Beyond Pluto: Exploring the Outer Limits of the Solar System [Hardcover]

John Davies (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521800196 | ISBN-13: 978-0521800198 | Publication Date: July 23, 2001

Exactly what is beyond Pluto? Why, in the last ten years, has the Solar System more than doubled in size? For the first time, in almost two centuries, an entirely new population of planetary objects has been found that may well explain these two questions. This newly discovered realm of minor planets, now known as the "Kuiper Belt," has reconceptualized our understanding of how the Solar System was formed and has finally given ontological explanations for the enigmatic outer planet Pluto. Beyond Pluto is the fascinating story of how a group of theoretical physicists decided that there must be a population of unknown bodies beyond Pluto and how a small band of astronomers set out to find them. Acclaimed scientist John K. Davies recounts how they predicted the existence of these planetary bodies, how they were eventually discovered, and how Pluto was named. In addition, Davies provides biographies of the astronomers who discovered these new worlds and information on the telescopes they used. John K. Davies is a support scientist for the UK Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) atop the dormant volcano Mauna Kea in Hawaii. He holds PhDs in chemistry and astronomy, discovered six comets while teaching at Leicester University in the UK, and was a member of the ISO-CAM team at the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh, Scotland. He has contributed to magazines such as Astronomy, New Scientist, Sky & Telescope, and Space. In 2000, a small main asteroid belt was named Johndavies in recognition of his numerous contributions to astronomy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...it is a pleasure to have a book that is readable at so many levels and able to describe the concepts and relevance of such a new field of research." Nature autumn books

"This is a well-researched and well-written book on a very timely subject..." SB&F

Book Description

The solar system has more than doubled in size since 1992. For the first time in almost two centuries an entirely new population of planetary objects has been found. This 'Kuiper Belt' of minor planets beyond Neptune has revolutionised our understanding of how the solar system formed and finally explained the origin of the enigmatic outer planet Pluto. This is the story of how theoretical physicists decided that there must be a population of unknown bodies beyond Pluto and how a small band of astronomers set out to find them.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 246 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (July 23, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521800196
• ISBN-13: 978-0521800198
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,169,958 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Summary the Latest Findings of the Kuiper Belt Objects, October 19, 2001

By 

John R. Keller (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Beyond Pluto: Exploring the Outer Limits of the Solar System (Hardcover)

In school most of us were taught that the last planet in the solar system is Pluto and there is nothing beyond but the vast emptiness of space. That is, at least until we reach the next star system. However, as the author points out in his book, the latest astronomical findings of the past ten years clearly show that there are many small objects (minor planets) that orbit beyond Pluto, which are also part of our solar system.

The book opens with a chapter devoted to the initial theoretical studies, which attempted to prove the existence of these distant objects years before they could be observed. The next two chapters examine two edge-of-the-solar-system objects, the short-period comets and the Centaurs (small bodies which orbit near Uranus and Neptune). The book then moves on to the long years spend by many astronomers trying to observe one of these objects and then characterize its orbit. Of course, once one was found many others where then discovered. After these sections, the book covers the effort to characterize the physical parameters, such as diameter, albedo, chemical composition, etc., of these objects and how they are formed and reformed (due to collisions with neighboring bodies). The book concludes which a section on future exploration of these objects and a subtle plea from the author to rename the Kuiper Belt after the man who first postulated its existence.

In general, I found this book to be quite interesting, especially the sections on the astronomers who devoted years of their life trying to find these objects. I do feel that some non-technical people may find this book a little overwhelming due to several graphs and the use many technical terms.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear and concise, November 21, 2001

By 

Joan Roch (Montréal, Qc Canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Beyond Pluto: Exploring the Outer Limits of the Solar System (Hardcover)

This book is a summary of the (few) things we (think we) know about the objects that orbit beyond Neptune. The author gradually guides the reader through the science of these small icy objects, which existence was suspected almost 50 years before their actual discovery.

Introductory historical and theoretical chapters, covering the period from the discovery of Pluto and the next decades, are followed by more and more discoveries and scientific results, most of them not older than 10 years. From the first Centaurs to the extrasolar dust disks observations, every aspect is clearly explained, and ultimately provides a complete picture of this region of the solar system.

Throughout this chronology, the author explains the science as well as the way this science is actually done, up in the observatories in Hawaii, or in an university office, in front of a computer screen. It is a very honest tribute to the people (the author being one of them) that spend most of their time trying to set-up complex experiments, understand the cryptic data sent back by their high-tech instruments, and then write articles about things they are usually the first to analyze.

This book is short because not much is known yet. But it is fascinating because almost everything we know has been discovered in the last 10 years, and you can expect more in the very near future. In order to get the most of what we be published, this book is the place to start.

And for those, like me, who are interested in the far regions of the solar system, I would recommend this other book about the "King of the Kuiper Belt", Pluto, written by another specialist (Alan Stern): "Pluto and Charon". It's a good complement to this one.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Stories of the discoveries of Kuiper Belt Objects, October 18, 2006

By 

Cheung Sze Leung (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Beyond Pluto: Exploring the Outer Limits of the Solar System (Hardcover)

How is the edge of the solar system look like? Before 1992, most people are not quite sure even the theoretical Kuiper Belt have been proposed, but it's still lack of observational evidence. This book is believed to be the only popular science book that is dedicated on the subject of the edge of solar system. However, reading this book would be a bit difficult for the people without solid astronomical background.

This book address the story of the search of Kuiper Belt Objects(KBOs). Published in 2001, the content is not up to date, as the discovery is everchanging, including the finding of 2003UB313, Eris, that led to the great planetary debate. However, this book put detail discussion on the steps and searches of early attempts and discoveries. Since 1992, the first KBO is discovered, but the story of KBO is seldom appeared on books, thus this is a very important book on the subject.

From Centaurs, work of astronomers, how astronomers search, analysis and follow-up, all these are outlined in the book. The orbital resonance with Neptune, color distribution of KBOs etc. are also included.

This is a great valued book for those who want to know more about the life of a small group of astronomers.