests being in planetary science, physics and astronomy, and space science. He now works in acoustics supporting sustainable building design.

Iain Gilmour is Professor of Isotope Geochemistry at The Open University, where he undertakes research on the geochemistry of past climate change and large scale planetary impacts. He has taught on a wide range of Open University Science modules in the geosciences and planetary sciences as well as delivering courses at other institutions.

Table of Contents

Introduction; 1. A tour of the Solar System; 2. The internal structure of the terrestrial planets; 3. Planetary volcanism; 4. Planetary surface processes; 5. Atmospheres of terrestrial planets; 6. The giant planets; 7. Minor bodies of the Solar System; 8. The origin of the Solar System; 9. Meteorites: a record of formation; Answers and comments; Appendices; Glossary; Further reading; Acknowledgements; Figure references; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"There are excellent treatments of features common to more than one body in the solar system..especially useful is the focus on atmospheric properties..excellent summary of planetary volcanism...provide thought-provoking introductions to the subject suitable for students from a wide range of backgrounds." Astronomy and Geophysics

From the Publisher