The Planet Venus (The Planetary Exploration Series) [Hardcover]

Mr. Mikhail Ya. Marov (Author), Assistant Professor David H. Grinspoon (Author), Tobias Owen (Author), Natasha Levchenko (Author), Ronald Mastaler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 11, 1998 | Series: The Planetary Exploration Series

Shrouded by the thick clouds of hot, dense atmosphere, the planet Venus - Earth's closest neighbour in space - remained mysterious until recent decades. Today, with data from contemporary observations and from Russian and American spacecraft, Venus has moved into sharper focus. This comprehensive book provides an up-to-date and detailed analysis of the nature of Venus. The authors, experts in planetary science from Russia and the United States, examine all the principal aspects of Venus, with particular attention paid to the planet's formation, the development of a runaway greenhouse effect, and Venus' evolution into a planet completely different from others in our solar system. Integrating data from Galileo, Magellan, Pioneer-Venus, Venera sand other space missions, this book summarizes the history of Venus, covers the atmosphere, geomorphology and tectonic history of the planet, and considers its geology. The authors offer various theories to explain evolutionary processes in the solar system and to unveil such mysteries as Venus' slow retrograde rotation, its lack of magnetic field, and and its bizarre atmospheric dynamics. Illustrations include images of Venus' surface, some of which were obtained by Soviet spacecraft.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Both authors are experts in the study of planetary science: Marov was the chief scientist for the Soviet Union's Venera missions, and Grinspoon was funded by NASA to study Venus. Their book is a comprehensive study of that planet, beginning with the ancient astronomers and continuing through the Galileo, Magellan, Pioneer-Venus, Venera, and other space missions. Included are 226 excellent illustrations, some of which are from the Soviet Venera missions and have not previously been available to English readers. With an extensive bibliography and documentation, the book's intended readership is specialists; however, educated lay readers can learn much from the readable text. For larger science and academic libraries and space research collections.?Dale Ebersole Jr., Univ. of Toledo Lib., OH
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 464 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (October 11, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300049757
• ISBN-13: 978-0300049756
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #326,129 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #21 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Astronomy & Space Science > Solar System
  • #31 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Astronomy & Space Science > Comets, Meteors & Asteroids

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good, June 12, 2003

By 

Dennis Mabrey (Whitehouse Station, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The Planet Venus (The Planetary Exploration Series) (Hardcover)

This book has the reputation for being too technical for the layman... and it is... but in many ways that is what made this a cool book. It is certainly a much harder book to read than David Grinspoon's "Venus Revealed" (A very good book for the layman). However I found some of the technical parts of this book very facinating and it made me look up where some of the equations came from (the part on the study of the clouds, Nephelometry, was very interesting). There were other parts though were I did not even bother with the math and 'took their word for it'.

I would recommend if you have not read "Venus Revealed" try that first. If Grinspoon captures your imagination then buy this one and give it a try.

4.0 out of 5 stars Venus done right. Deep math though, November 5, 2009

By 

Thomas Erickson (Lutz Fl and Felt Oklahoma) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Planet Venus (The Planetary Exploration Series) (Hardcover)

The planet Venus book is very good. Lots of reference information for this amateur astronomer .Its great to view Venus in a good telescope and now have a detailed book on Venus to get all the information I want. Also good history on the exploration of Venus.Pictures were good but black and white. That's OK. I bought this book as a reference book on Venus where I could go back and get information. This certainly is so. Chocked filled with facts. All you need to know. A lot of the math too deep for me NOW.. This book will give me lots of helpful information now and more if I improve my math skills. There is more than an adequate amount of reference information that I do understand. NOT a kids book or a high school level book. Some technical parts probably a second or third year college course level difficulty.Some of the math closer to masters level math. I would of preferred less math and the space to be used for even more Venus evolution theories, more atmosphere level talk, crust layer development and more greenhouse effect talk. Even as is there is enough tech talk to satisfy almost anyone. No fault of the author or translator (translation excellent). I just don't have the high level of math to fully be able to use this book. Not complaining. Glad I bought the book

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything you wanted to know about Venus, June 18, 2004

By 

TODD LAMB (BRIGHAM, UTAH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Planet Venus (The Planetary Exploration Series) (Hardcover)

A technical and very thorough book for those interested in the origins of Venus, its composition and why we call it our sister planet. Detailed descriptions of the Venera, Vega, Magellan and Mariner missions allow us to glimpse at the surface features, but alas, it is a very in-hospitable environment. A must have book for those interested in the second planet from the sun!