Synopses & Reviews
As the definitive guide for the armchair astronomer, The New Solar System has established itself as the leading book on planetary science and solar system studies. Incorporating the latest knowledge of the solar system, a distinguished team of researchers, many of them Principal Investigators on NASA missions, explain the solar system with expert ease. The completely-revised text includes the most recent findings on asteroids, comets, the Sun, and our neighboring planets. The book examines the latest research and thinking about the solar system; looks at how the Sun and planets formed; and discusses our search for other planetary systems and the search for life in the solar system. In full-color and heavily-illustrated, the book contains more than 500 photographs, portrayals, and diagrams. An extensive set of tables with the latest characteristics of the planets, their moon and ring systems, comets, asteroids, meteorites, and interplanetary space missions complete the text. New to this edition are descriptions of collisions in the solar system, full scientific results from Galileo's mission to Jupiter and its moons, and the Mars Pathfinder mission. For the curious observer as well as the student of planetary science, this book will be an important library acquisition. J. Kelly Beatty is the senior editor of Sky &Telescope, where for more than twenty years he has reported the latest in planetary science. A renowned science writer, he was among the first journalists to gain access to the Soviet space program. Asteroid 2925 Beatty was named on the occasion of his marriage in 1983. Carolyn Collins Petersen is an award-winning science writer and co-author of Hubble Vision (Cambridge 1995). She has also written planetarium programs seen at hundreds of facilities around the world. Andrew L. Chaikin is a Boston-based science writer. He served as a research geologist at the Smithsonian Institution's Center for Earth and Planetary Studies. He is a contributing editor to Popular Science and writes frequently for other publications.
Review
"A well-illustrated tour of our solar system...The authors' discussions of what we don't know about these phenomena are bound to arouse the curiosity of the general reader, and their explanations of what we do know are supplemented with informative colorful photographs, diagrams, and suggestions for further reading." Science News"The glossy pages, lavish color diagrams and photos, and large (but not thick) size of this splendid book will attract even those readers who are not interested in complex details of the solar system." The Book Report"...an entertaining and highly informative popular work on the diverse nature of our solar system." Lunar and Planetary Institute Bulletin"Each of the 28 chapters, individually written by experts, is devoted to one or more aspects of our planetary neighbors. Each chapter is filled with seemingly unending sequences of breathtaking views of worlds so diverse and alien, that it is hard to believe this solar system of ours is real. The text deftly combines these images with charts, illustrations, graphs, and physical explanations..." Science Books &Films"This impressive new release makes virtually any other astronomy title on the shelves obsolete. Providing the most current information on the planets, moons, asteroids and other heavenly bodies in our solar system, the book is flooded with new factual information that will be of great value to the serious astronomer, while captivating amateurs." Today's Librarian"Every page contains high-quality photographs and diagrams that cover the entire range of planetary science from the inner workings of the Sun to the Oort Cloud. Artist Don Davis also provides beautiful illustrations throughout the book, giving the reader an up-close look at some currently inaccessible places...The reader comes away with a sense of awe for what has been learned and a sense of eager anticipation for the next planetary spacecraft mission." Meteoritics &Planetary Science"For a comprehensive close-up on the planets and environs, it's hard to beat The New Solar System...a compendium of the science, history and politics of space, with graphs, illustrations and photographs." Washington Post Book World"Although purists may object to the titleThe New Solar System on grounds that the current model has been around for quite some time, that should not stop them from hurrying to get the latest edition of this splendid and authoritative volume." Sir Arthur C. Clarke, CBE, award winning author and lecturer"It is a reliable treasure trove of information and ideas that belongs on the bookshelf of anyone with an interest in our neighborhood of worlds." David H. Levy, Sky Publishing, Inc., author and comet finder"The fourth edition of The New Solar System is rich--with data, information, illustration, interpretation and inspiration. A beautiful book that comprehensively covers the wide range of solar system exploration..." Dr. Louis A. Friedman, Executive Director, The Planetary Society
Review
"A well-illustrated tour of our solar system...The authors' discussions of what we don't know about these phenomena are bound to arouse the curiosity of the general reader, and their explanations of what we do know are supplemented with informative colorful photographs, diagrams, and suggestions for further reading." Science News"The glossy pages, lavish color diagrams and photos, and large (but not thick) size of this splendid book will attract even those readers who are not interested in complex details of the solar system." The Book Report"...an entertaining and highly informative popular work on the diverse nature of our solar system." Lunar and Planetary Institute Bulletin
Synopsis
New edition of the leading planetary science textbook packed with the latest images, data, and results from recent planetary missions.
Synopsis
The New Solar System, now in its fourth edition, is firmly established as the leading text on planetary science and solar system studies. A decade of stunning discoveries has rewritten the road map of our solar system. Bright comets blazed in the sky while Galileo beamed back astonishing images from Jupiter and Mars Pathfinder sped to the surface of Mars. A comet hit Jupiter, as telescopes discovered swarms of minor planets at the icy limit of the solar system, and new planets beyond orbiting nearby stars. These discoveries have required a completely new edition of The New Solar System, compiled by researchers who participated in many of the recent planetary missions.
Table of Contents
Introduction; 1. Exploring the solar system; 2. Origin of the solar system; 3. The Sun; 4. Planetary magnetospheres and the interplanetary medium; 5. Cosmetary reservoirs; 6. The role of collisions; 7. Mercury; 8. Venus; 9. Planet Earth; 10. The Moon; 11. Mars; 12. Surfaces and interiors of the Terrestrial planets; 13. Atmospheres of the terrestrial planets; 14. Interiors of the giant planets; 15. Atmospheres of the giant planets; 16. Planetary rings; 17. Io Torrence; 18. Europa; 19. Ganymede and Callisto; 20. Titan; 21. Triton, Pluto and Charon; 22. Midsize icy satellites; 23. Small worlds: patterns and relationships; 24. Comets; 25. Asteroids; 26. Meteorites; 27. Life in the solar system; 28. Other planetary systems; Tables; Glossary; Biographical sketches of contributors, Index.