PLANETARY SCIENCES
Imke de Pater and Jack J. Lissauer
[Cambridge: 0521482194 Hardback £50.00 / $80.00]
PLANETARY SCIENCES
Imke de Pater and Jack J. Lissauer
[Cambridge: 0521482194 Hardback £50.00 / $80.00]
The space age with lunar missions and interplanetary probes, has revolutionized our understanding of the Solar System. Planets and large moons, which previously appeared in telescopes only as fuzzy disks, have become familiar worlds, with a range of diverse properties. Large numbers of asteroids, comets and small moons have now been discovered, and many of these objects studied in detail. The number of planets now known to orbit stars other than our Sun far exceeds those within our own Solar System. As a result, our understanding of the process of star and planet formation is increasing all the time.
Planetary Sciences presents a comprehensive coverage of this fascinating and expanding field at a level appropriate for graduate students and juniors and seniors majoring the the physical sciences. The book explains the wide variety of physical, chemical, and geological processes that govern the motions and properties of planets. Observations of the planets, moons, asteroids, comets and planetary rings in our Solar System, as well as extrasolar planets, are described and the process of planetary formation is discussed. We highly recommend this book for classes at the upper level undergraduate and first year graduate level in the physical sciences.
FRONT COVER: Artist conception of a protoplanetary disk. A growing giant planet appears in the foreground (lower right). This planet has a massive atmosphere, and it has partially cleared a gap around its orbit via gravitational torques (see Chapters 11 and 12). It is accreting both gas and small planetesimals, which shed material as they fall into its atmosphere and look like comets. Numerous lunar-sized planetary embryos within the disk are visible through the gravitational wakes that they create in the disk of small planetesimals. A pair of these bodies has just collided and glows red. The star at the center of the disk is in its final stages of accretion, and is expelling gas through a bipolar wind. The disk near the star is warmed by both starlight and viscous dissipation within the disk itself; both processes provide more energy closer to the center of the disk. The blue shading of the outer disk is intended to give the impression of cool temperatures, but in reality such regions would appear dark red; similarly, the radially symmetric structure in the disk has been exaggerated in order to convey the impression of rotation. The top of the painting shows other young stars and interstellar gas and dust that inhabit the same stellar nursery as the star/disk system seen close-up. Painted by Lynette Cook, with scientific consultation of Jack Lissauer.
>>University of Cambridge Press<<
Pre-publication Praise
David W. Hughes, Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Sheffield: 'A Goldilocks book, not too hard and not too soft, in fact just right for the dedicated advanced student. A skillful combination of astronomy, physics, geophysics and mathematics. The abundance of colourful images, useful figures, up-to-date tables, physical and chemical formulae and erudite scientific insight makes this an excellent overview of today's understanding of our planet and its neighbours. An excellent textbook for a final-year university course in planetary science: well written, well illustrated, well referenced and with ample set problems to cut ones teeth on.'.
Jonathan I. Lunine, Professor of Planetary Sciences and Chair, Theoretical Astrophysics Program, The University of Arizona: 'The authors are very highly respected practitioners of the field. They have produced a text that will serve well graduate students entering degree programs in Planetary Sciences, as well as advanced undergraduates who wish an excellent introduction to the field, and scientists from related disciplines who desire a comprehensive primer. The flow of ideas is logical and very clearly presented . The problem sets are unusually extensive and helpful.'
Paul D. Spudis, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Center for Advanced Space Studies, Houston: '-- a valuable resource to graduate and advanced undergraduate students. It will also become a concise reference summary of the broad breadth of planetary science for working scientists interested, but untrained, in adjacent disciplines.'
Carl D. Murray, Astronomy Unit, Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London : 'An outstanding overview of the diverse disciplines of planetary science in the twenty-first century. The insightful text, judiciously chosen diagrams and penetrating questions combine to make this an ideal book for anyone wanting to understand the origin and evolution of solar systems.'
Andrew P. Ingersoll, Division of Geological and Planetary Science, California Institute of Technology : 'I am really impressed with Planetary Sciences by de Pater and Lissauer. The book covers the important physical processes in all areas of planetary science. The book sets the standard for what we should be teaching those who want to become professionals in this field. I will recommend it to all my students and look forward to using it in my courses.'