This book, the first in a series of forthcoming volumes, consists of topical and timely reviews of a number of carefully selected topics in solar systemn science. Contributions, in form of up-to-date reviews, are mainly aimed at professional astronomers and planetary scientists wishing to inform themselves about progress in fields closely related to their own field of expertise.
As we speak, stunning new snapshots of our Solar System are being transmitted to Earth by a fleet of space probes, landers, and rovers. Yet nowadays, it is all too easy to take such images for granted amidst the deluge of competing visuals we scroll through every day. To truly understand the value of these incredible space photos, we first need to understand the tools that made them possible. This is the story of imaging instruments in space, detailing all the technological missteps and marvels that have allowed us to view planetary bodies like never before. From the rudimentary cameras launched in the 1950’s to the cutting-edge imaging instruments onboard the Mars Perseverance rover, this book covers more than 100 imaging systems sent aboard various spacecraft to explore near and distant planetary bodies. Featured within are some of the most striking images ever received by these pioneering instruments, including Voyager’s Pale Blue Dot, Apollo’s Blue Marble, Venera’s images from the surface of Venus, Huygens’ images of Titan, New Horizon’s images of Pluto and Arrokoth, and much more. Along the way, you will learn about advancements in data transmission, digitization, citizen science, and other fields that revolutionized space imaging, helping us peer farther and more clearly across the Solar System.
This book describes the origin and evolution of the solar system, with an emphasis on interpretation rather than description. Starting with the Big Bang 15-20 billion years ago, it traces the evolution of the solar system from the separation of a disk of gas and dust, the solar nebula, 4.7 billion years ago. The problems of the formation of the Sun and the planets are considered beginning with Jupiter and the other gas giants, and ending with the formation of the Earth, the other rocky inner planets and the Moon. All planets, satellites and rings are different and random encounters have played a major role in the evolution of the system: the Moon is the product of a chance collision. The author concludes that the solar system is probably unique; other planetary systems may be common, but will probably not resemble ours either in numbers or types of planets.
Packed with information, this book opens before us like a tunnel through space, enabling us to make a fascinating tour of the planets in our solar system. Revised and updated, the new edition of this three-dimensional information book encourages children to study interesting data about each of the planets. Larger trim size and additional spread.
