Moons and planets - Hardcover

Hartmann, William K

4.11

18 ratings by Goodreads

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0534007198 ISBN 13: 9780534007195

Publisher: Wadsworth Pub. Co, 1983

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This comprehensive, broad-based and authoritative survey of discoveries in planetary astronomy and geology synthesis contains many important results from space exploration programs such as Viking Studies on Mars, geological results from studies of lunar rocks, probes of Venus, and photographs of such satellites as Phobs, Ganymede, Io, Mimas, and Rhea. The material, organized in an evolutionary fashion, covers such topics as a general review of planets and their orbital dynamics, discussions of their origins, interiors, surface features and atmospheres, and problems of life's evolution on other worlds. Optional mathematics sections allow flexibility in the level of presentation. Numerous photographs and drawings are included as well as a detailed bibliography of recently published research. This book should be of interest to students on courses in astronomy.

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About the Author:

William K. Hartmann is known internationally as a planetary astronomer, writer, and painter. He is a Senior Scientist at the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Arizona. His research has involved the origin and evolution of planets and studies of the surfaces of Mars, the moon, asteroids, and comets. Asteroid 3341 is named after him in recognition of this work, and in 1998 he was named first recipient of the Carl Sagan medal of the American Astronomical Society for communicating planetary science to the public. In 2002 he was awarded a medal from the European Geophysical Society for his work on planetary cratering. He has authored three other astronomy books for Thomson, Brooks-Cole, several popular astronomy books, and two novels, MARS UNDERGROUND and CITIES OF GOLD.

Review:

1. Introduction: Planetary Science and the Cosmic Perspective. 2. The Solar System: An Overview. 3. Celestial Mechanics. 4. The Formation of Stars and Planetary Material. 5. The Formation of Planets and Satellites. 6. Meteorites and Meteoritics. 7. Interplanetary Worldlets: Asteroids and Comets. 8. Planetary Interiors. 9. Planetary Surfaces I: Petrology, Primitive Surfaces, and Cratering. 10. Planetary Surfaces II: Volcanism and Endogenic Processes of Surface Evolution. 11. Planetary Atmospheres. 12. Life: Its History and Occurrence. 13. Martian Epilogue: Applying Planetary Science on a New Frontier. Appendix: Planetary Data Table. References. Index.

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