Solar System Astrophysics, 2 Vols.

Solar System Astrophysics, 2 Vols.

This exhaustive work covers solar system astrophysics beginning with basic tools of spherical astronomy, and celestial mechanics. Coverage includes the Earth-Moon system and the interior planets; rocks and minerals, including crystallography; atmospheres, with detailed discussions of circulation, applicable also to discussion of the gas giants. The three giant planets are discussed together. This is followed by chapters on moons and rings, comets and meteors, meteorites and asteroids, and a discussion of extrasolar planets. The material is updated to incorporate the latest discoveries of the Mars Rover and the Saturn Cassini missions.

The book covers the field of solar system astrophysics beginning with basic tools of spherical astronomy and coordinate frames and celestial mechanics. Historical introductions precede the development and discussion in most chapters.

After a basic treatment of the two- and restricted three-body system motions, perturbations are discussed, and then the Earth's gravitational potential field and its effects on satellite orbits. Next follow chapters on the Earth-Moon system and the interior planets. Surfaces are treated as well as the interiors and atmospheres, developing appropriate mathematical tools and the basic geophysics, mineralogy, crystallography, and meteorology required for comprehension. Chapters 5 and 6 involve pedagogically clear, illustrated discussions of the numerical integration of the Adams-Williamson equation and the equations of state in planetary interiors. The discussion of rocks and minerals includes crystallography, essential for understanding the state of matter in planetary interiors and moon rocks. The atmospheres chapter includes detailed discussions of circulation, applicable also to the subsequent discussion of the gas giants. A comparative planetary approach is given to discussions of the atmospheric and ionospheric chemistry, magnetospheres, and crustal properties. The giant planets are discussed together, and the thermal excess of three of them highlighted. This is followed by chapters on moons and rings, mainly in the context of dynamical stability, comets and meteors, meteorites and asteroids, and concludes with an extensive discussion of extrasolar planets. The material has been updated in the last few months to take advantage of the newer discoveries of the Mars Rover and the Saturn Cassini missions.

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William Wilson, 1952 in Tours, Frankreich, geboren, studierte Philosophie und Ethnologie und ist als Künstler tätig. Er arbeitet auf Papier und Leinwand und hat eine Vorliebe für Pastell. Dazu kreiert er Dekors, Kostüme, Assemblages, Gravuren und Illustrationen. William Wilson stellt aus in Europa, Afrika und den Vereinigten Staaten.

Inhaltsangabe

- Preface. Acknowledgements

- Perceptions of the Solar System in History

- Basic Tools and Techniques

- Celestial Mechanics

- The Core of the Solar System: The Sun

- General Properties of the Terrestrial Planets

- Planetary Heat Flow and Temperatures

- Rocks and Minerals

- The Moon's Surface, Structure, and Evolution

- Surfaces of the Terrestrial Planets

- Planetary Atmospheres and Ionospheres

- Planetary Magnetism and Magnetospheres

- The Giant Planets

- Satellite and Ring Systems

- Comets and Meteors

- Meteorites, Asteroids, and the Age and Origin of the Solar System

- Extrasolar Planetary Systems

- Index