Planets and Planetary Systems [Paperback]

Stephen Eales (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0470016930 | ISBN-13: 978-0470016930 | Publication Date: September 1, 2009 | Edition: 1

Planetary Science is an exciting, fast-moving, interdisciplinary field with courses taught in a wide range of departments, including astronomy, physics, chemistry, earth sciences and biology. Planets and Planetary Systems is a well-written, concise introductory textbook on the science of planets within our own and other solar systems.

Keeping mathematics to a minimum, assuming only a rudimentary knowledge of calculus, the book begins with a description of the basic properties of the planets in our solar systems, and then moves on to compare them with what is known about planets in other solar systems. It continues by looking at the surfaces, interiors and atmospheres of the planets and then covers the dynamics and origin of planetary systems. The book closes with a look at the role of life in planetary systems.

·        An accessible, concise introduction to planets and planetary systems

·        Uses insights from all the disciplines underlying planetary science

·        Incorporates results from recent planetary space missions, such as Cassini to Saturn and a number of missions to Mars

·        Well illustrated throughout, including a colour plate section

Planets and Planetary Systems is invaluable to students taking courses in planetary science across a wide range of disciplines and of interest to researchers and many keen amateur astronomers, needing an up-to-date introduction to this exciting subject.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Planetary Science is an exciting, fast-moving, interdisciplinary field with courses taught in a wide range of departments, including astronomy, physics, chemistry, earth sciences and biology. Planets and Planetary Systems is a well-written, concise introductory textbook on the science of planets within our own and other solar systems.

Keeping mathematics to a minimum, assuming only a rudimentary knowledge of calculus, the book begins with a description of the basic properties of the planets in our solar systems, and then moves on to compare them with what is known about planets in other solar systems. It continues by looking at the surfaces, interiors and atmospheres of the planets and then covers the dynamics and origin of planetary systems. The book closes with a look at the role of life in planetary systems.

• An accessible, concise introduction to planets and planetary systems

• Uses insights from all the disciplines underlying planetary science

• Incorporates results from recent planetary space missions, such as Cassini to Saturn and a number of missions to Mars

• Well illustrated throughout, including a colour plate section

Planets and Planetary Systems will prove invaluable to students taking courses in planetary science across a wide range of disciplines and will be of interest to researchers and many keen amateur astronomers, needing an up-to-date introduction to this exciting subject.

Product Details

• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470016930
• ISBN-13: 978-0470016930
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 0.4 x 9.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,236,493 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I completed a Ph.D.in radio astronomy at Cambridge University in England in 1986. I then moved out to the Insitute of Astronomy in Hawaii for a postdoc, where I began to work in infrared and submillimetre astronomy. I got married to Keirsten in Canada three months after starting the postdoc and Keirsten joined me in Hawaii. After three years in Hawaii, we (Keirsten, myself and one child) moved to Baltimore, where I worked at the Space Telescope Science Insitute in Baltimore for another postdoc. We then moved to Toronto, where I had a five-year appointment as an assistant professor at the University of Toronto. Finally, we (Keirsten, myself and three kids) moved to Cardiff, Wales, where I am now a professor of astrophysics.

Since moving to Cardiff, I continue to carry out research into the orgin and history of galaxies. I also continue to hop between wavebands, carrying our observational programmes in whichever waveband seems most likely to advance our understanding of galaxy evolution. Most recently, I have spent much of my time working in the submillimetre waveband, the last of the electromagnetic wavebands to be opened up for astronomy (see the Sky and Telescope article on my website). In particular, I have spent a lot of time recently planning programmes with the Herschel Space Observatory, a billion-dollar submillimetre space telescope, which will be launched in 2008 and for which Cardiff has been building the main survey camera.

I am also interested in communicating what we do to the general public. Apart from my new book, I have written articles for Sky and Telescope, Astronomy Now and Prospect magazine. I also give talks to whoever will listen, including three talks at local Science Cafes.