The Cambridge Planetary Handbook - Hardcover

Bakich, Michael E.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521632803 ISBN 13: 9780521632805

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2000

Synopsis

The Cambridge Planetary Handbook is an invaluable reference text, bringing together key facts and data on the planets and their satellites, discoverers and researchers. It summarises many centuries' worth of data, from the earliest observations of the planets through to the most recent spaceprobe findings. The author discusses the history, mythology and theories of the main objects in our solar system, and provides a comprehensive information section with accurate and up-to-date data on the planets. The book contains excellent photography and explanatory illustrations, along with numerous historical drawings from Galileo, Huygens, Herschel and other astronomers. This book is a must for all astronomy enthusiasts, as well as academic researchers, students and teachers. Those unfamiliar with the sky will find this a user-friendly guide written in clear, non-technical language.

About this title

Book Description:

This comprehensive reference text contains facts on all aspects of the planets in our solar system, from the earliest observations to the most recent spaceprobe findings. It is written using clear, non-technical language and includes excellent photography and illustrations. It will appeal to anyone interested in planetary astronomy.

From Booklist:

Combining both recent knowledge and historical background about the planets of the solar system, this source will be a valuable addition to the astronomy collections of both academic and public libraries. The author also wrote The Cambridge Guide to the Constellations (Cambridge, 1995).

The book is arranged in two parts. Part one presents planetary data, such as atmospheric pressure, composition, and future conjunctions and transits. Part two contains a summary on each planet, including its moons. These summaries cover cloud and atmospheric conditions, surface features, historical early ideas about each planet, and recent discoveries from the Hubble Space Telescope and other data collected in the "late 1990s." The planetary information is supplemented by historical photographs, illustrations, and portraits. Appendixes provide very brief biographies of selected astronomers and a glossary.

The handbook is well suited for amateur astronomers and students of astronomy. Readers with less technical background may need to refer to a scientific dictionary, and professional astronomers may find the coverage too popular. This title makes a nice companion to Encyclopedia of the Solar System [RBB Mr 15 99]. For instance, The Cambridge Planetary Handbook provides data on the surface gravity of the planets, while Encyclopedia of the Solar System provides a discussion of Newton's laws of motion and the universal law of gravity.
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About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0521632803
• ISBN 13: 9780521632805
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 346