An Introduction to the Solar System [Hardcover]

Neil McBride (Editor), Iain Gilmour (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2004 | ISBN-10: 0521837359 | ISBN-13: 978-0521837354

Compiled by a team of experts, this textbook has been designed for elementary university courses in planetary science. It starts with a tour of the Solar System and an overview of its formation that reviews in detail the terrestrial planets, giant planets and minor bodies. It concludes with a discussion of the origin of the Solar System. The text contains numerous useful learning features such as boxed summaries, student exercises with full solutions, and a glossary of terms. It is also supported by a website hosting further teaching materials.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An Introduction to the Solar System is clearly written, accurate, up-to-date, well-produced and a pleasure to read. It is a first-rate production by a team of professionals, clearly designed for teaching and up to the high standards of The Open University. The many questions that are posed throughout the text (with answers at the back) make it an ideal teaching text. As a beginning text at an undergraduate or advanced high school level, it is hard to fault this book and I suspect that it will be widely used in introductory courses." Professor S. Ross Taylor, The Australian National University

"...In all respects this is an outstanding book." The Leading Edge, William R. Green, North Vancouver, Canada

Book Description

Compiled by a team of experts, this textbook has been designed for elementary university courses in planetary science. The volume's tour of the Solar System and an overview of its formation reviews in detail the terrestrial planets, giant planets and minor bodies. It concludes with a discussion of the origin of the Solar System. Written in an accessible style that avoids complex mathematics, the book is suitable for self-study and will appeal to amateur enthusiasts as well as undergraduate students.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 418 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (March 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521837359
• ISBN-13: 978-0521837354
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,896,440 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introduction for the scientifically literate, September 18, 2010

By 

Judith G. Bronsonstem Svcs "Judith Gunn Brons... (Bandera, TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: An Introduction to the Solar System (Paperback)

This information-stuffed book is an excellent introduction to our astronomical neighborhood. Although the writing is easy to follow, be aware that the book assumes the reader has a fair knowledge of physics and chemistry and some knowledge of mathematics (it is intended to be a college-level textbook). There is an abundance of diagrams and photographs, as well as quizes, which are a great deal of fun. My only criticism is that it has not been updated since 2004, an eternity for a science book. Certainly, the solar system has not changed in that time, but Pluto is no longer considered a planet, and more information has become available about some topics.