Details

<p>Introduction to the First Edition ix</p> <p>Introduction to the Second Edition xi</p> <p>About the Companion Website xii</p> <p>1 Beginnings 1</p> <p>2 Sun 25</p> <p>3 Earth 57</p> <p>4 The Moon 92</p> <p>5 Mercury 121</p> <p>6 Venus 146</p> <p>7 Mars 173</p> <p>8 Jupiter 231</p> <p>9 Saturn 269</p> <p>10 Uranus 314</p> <p>11 Neptune 336</p> <p>12 Pluto and the Kuiper Belt 354</p> <p>13 Comets, Asteroids, and Meteorites 384</p> <p>14 Exoplanets 438</p> <p>Appendices 475</p> <p>Glossary 500</p> <p>Further Reading 506</p> <p>Index 521</p>

<p><b>PETER BOND</b> is an expert on astronomy, space exploration, and planet Earth. A fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and the British Interplanetary Society, he has written hundreds of articles and over 10 books on exploration of the solar system. He served as a press officer for the Royal Astronomical Society from 1995-2007 and as a consultant and writer for the European Space Agency.

<p><b>AN EXCITING AND AUTHORITATIVE ACCOUNT OF THE SECOND GOLDEN AGE OF SOLAR SYSTEM EXPLORATION</b> <p>Award-winning author Peter Bond provides an up-to-date, in-depth account of the sun and its family in the second edition of <i>Exploring the Solar System</i>. This new edition brings together the discoveries and advances in scientific understanding made during the last 60 years of solar and planetary exploration, using research conducted by the world's leading geoscientists, astronomers, and physicists. <p><i>Exploring the Solar System,</i> Second Edition is an ideal introduction for non-science undergraduates and anyone interested in learning about our small corner of the Milky Way galaxy. The book includes sections on the early history of Solar System studies and the formation of our Solar System, as well as detailed descriptions of our nearest star and its retinue of planets, satellites, comets and asteroids. The story concludes with a chapter on the intriguing new field of exoplanet exploration, enabling comparisons between our own planetary system and those around distant stars. <p>With the aid of numerous full-color illustrations, this exciting and authoritative book reveals the wonders of the multiple worlds that populate our Solar System in thought-provoking detail and with insightful clarity. <p><b>REVIEWS OF THE FIRST EDITION</b> <p>"The book would make an excellent introduction to the planets, and the focus on exploration offers a different, less structured approach to an exciting and active research field, that will appeal to the interested non-specialist as well as students in the field." <i>(Astronomy & Geophysics)</i> <p>"This is an excellent account of our present knowledge of the Solar System. The text is clearly written, and the full–colour illustrations are magnificent and each one has a substantial caption...I recommend it to all who know little or nothing about the Solar System." (<i>The Observatory</i>) <p>"This textbook is right up to date, containing many recent results from our robotic emissaries currently exploring Venus, Mars and the Saturnian system, especially the astounding discoveries the Cassini–Huygens mission has made about the moons Titan and Enceladus." (<i>BBC Sky At Night</i>) <p>"I highly recommend the accessible and very informative book <i>Exploring the Solar System</i> by Peter Bond, to undergraduate students in science or in non–science related fields, and anyone in the general public seeking an understandable yet comprehensive overview of the Solar System. This book provides the up to the minute information about the Sun's family that will enrich your understanding of science in general, and outer space in particular." (<i>Blog Business Word</i>)

GB