Synopses & Reviews
Major leaps in space technology now allow us to view the splendour and diversity of the Solar System in remarkable detail. This textbook presents a fascinating description of the bodies in the Solar System and their origin and evolution. It highlights important concepts and techniques in boxed summaries. There are questions and answers throughout the text, as well as exercises with full solutions. Written and edited by practising planetary scientists, this new edition has been updated to reflect current knowledge and contains new figures to bring it up to date. It is ideal for introductory courses on the subject and is suitable for self-study. Online resources include electronic versions of figures from the book, sample assignments with suggested answers and links to websites featuring video clips and news stories related to the textbook.
Review
'An Introduction to the Solar System is clearly written, accurate, up-to-date, well-produced and a pleasure to read. It is a first rate production by a team of professionals, clearly designed for teaching and up to the high standards of The Open University. The many questions that are posed throughout the text (with answers at the back) make it an ideal teaching text. As a beginning text at an undergraduate level, it is hard to fault this book and I suspect that it will be widely used in introductory courses.' Professor S. Ross Taylor, Australian National University
Review
'Of all the planetary science textbooks on my shelf, this is my new favourite. It is up to date, lavishly illustrated and engagingly written at a level that would challenge but not overwhelm the typical undergraduate. It is comprehensive and well-written. Undergraduates will find it educational and senior researchers will find topics outside their fields of expertise lucidly explained.' Dr Alan Rubin, University of California, Los Angeles
Review
'This textbook gives a comprehensive review of the various objects and processes of the Solar System. It succeeds very well in conveying and explaining all the basic information and concepts on the planetary system, and it is as up to date as can be expected in this rapidly evolving field. The layout is clear and intuitive, the writing style is accessible, and calculations are given while avoiding complex mathematics. I highly recommend this book to anybody who wants to have an up-to-date introduction to the planetary sciences.' Professor Christian Koeberl, University of Vienna
Synopsis
Fascinating description of the bodies in the Solar System and their origin and evolution, ideal for introductory courses.
Synopsis
Presenting a fascinating description of the bodies in the Solar System and their origin and evolution, this new edition has been updated to reflect current knowledge and contains several new figures. There are questions and answers throughout the text, exercises with full solutions, and additional resources available online.
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.Neil McBride joined the Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute, at The Open University, in 2000 as Lecturer in Planetary and Space Science. He now works in acoustics supporting sustainable building design.Iain Gilmour is Head of the Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute at The Open University where he undertakes research on meteorites and large scale planetary impacts.
Table of Contents
Introduction; 1. A tour of the solar system; 2. The internal structure of the terrestrial planets; 3. Planetary volcanism - Ultima Thule?; 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.