Solar system: the Sun and planets Books

Book SynopsisEvery night, above our heads, a drama of epic proportions is playing out. Diamond planets, zombie stars, black holes heavier than a billion Suns. The cast of characters is extraordinary, and each one has its own incredible story to tell.We once thought of our Earth as unique, but we have now discovered thousands of alien planets, and that's barely a fraction of the worlds that are out there. And there are more stars in the Universe than grains of sand on every planet in the Solar System. But amid all this vastness, the Milky Way Galaxy, our Sun and the Earth are home to the only known life in the Universe at least for now.With a foreword from Professor Brian Cox, and access to all the latest stunning NASA photography, Andrew Cohen takes readers on a voyage of discovery, via the probes and telescopes exploring the outer reaches of our galaxy, revealing how it was formed and how it will inevitably be destroyed by the enigmatic black hole at its heart. And beyond our galaxy, the expandinTrade Review‘Wonderful in every sense’ Guardian ‘I wish Brian Cox had been my physics teacher’ The Times ‘Undeniably beautiful’ Daily Mail ‘Engaging and elucidating’ Metro ‘[The Universe] looks spectacular and the science is mind-boggling’ Telegraph Praise for The Planets by Andrew Cohen and Professor Brian Cox: ‘So staggering you go whoa!’ every few seconds … Cox is the Attenborough of the Solar System’ Guardian ‘Spectacular. [Cox’s] ability to convey maximum information in a clear and minimalist style is so softly winning and persuasive’ Sunday Times ‘Professor Brian Cox continues to boggle our minds’ Daily Mail ‘It was life affirming, it was perspective shifting. It was beautifully made’ Fearne Cotton, The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show, Radio 2 ‘Amazing work’ Emma Barnett, Adrian Chiles, Radio 5 Live ‘Starry-eyed Brian Cox is the only man for this job’ The Times ‘Wow’ Evening Standard ‘The professor makes us marvel at life on Earth’ iNews ‘Excellent … a blend of enjoyable, accessible science and dreamlike wonder’ The Times ‘Brian Cox breathes life into science again … breath-taking’ Guardian ‘Fascinating … Good science’ Observer ‘Extraordinary – at its best magically fascinating and full of vast, weird drama’ Radio Times Praise for Professor Brian Cox: ‘Cox’s romantic, lyrical approach to astrophysics all adds up to an experience that feels less like homework and more like having a story told to you. A really good story, too’ Guardian ‘He bridges the gap between our childish sense of wonder and a rather more professional grasp of the scale of things’ Independent ‘If you didn’t utter a wow watching the TV, you will while reading the book’ The Times ‘Engaging, ambitious and creative’ Guardian

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Book SynopsisEvery night, above our heads, a drama of epic proportions is playing out. Diamond planets, zombie stars, black holes heavier than a billion Suns. The cast of characters is extraordinary, and each one has its own incredible story to tell.We once thought of our Earth as unique, but we have now discovered thousands of alien planets, and that's barely a fraction of the worlds that are out there. And there are more stars in the Universe than grains of sand on every planet in the Solar System. But amid all this vastness, the Milky Way Galaxy, our Sun and the Earth are home to the only known life in the Universe at least for now.With a foreword from Professor Brian Cox, and access to all the latest stunning NASA photography, Andrew Cohen takes readers on a voyage of discovery, via the probes and telescopes exploring the outer reaches of our galaxy, revealing how it was formed and how it will inevitably be destroyed by the enigmatic black hole at its heart. And beyond our galaxy, the expandinTrade Review‘Wonderful in every sense’ Guardian ‘I wish Brian Cox had been my physics teacher’ The Times ‘Undeniably beautiful’ Daily Mail ‘Engaging and elucidating’ Metro ‘[The Universe] looks spectacular and the science is mind-boggling’ Telegraph Praise for The Planets by Andrew Cohen and Professor Brian Cox: ‘So staggering you go whoa!’ every few seconds … Cox is the Attenborough of the Solar System’ Guardian ‘Spectacular. [Cox’s] ability to convey maximum information in a clear and minimalist style is so softly winning and persuasive’ Sunday Times ‘Professor Brian Cox continues to boggle our minds’ Daily Mail ‘It was life affirming, it was perspective shifting. It was beautifully made’ Fearne Cotton, The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show, Radio 2 ‘Amazing work’ Emma Barnett, Adrian Chiles, Radio 5 Live ‘Starry-eyed Brian Cox is the only man for this job’ The Times ‘Wow’ Evening Standard ‘The professor makes us marvel at life on Earth’ iNews ‘Excellent … a blend of enjoyable, accessible science and dreamlike wonder’ The Times ‘Brian Cox breathes life into science again … breath-taking’ Guardian ‘Fascinating … Good science’ Observer ‘Extraordinary – at its best magically fascinating and full of vast, weird drama’ Radio Times Praise for Professor Brian Cox: ‘Cox’s romantic, lyrical approach to astrophysics all adds up to an experience that feels less like homework and more like having a story told to you. A really good story, too’ Guardian ‘He bridges the gap between our childish sense of wonder and a rather more professional grasp of the scale of things’ Independent ‘If you didn’t utter a wow watching the TV, you will while reading the book’ The Times ‘Engaging, ambitious and creative’ Guardian

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Book SynopsisSo staggering you go whoa! every few seconds' GuardianReally impressive' Eamonn Holmes, ITV This MorningA companion book to the critically acclaimed BBC series.The bestselling authors of Wonders of the Universe are back with another blockbuster, a groundbreaking exploration of our Solar System as it has never been seen before.Mercury, a lifeless victim of the Sun's expanding power. Venus, once thought to be lush and fertile, now known to be trapped within a toxic and boiling atmosphere. Mars, the red planet, doomed by the loss of its atmosphere. Jupiter, twice the size of all the other planets combined, but insubstantial. Saturn, a stunning celestial beauty, the jewel of our Solar System. Uranus, the sideways planet and the first ice giant. Neptune, dark, cold and whipped by supersonic winds. Pluto, the dwarf planet, a frozen rock.Andrew Cohen and Professor Brian Cox take readers on a voyage of discovery, from the fiery heart of our Solar System, to its mysterious outer reaches. They touch on the latest discoveries that have expanded our knowledge of the planets, their moons and how they come to be.Trade ReviewPraise for The Planets: ‘So staggering you go whoa!’ every few seconds … Cox is the Attenborough of the Solar System’ Guardian ‘Spectacular. [Cox’s] ability to convey maximum information in a clear and minimalist style is so softly winning and persuasive’ The Sunday Times ‘Professor Brian Cox continues to boggle our minds’ Daily Mail ‘It was life affirming, it was perspective shifting. It was beautifully made’ Fearne Cotton, The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show, Radio 2 ‘Amazing work’ Emma Barnett, Adrian Chiles, Radio 5 Live ‘Starry-eyed Brian Cox is the only man for this job’ The Times ‘Wow’ Evening Standard ‘The professor makes us marvel at life on Earth’ iNews ‘Excellent … a blend of enjoyable, accessible science and dreamlike wonder’ The Times ‘Brian Cox breathes life into science again … breath-taking’ Guardian ‘Fascinating … Good science’ Observer ‘Extraordinary – at its best magically fascinating and full of vast, weird drama’ Radio Times

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Book SynopsisSaturn is the showcase of the Solar System. It may not be the largest of the planets, nor the smallest, nor even the only planet with rings. But it is among the most stunningly beautiful objects in the sky, and is always breathtaking when seen in a telescope. This is a beautifully illustrated, authoritative overview of the entire history of humankind’s fascination with the ringed planet, from the first low-resolution views of Galileo, Huygens and other early observers with telescopes to the most recent discoveries by the spacecraft Cassini, which studied the planet at close range between 2004 and 2017. The book describes the planet from inside out, details the complicated system of rings and their interaction with Saturn’s bevy of satellites, and considers how Saturn formed and the role it played in the early history of the Solar System. Featuring the latest research and a spectacular array of images, it will appeal to the wide audience for astronomy and popular science.

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Book SynopsisWhen Nicolaus Copernicus claimed that the Earth was not stationary at the centre of the universe but circled the Sun, he brought about a total revolution in the sciences and consternation in the Church.Copernicus' theory demanded a new physics to explain motion and force, a new theory of space, and a completely new conception of the nature of our universe. He also showed for the first time that a common-sense view of things isn't necessarily correct, and that mathematics can and does reveal the true nature of the material world. As John Henry reveals, from his idea of a swiftly moving Earth Copernicus sowed the seed from which science has grown to be a dominant aspect of modern culture, fundamental in shaping our understanding of the workings of the cosmos.Trade Review'Contains a wealth of detail . an ideal introduction to Copernicus' * Morning Star *

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Book SynopsisInterweaving physics, astronomy, chemistry, geology, and biology, this book tells Earth's complete story, from the synthesis of chemical elements in stars, to the formation of the Solar System, to the evolution of a habitable climate on Earth, to the origin of life and humankind.Trade ReviewHonorable Mention for the 2012 Award for Best Professional/Scholarly Book in Earth Sciences, Association of American Publishers "[T]his classic history of our common home with the latest discoveries in planetary science ... is a cutting-edge exploration of the Earth's evolution from the Big Bang to the advent of human civilization."--Barnes & Noble Review "To be worth being this unwieldy, a book ought to do something pretty remarkable. And that's just what How to Build ... does, as you can tell from its subtitle, The Story of Earth from the Big Bang to Humankind. Now that's what you call a large canvas."--Brian Clegg, Popular Science "Like any good story, the tale that Langmuir and Broecker tell is a complex, weaving narrative that would be ideally placed on your bookcase between James Kasting's How to Find a Habitable Planet and Peter Ward and Donald Brownlee's Rare Earth... As non-astronomers they cover the initial cosmological and astronomical sections adequately, but as the book develops towards explaining the processes that make Earth habitable, the authors' expertise really comes to the fore... How to Build a Habitable Planet is Earth's story, but Langmuir and Broecker conclude with a nod to exoplanets and the search for alien life. Could it one day also become another planet's story?"--Astronomy Now "The authors ... have taken on a mighty task. You cannot underestimate the accuracy of their scholarship, or its thoroughness."--Heather Couper, BBC Sky at Night "This is a completely different book, wholly updated but also more detailed and more comprehensive. Yet, it keeps the bright flavour of the old version, and remains accessible without compromising on accuracy... How to Build a Habitable Planet is an accurate and enjoyable read."--Euan G. Nisbet, Nature Geoscience "Enormous advances have been made in the Earth sciences in the years since the original volume appeared. In addition, climate change has become a much more urgent topic. The revised version aims to bring the science up to date and to give a current environmental perspective. In this undertaking, Broecker has been joined by Langmuir, who now becomes first author. Their approach of providing each chapter with a clear introduction and summary will help greatly in accommodating the lay reader... We can be grateful to the authors that they had the initiative and energy to undertake a scientific synthesis of such broad scope... All who are concerned with the global environment and who wish to be scientifically well-informed in relation to it will find the book a worthwhile and inspirational challenge."--Ray Bates, Irish Times "[Langmuir and Broecker] strike a nice balance with roughly an equal number of chapters devoted to life, earth, and extraterrestrial processes... What makes it work is the authors' admirable job of focusing tightly on how the many processes they outline feed into life's makeup or systems needed to support it."--Choice "Although this 718 page book is over twice as long compared to the first edition, it is still a comfortable read both for earth scientists as well as nonspecialists. The diverse topics dealt with have been skillfully stitched together and each chapter provides lucid descriptions, logical discussions and a nice summary. This book could be an useful text for undergraduate students in earth sciences and with necessary supplements, could also be used for advanced courses in earth sciences."--Ramananda Chakrabarti, Current Science "I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-informed exploration of the theories behind building a habitable planet. Although complex in some places, it is still accessible to many and is overall a very useful addition to any astrobiologist's library."--Samantha Rolfe, Astrobiology Society of GB "This classic account of how our habitable planet was assembled from the stuff of stars introduced readers to planetary, Earth, and climate science by way of a fascinating narrative. Now it has been made even better."--Lunar and Planetary Information Bulletin "Generally speaking, the book by Langmuir & Broecker is very reader friendly... It can become an essential reading for both beginners and professionals in geology, palaeontology, and other natural sciences. Geoscience educators will also praise it... This book is a very good addition to the conventional textbooks on general geology, and it can be recommended for students as advanced reading."--Dmitry A. Ruban, Palaontologie AllgemeinTable of ContentsPreface xv Chapter 1. Introduction: Earth and Life as Natural Systems 1 Introduction 2 The Power and Limitations of Scientific Reductionism 4 Chaos 7 "Systems" 13 Characteristics of "Natural Systems" 15 Natural Systems Are Out of Equilibrium 15 Natural Systems Are Maintained by External Energy Sources 17 "Steady-State Disequilibrium" Is Maintained by Feedbacks and Cycles 17 Summary 24 Supplementary Readings 25 Chapter 2. The Setting: The Big Bang and Galaxy Formation 27 Introduction 28 The Big Bang 28 The Red Shift: Measuring Velocity 31 Measuring Distance 34 The Velocity-Distance Relationship: Dating the Beginning 41 Added Support for the Big Bang Hypothesis 43 An Expanding Universe and Dark Energy 47 Aftermath of the Big Bang 48 Summary 49 Supplementary Readings 49 Chapter 3. The Raw Material: Synthesis of Elements in Stars 51 Introduction 52 The Chemical Composition of the Sun 52 Hydrogen, Helium, Galaxies, Stars 54 Descriptive Atomic Physics 55 Element Production during the Big Bang 61 Element Formation in Stars 62 Element Synthesis by Neutron Capture 66 Evidence Supporting the Stellar Hypothesis 71 Summary 77 Supplementary Readings 81 Chapter 4. Preliminary Fabrication: Formation of Organic and Inorganic Molecules 83 Introduction 84 Molecules 88 States of Matter 90 Volatility 92 Density 94 The Two Great Classes of Molecules: Inorganic and Organic 95 Minerals 96 Organic Molecules 104 Environments of Molecular Construction 107 Summary 110 Chapter 5. The Heavy Construction: The Formation of Planets and Moons from a Solar Nebula 113 Introduction 114 Planetary Vital Statistics 117 Planetary Mass 117 Planetary Densities 119 Planetary Composition 120 Evidence from Meteorites 122 Scenario for Solar System Creation 128 Understanding the Chemical Compositions of the Terrestrial Planets 132 Summary 139 Supplementary Readings 139 Chapter 6. The Schedule: Quantifying the Timescale with Radionuclides 141 Introduction 142 Measuring Time with Radioactive Decay 145 The Isochron Technique of Radioactive Dating 150 Age of the Chondrites and Earth 154 Age of the Elements 157 Unlocking the Secrets of Ancient Short-lived Processes with Extinct Radionuclides 164 26Al and the Presence of Supernovas in the Vicinity of the Solar Nebula 165 Summary 168 Supplementary Reading 169 Chapter 7. Interior Modifications: Segregation into Core, Mantle, Crust, Ocean, and Atmosphere 171 Introduction 172 Earth Structure 173 Chemical Composition of Earth's Layers 180 Chemical Affinities of the Elements 183 Origin of Earth's Layers 188 Separation of Core from Mantle 189 Timing of Core Formation 191 Origin of the Crust 194 Origin of the Atmosphere and Ocean 204 Summary 206 Chapter 8. Contending with the Neighbors: Moons, Asteroids, Comets, and Impacts 209 Introduction 210 The Diversity of Objects in the Solar System 212 Origin of the Moon 218 Using Impacts to Date Planetary Surfaces 223 Lunar Interior Modifications 230 History of Impacts in the Solar System 236 Implications for the Earth 239 Future Impacts 245 Summary 246 Supplementary Readings 247 Chapter 9. Making It Comfortable: Running Water, Temperature Control, and Sun Protection 249 Introduction 250 The Planetary Volatile Budget 251 Evidence for Liquid Water before 4.0 Ga 253 Stable Isotope Fractionation 255 Controls on Volatiles at the Surface 257 Atmospheric Loss to Space 258 Cycling of Volatiles between the Surface and Earth's Interior 264 Surface Temperature 265 Earth's Long-Term Thermostat 271 A Lesson from Venus 276 Snowball Earth 278 Sun Protection 280 Summary 282 Supplementary Readings 282 Chapter 10. Establishing the Circulation: Plate Tectonics 285 Introduction 286 The Static Earth Viewpoint 287 Continental Drift Theory 289 New Data from the Ocean Floor 291 Evidence from Paleomagnetism 293 Global Distribution of Seismicity 298 The Theory of Plate Tectonics 301 The Plate Tectonic Revolution 306 Movements through Time 309 Summary 311 Supplementary Readings 312 Chapter 11. Internal Circulation: Mantle Convection and Its Relationship to the Surface 315 Introduction 316 Movement of Earth's Interior 317 Earth's Topography and Mantle Flow 319 Mantle Convection 322 Must the Mantle Convect? 325 Does Plate Geometry Correspond to Mantle Convection Cells? 328 Active Mantle Upwelling: Plume Heads and Tails 335 Formation of the Ocean Crust at Spreading Centers 342 Summary 347 Supplementary Readings 347 Chapter 12. Linking the Layers: Solid Earth, Liquid Ocean, and Gaseous Atmosphere 349 Introduction 350 The Global System of Ocean Ridges 351 Hydrothermal Circulation at Spreading Centers 354 Ocean Ridges and Habitability 362 The Puzzle of Seawater Composition 362 Element Transport to the Subduction Zone 366 Geochemical Processing at Convergent Margins 369 Cause of Melting and Volcanism at Convergent Margins 369 Element Transport to the Continental Crust 375 Final Consequences of Plate Recirculation 377 Summary 379 Supplementary Readings 381 Chapter 13. Colonizing the Surface: The Origin of Life as a Planetary Process 383 Introduction 384 Life and the Universe 385 The Unity of Life 390 Life Is Cellular 390 All Life Uses the Same Groups of Molecules 391 All Life Uses the Same Chemical Machinery 396 Earliest Life 398 When Did Life Begin? 401 Life's Origin 406 Steps in the Path to Life 408 Elemental and Simple Molecular Building Blocks 409 Making the Essential Biochemical Ingredients 410 Building Complex Molecules 412 A Cellular Container 415 The Missing Links 417 Some General Considerations on the Origin of Life 420 Summary 424 Supplementary Readings 424 Chapter 14. Dealing with the Competition: The Roles of Evolution and Extinction in Creating the Diversity of Life 427 Introduction 428 History of Life and Earth Revealed through the Rock Record 432 Relating Fossils to Present-Day Life: The Theory of Evolution 438 The DNA Revolution 441 The Extinction Half of Evolution 447 Summary 450 Supplementary Readings 451 Chapter 15. Energizing the Surface: Coevolution of Life and Planet to Create a Planetary Fuel Cell 453 Introduction 454 Life as an Electrical Current 455 A Reduced Early Earth 457 The First Three Energy Revolutions 463 The Planetary Fuel Cell 469 Summary 472 Chapter 16. Exterior Modifications: The Record of Oxidation of the Planetary Surface 475 Introduction 476 Earth and Oxygen 477 Carbon: The Record of Oxygen Production 480 Carbon: Evidence from the Rock Record 483 Iron and Sulfur: The Record of Oxygen Consumption 486 Iron: Evidence from the Rock Record 488 Sulfur: Evidence from the Rock Record 493 Evidence for High O2 in the Phanerozoic 497 Oxygen from 2.0 Ga to 0.6 Ga 498 Global Oxygen Mass Balance 502 Summary 506 Supplementary Readings 507 Chapter 17. Planetary Evolution: The Importance of Catastrophes and the Question of Directionality 509 Introduction 510 Planetary Evolution during the Phanerozoic 511 Causes of Extinction Events 516 The Cretaceous/Tertiary Extinction 517 The Permo-Triassic Extinction 521 Plate Tectonics and Evolution 526 Principles of Planetary Evolution? 527 Increased Relationship and Complexity 527 Change in Energy Utilization with Time 529 Speculations on the Possibility of Directionality to Evolution 531 Evolution of Habitability 534 Summary 536 Supplementary Readings 537 Chapter 18. Coping with the Weather: Causes and Consequences of Naturally Induced Climate Change 539 Introduction 540 Intermediate Term Climate Variations: Ice Ages 541 Orbital Cycles 544 Abrupt Climate Change 555 The Great Ocean Conveyor 560 Human Impacts 564 Summary 565 Supplementary Readings 565 Chapter 19. The Rise of Homo Sapiens: Access to Earth's Treasure Chest Permits a Planetary Takeover 567 Introduction 568 Dawn of the Human Era 569 The Human Energy Revolution 573 Earth's Treasure Chest 575 Classes of Resources 580 Resources with Short Recycling Times: Air and Water 580 Vast Resources with Recycling Potential: Metals 586 Finite Resources with No Recycling 589 Fossil Fuels 589 Soils 593 Biodiversity 593 Summary 594 Chapter 20. Mankind at the Helm: Human Civilization in a Planetary Context 597 Introduction 599 Human Impacts on the Earth 600 Climate 600 Ocean Acidification 611 Biodiversity 614 Future Prospects 620 Historical Perspectives on the Future 628 Possible Solutions 632 Solving Greenhouse Gas Accumulation 635 Energy from the Sun, Wind, and Atom 635 Carbon Capture and Sequestration 637 The Broader Problem 643 An Anthropozoic Era? 644 Summary 646 Supplementary Readings 646 Chapter 21. Are We Alone? The Question of Habitability in the Universe 649 Introduction 650 Comparative Planetology--Lessons from Venus and Mars 652 Planet Finding 654 New Results from Kepler 659 The Number of Other Inhabited Planets in the Galaxy: A Probabilistic Approach 661 Human Civilization in the Context of Planetary Evolution and Life in the Universe 665 Summary 667 Supplementary Readings 668 Glossary 669 Index 687

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Book SynopsisCarole Taylor BA (Cantab), MA, FFAstrolS is a full-time astrologer who combines teaching, writing, and client work. A Cambridge University graduate and prize-winning academic, she is renowned for her accessible communication style and empathetic approach. She is Director of Studies at the Faculty of Astrological Studies, where she was awarded a fellowship. Carole is co-author and co-editor of Journey Through Astrology. She is also a past editor of the journal of the Astrological Association of Great Britain and holds an MA in Myth, Cosmology and the Sacred from Canterbury Christ Church University. She lives in West Sussex.

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Book SynopsisThe authors trace the formation and breakup of the planets, asteroids, and comets where meteorites originated, their long journey through space, their fall to Earth, their recovery, and what scientists are learning from them. The book contains a great deal of material about the “84001 Martian meteorite,” which has raised provocative new questions about life on the red planet. Looking forward, the authors chart the exciting new era of planetary, asteroidal, and cometary exploration planned for this century.

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Book SynopsisHundreds of novels, films, and TV shows have speculated about what it would be like for us Earthlings to build cities on Mars. To make it a reality, however, these dreamers are in sore need of additional conceptual tools in their belt—particularly, a rich knowledge of city planning and design. Enter award-winning author and Tufts University professor, Justin Hollander. In this book, he draws on his experience as an urban planner and researcher of human settlements to provide a thoughtful exploration of what a city on Mars might actually look like. Exploring the residential, commercial, industrial, and infrastructure elements of such an outpost, the book is able to paint a vivid picture of how a Martian community would function – the layout of its public spaces, the arrangement of its buildings, its transportation network, and many more crucial aspects of daily life on another planet. Dr. Hollander then brings all these lessons to life through his own rendered plan for “Aleph,” one of many possible designs for the first city on Mars. Featuring a plethora of detailed, cutting-edge illustrations and blueprints for Martian settlements, this book at once inspires and grounds the adventurous spirit. It is a novel addition to the current planning underway to colonize the Red Planet, providing a rich review of how we have historically overcome challenging environments and what the broader lessons of urban planning can offer to the extraordinary challenge of building a permanent settlement on Mars. Trade Review“Throughout the book, Hollander applies his knowledge in an accessible way, illustrating points with figures from historical sources, as well as images of possible settlements pulled (with permission) from the latest studies on the subject. Overall, the book provides a highly researched and perfectly timed foundation into how humans can anticipate the needs of the future, and plan off-world colonies that are humane, sustainable, and beautiful places to live.” (nature astronomy, Vol. 7, May, 2023)“The book is rich and detailed, yet easy-to-read – and certain to engage any space enthusiast” (Ian Randall, physicsworld.com, March 15, 2023)Table of Contents1. Welcome to Mars 2. Learning from Earth’s Colonization 3. Lessons from Six Decades of Space Exploration4. Designing Mars for Humans: The First Principle 5. Transportation Dimensions6. Residential, Commercial, and Industrial Dimensions7. Non-Transportation Infrastructure Dimensions8. Mars Planning Precedents9. Other Off-World Planning Precedents 10. Template for a Mars Colony11. Conclusion

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Book SynopsisFrom a long-term planning lead for the Mars Exploration Rover Project comes this vivid insider account of some of NASA's most vital and exciting missions to the Red Planet, illustrated with full-colour photographsa wondrous chronicle of unprecedented scientific discovery and the search for evidence of life on Mars.There are probably just a few of moments in human history when a small group of humans stood on the margins of a vast new world, and it is no stretch of the romantic imagination that the arrival of two rovers on the surface of another planet was surely one of them.'Human exploration of Mars is the most ambitious and exciting scientific goal of the 21st century, and few people on earth know as much about this fascinating planet as Dr Larry Crumpler. As one of the long-term planning leads for the Mars Exploration Rover Project, he helped control the daily communications between NASA and the rovers roaming the planet to gather scientific data.In this magnificent compendium, Dr.

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Book SynopsisCollins Big Cat supports every primary child on their reading journey from phonics to fluency. Top authors and illustrators have created fiction and non-fiction books that children love to read. Book banded for guided and independent reading, there are reading notes in the back, comprehensive teaching and assessment support and ebooks available.Fasten your seatbelts, space travellers! This book will take you on a journey through the solar system. Our mission is to understand what it takes for life to exist both here, on Earth and on different planets.Lime Plus/Band 11+ books provide challenging plots and vocabulary as well as opportunities to practise inference, prediction and reading stamina.Pages 46 and 47 allow children to re-visit the content of the book, supporting comprehension skills, vocabulary development and recall.Ideas for reading in the back of the book provide practical support and stimulating activities.

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Book SynopsisBig Cat Phonics for Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised has been developed in collaboration with Wandle Learning Trust and Little Sutton Primary School. It comprises classroom resources to support the SSP programme and a range of phonic readers that together provide a consistent and highly effective approach to teaching phonics.

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Book SynopsisOn 14 March 1964 Richard Feynman, one of the greatest scientific thinkers of the 20th Century, delivered a lecture entitled ''The Motion of the Planets Around the Sun''. For thirty years this remarkable lecture was believed to be lost. But now Feynman''s work has been reconstructed and explained in meticulous, accessible detail, together with a history of ideas of the planets'' motions. The result is a vital and absorbing account of one of the fundamental puzzles of science, and an invaluable insight into Feynman''s charismatic brilliance.Trade ReviewThe Goodsteins have gone a long way towards making a tough piece of geometry accessible... The result is fascinating -- John Gribbin * The Times *Feynman was singular in being both one of the greatest theoretical physicists of the century...[and] one of the most entertaining and illuminating teachers of science... Collectors of Feynman memorabilia, historians of science and all who enjoy watching a great mind at work will be thankful that the lost lecture has been found -- Frank Close * Observer *Feynman was a brilliant thinker and one of the finest scientists ever * The Times *

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Book SynopsisAs a new wave of interplanetary exploration unfolds, a talented young planetary scientist charts our centuries-old obsession with Mars.''Beautifully written, emotive - a love letter to a planet'' DERMOT O''LEARY, BBC Radio 2Mars - bewilderingly empty, coated in red dust - is an unlikely place to pin our hopes of finding life elsewhere. And yet, right now multiple spacecraft are circling, sweeping over Terra Sabaea, Syrtis Major, the dunes of Elysium and Mare Sirenum - on the brink, perhaps, of a discovery that would inspire humankind as much as any in our history. With poetic precision and grace, Sarah Stewart Johnson traces the evocative history of our explorations of Mars. She interlaces her personal journey as a scientist with tales of other seekers - from Galileo to William Herschel to Carl Sagan - who have scoured this enigmatic planet for signs of life and transformed it in our understanding from a distant point of light into a compTrade ReviewBeautifully written, emotive - a love letter to a planet -- Dermot O'Leary * BBC Radio 2 *Elegantly written and boundlessly entertaining * Sunday Telegraph *Beguiling * The Times *Johnson's prose swirls with lyrical wonder, as varied and multi-hued as the apricot deserts, butterscotch skies and blue sunsets of Mars -- Anthony Doerr * New York Times Book Review *The inside story of the exploration of Mars. A young woman scientist shows what it is like to be in the thick of exciting and ground-breaking research. -- Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Professor of Astrophysics, University of OxfordExhilarating, informative, always engaging... beautiful in its descriptions -- Andrew Crumey * Literary Review *This elegantly crafted book conveys what it's like to be a young scientist involved in the quest. -- Lord Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal and author of On the Future: Prospects for HumanityA celebration of human curiosity, passion and perseverance. Superb in its storytelling, majestic in its vision, The Sirens of Mars will give readers a new appreciation for the preciousness of life in the cosmos. -- Alan Lightman, author of Einstein's DreamsThe Sirens of Mars provides the prospect of great discovery, and an introduction to a writer of the first rank. -- Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor Emeritus, Harvard UniversityThere's no better guide to what NASA's various Mars missions have revealed ... A true love letter to geology, on this world and others * Nature *A must-read for fans of our Martian neighbour and humanity's longstanding search for life elsewhere in the Universe * BBC Sky At Night *Mars is an exceptionally inhospitable place. The coldest Antarctic winter, the windiest Everest December - each is as nothing compared with an unremarkable day on the red planet. That is precisely why Mars is such a good place to look for life. If it exists there, Sarah Stewart Johnson writes, "the smallest breath in the deepest night", then the only conclusion is there must be life throughout the universe. This beguiling book is about the search for life on Mars - from those who thought the planet was criss-crossed with canals to those, like the author, who just hope for a microbe or two. * Times (best books of the year) *Brilliantly realised... Full of joy and existential curiosity, the book's images and metaphors take up residence in our minds and burn there, connecting scientific inquiry with deep questions about human existence. In every line Johnson makes us feel the passion for discovery and the desire to connect * The Whiting Award Selection Committee *

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Book SynopsisThis book is an exploration of our Solar System and of distant planetary systems. The author explains what has recently been learned about exoplanets and their habitability, how this is done, and what it means for the search for life.Trade ReviewThe book strikes a delicate balance between conveying complex ideas and remaining accessible to a non-technical reader. There are no equations, but there are extensive bibliographies for each chapter for further reading. I would recommend this book widely for its summarization of the state of many sub-disciplines within exoplanet science and enlightening historical background. * Edward W. Schwieterman, Nature Astronomy *The text is written in a light, narrative and yet scientific style and abstains from mathematical formalism or unnecessary jargon. It is interesting to read at any point, owing also to the view on the subject from different angles, including historical, cultural, technical and scientific aspects. * Manuel Vogel, Contemporary Physics *Schrijver's style is so accessible, almost conversational ... If you are into exoplanets and the possibility of life elsewhere from an astronomy perspective (as opposed to a bio- and geo-science viewpoint) then this could well be this year's choice ... Fascinating stuff. * Jonathan Cowie, Concatenation *Karel Schrijver's lucid, fact-packed primer ranges over everything from the Goldilocks zone and stellar nurseries to disrupted exosystems and the vagaries of living on a pale blue dot. * Barbara Kiser, Nature *A very readable and up-to-date account of the ongoing search and discovery of extra-solar planets throughout the Universe, with emphasis on finding those that resemble Earth to a greater or lesser degree, and those that may harbour some kind of life. * Fred Taylor, University of Oxford *Table of Contents1: From one to astronomical 2: One step short of life 3: Exploring the Solar System 4: Exoplanet systems and their stars 5: The birth of stars and planets 6: Drifting through a planetary system 7: Lone rovers 8: Aged stars and disrupted exosystems 9: The worlds of exoplanets 10: Habitability of planets and moons 11: The long view of planetary systems 12: Living on a pale blue dot

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Book SynopsisEarth, like the other inner planets, receives virtually all of its energy from space in the form of solar electromagnetic radiation. The Earth''s total heat content does not vary significantly with time, indicating a close overall balance between absorbed solar radiation and the diffuse stream of low-temperature, thermal radiation emitted by the plant. This book, a reprint of the second edition of Goody''s classic work, is concerned with the interaction of solar electromagnetic energy with planetary atmospheres, the subsequent redistribution of this energy, and its ultimate return to space as terrestrial thermal radiation.Trade ReviewI have always regarded the original first edition of this book by Richard Goody as being the definitive reference text on atmospheric radiative transfer. This new edition provides a welcome update to the original 1964 text which, after 33 years, benefits from the inclusion of more recent developments both in the remote-sensing field and in measurements of atmospheric constituents ... this new edition is much more than just a cosmetic updating of the old edition. The structure of the book has been modified to include new topics and many of the figures are new. This makes its purchase clearly justifiable not only for those who do not have the original edition, but also for those who do. For anyone with more than a superficial interest in atmospheric radiation, this book is mandatory reading, to gain an insight into the physical processes involved. * R.W. Sauders, Royal Meteorological Society *This is the book I actually used the most in my career to understand what I was trying to do with infrared instruments to study the atmospheres of the Earth and planets from spacecraft ... 'Goody' is still the Bible * Astronomy Now *Table of ContentsIntroduction ; 1. Theory of Radiative Transfer ; 2. Vibration-Rotation Spectra of Gaseous Molecules ; 3. Band Models ; 4. Absorption by Atmospheric Gases ; 5. Radiation Calculations in a Clear Atmosphere ; 6. Extinction by Molecules and Droplets ; 7. Radiative Transfer in a Scattering Atmosphere ; 8. Atmospheres in Radiative Equilibrium ; 9. Evolution of a Thermal Disturbance ; Appendix 1: Physical constants ; Appendix 2: Spectroscopic units ; Appendix 3: A model atmosphere ; Appendix 4: Properties of water vapor ; Appendix 5: The Planck function ; Appendix 6: The exponential integrals ; Appendix 7: The Ladenburg and Reiche function ; Appendix 8: The Elsasser function ; Appendix 9: The physical state of the sun

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Book SynopsisThe Planetary Scientist's Companion is a comprehensive and practical book of facts and data about the Sun, planets, asteroids, comets, meteorites, and Kuiper belt and Centaur objects in our solar system. Also covered are properties of nearby stars, the interstellar medium, and extra-solar planetary systems.Trade Review"It is indeed an extremely useful book. It contains everything that is needed for the one en vogue back of the envelope calculations and much more. Lodders and Fegley have compiled a remarkable combination of data relevant to all aspects of planetology in a handy booklet. The real value of the book is the supporting literature documentation of all numbers listed. I recommend this book without any reservations." -- Herbert Palme, Meteoritics & Planetary Science, Vol 35, 2000 "The Planetary Scientist's Companion is a concise reference book that will be helpful to students and researchers in planetary sciences and related areas. Even the rapid change in knowledge of our planetary system and the fast increase of available data will not outdate this book in the near future. I recommend this compilation to all persons working in the broad field of planetology. Also those teaching in Earth and planetary sciences will appreciate having The Planetary Scientist's Companion available on their bookshelf." -- Ludolf Schultz "This book is incredibly comprehensive and well-organized. It is jam-packed with mostly tabular data from a wide variety of well-documented and relatively up-to-date sources, including classic research and review papers and disparate reference sources. While unusual for a reference book, The Planetary Scientist's Companion actually lends itself to casual reading, which is perhaps fitting for what the authors describe as a "'data journey' through the solar system and beyond." This is a succinct and handy reference book that will be of use to most students and teachers." --EOS, June 15, 1999 "This book has been written for the 'friend of planetary sciences' who might be in need of some physical or chemical data to do a quick calculation or otherwise need some facts and figures. The 17 chapters start with basic technical data and proceed to cover all of the bodies in our solar system--the sun, the planets and their satellites, the asteroids, the comets, and also meteorites. Data for these bodies includes size, shape, composition, atmosphere, and orbital information. There is also a brief chapter, 'Beyond the Solar System' (nearby stars, brown dwarfs, and extrasolar planets), as well as a glossary."--Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society "Lodders and Fegley's modest volume is chock-full of information, a rich handbook for the Solar System. The first 100 pages are devoted to general geometric, chemical, and physical ideas, and data that will be useful later. The bulk of the handbook is a body-by-body description with data relating to the planets, their satellites and rings, asteroids, Centaur and Kuiper belt objects, comets meteorites, stars in the solar vicinity, and substellar objects. . . . The organization and the index are quite well done, and finding specific information is not difficult; the text is rich with a large number of helpful figures and graphs. There is a nice glossary that is extensive and should be useful. It should be a handy book for any physics department teaching an astronomy course, and especially for students or faculty when using telescopes for observation of nearby objects. As a convenient reference, it belongs in any good college library."--Choice "[P]rovides important physical, chemical, and astronomical information that will be of interest to researchers and students in the fields of planetary science, geochemistry, and cosmochemistry. The book is compact, yet filled with easy-to-find tabular data and descriptive information on our solar system's planets and moons, the sun, and other objects such as asteroids and comets. There are also chapters on meteorites . . . and the newly discovered planets outside our solar system. . . . The authors state in the book's preface that they have not intended to create a work to replace textbooks on planetary science or cosmochemistry, but to provide a handy reference tool that brings together information that is widely scattered in scientific journals and books. They have achieved this objective. . . . [R]ecommended for all academic libraries supporting planetary astronomy or geochemistry course offerings and larger public library reference collections."--E-STREAMS "It is indeed an extremely useful book. It contains everything that is needed for the one en vogue back of the envelope calculations and much more. Lodders and Fegley have compiled a remarkable combination of data relevant to all aspects of planetology in a handy booklet. The real value of the book is the supporting literature documentation of all numbers listed. I recommend this book without any reservations." -- Herbert Palme, Meteoritics & Planetary Science, Vol 35, 2000 "The Planetary Scientist's Companion is a concise reference book that will be helpful to students and researchers in planetary sciences and related areas. Even the rapid change in knowledge of our planetary system and the fast increase of available data will not outdate this book in the near future. I recommend this compilation to all persons working in the broad field of planetology. Also those teaching in Earth and planetary sciences will appreciate having The Planetary Scientist's Companion available on their bookshelf." -- Ludolf Schultz "This book is incredibly comprehensive and well-organized. It is jam-packed with mostly tabular data from a wide variety of well-documented and relatively up-to-date sources, including classic research and review papers and disparate reference sources. While unusual for a reference book, The Planetary Scientist's Companion actually lends itself to casual reading, which is perhaps fitting for what the authors describe as a "'data journey' through the solar system and beyond." This is a succinct and handy reference book that will be of use to most students and teachers." --EOS, June 15, 1999 "The Planetary Scientist's Companion is a succinct and handy reference that will be useful to those in the geophysical community looking for a foothold into planetary science or for an interesting compact survey of the present understanding of planetary phenomena."--The Leading EdgeTable of Contents1. Technical Data ; 2. The Solar System ; 3. The Sun ; 4. Mercury ; 5. Venus ; 6. Earth and Moon ; 7. Mars and Satellites ; 8. Jupiter, Rings and Satellites ; 9. Saturn, Rings and Satellites ; 10. Uranus, Rings and Satellites ; 11. Neptune, Rings and Satellites ; 12. Pluto and Charon ; 13. The Asteroids ; 14. Centaur Objects and Kuiper Belt Objects ; 15. Comets ; 16. Meteorites ; 17. Beyond the Solar System ; Glossary ; Index

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Book SynopsisIn August 2017, 100 million will gather across the USA to watch a total solar eclipse. This book, written by the widely read popular science author Frank Close, describes the spellbinding allure of this most beautiful natural phenomenon, taking the reader to a war zone in the Western Sahara, to the South Pacific, and to the African bush.Trade ReviewEntertaining, inspiring, and highly informative. * John Riutta, Astronomy, Featured Book Reviews *Science and wonder mix seamlessly in this tale. * The Weekly Standard *A down-to-earth, lyrical account of solar eclipses, centering on his [Frank's] trips to Africa, the South Pacific and other locales where he pursues, with a mix of intrepid zest and mathematical precision, total solar eclipses. Eclipse beautifully blends these travel narratives with the history of eclipses. * Shelf Awareness *The author artfully weaves together his own experiences and an explanation of the phenomenon. * Kirkus Reviews *Close's simple, winding, and occasionally evocative language is tinged with nostalgia, and his readers will see both the humanist and scientific elements involved in the "exquisite alignment of sun, moon, and earth." Close provides eyewitness account from regular people and personal reflections on seeing totality, convincingly demonstrating that there is nothing better than standing in lunar darkness and feeling 'humbled by the ability of science to predict'. * Publishers Weekly *Close's book, combining the rigour of a scientist with the excitement of a layman, is [a] perfect primer.More than just a primer on the science of solar eclipses, this memoir chronicles a physicists lifetime fascination with the celestial phenomenon and introduces readers to the quirky world of eclipse chasers. * Science News Books of the Year *There are a plethora of guides to eclipse chasing that will satisfy those who want to know all the whys and wherefores of predicting and observing eclipses ... The reader does get a real sense of the lasting impact these eclipses have had on Close and the feeling that being present in the umbral shadow is an experience not to be missed. As an introduction to eclipses and the places eclipse watching might take you, this is an interesting read. * Steve Bell, Observatory Magazine *Table of Contents1: Peterborough 30 June 1954 2: Waiting for Godot 3: Preparation 4: Cornwall: 11 August 1999 5: June 21st is Midwinter's Day 6: "Who's arranged this eclipse?" 7: Earthshine in the Sahara: Libya 2006 8: The most remote eclipses 9: Atlantic Adventure 10: Back to the Future Epilogue: Everything under the Sun is in Tune

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Book SynopsisThe Sun, as our nearest star, is of enormous importance for life on Earth - providing the warm radiation and light which allowed complex life to evolve. The Sun plays a key role in influencing our climate, whilst solar storms and high-energy events can threaten our communication infrastructure and satellites.This Very Short Introduction explores what we know about the Sun, its physics, its structure, origins, and future evolution. Philip Judge explains some of the remaining puzzles about the Sun that still confound us, using elementary physics, and mathematical concepts. Why does the Sun form spots? Why does it flare? As he shows, these and other nagging difficulties relate to the Sun''s continually variable magnetism, which converts an otherwise dull star into a machine for flooding interplanetary space with variable radiation, high-energy particles and magnetic ejections. Throughout, Judge highlights the many reasons that the Sun is important, and why scientists engage in solar research.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of Contents1: The Sun, our star 2: The Sun's life-cycle 3: Spots and magnetic fields 4: The dynamic corona 5: Solar impacts on Earth Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisPhilosophers and poets in times past tried to figure out why the stainless moon smoothly polished, like a diamond in Dante''s words, had stains. The agreed solution was that, like a mirror, it reflected the imperfect Earth. Today we smile, but it was a clever way to understand the Moon in a manner that was consistent with the beliefs of their age. The Moon is no longer the in thing. We see it as often as the Sun and give it little thought we''ve become indifferent. However, the Moon does reflect more than just sunlight. The Moon, or more precisely the nomenclature of lunar craters, still holds up a mirror to an important aspect of human history. Of the 1586 craters that have been named honoring philosophers and scientists, only 28 honor a woman. These 28 women of the Moon present us with an opportunity to meditate on this gap, but perhaps more significantly, they offer us an opportunity to talk about their lives, mostly unknown today.Trade Review...an apt quotation from an article in the New Yorker caught my eye: "There's a romance to ushering lost women back into the light....". Readers can be grateful to [the authors] for sharing that romance with us. * Naomi Pasachoff, Metascience *The authors excel at communicating scientific concepts clearly. Their narrations of the women's lives seamlessly interweave lessons on stellar spectroscopy with biographical accounts of marriage, tragic illnesses, and impressive scientific accomplishments to lend a fresh and much fuller appreciation for the contributions made by "women of the Moon." * Emily K. Gibson, Science *Revealing that 1558 craters on the moon have been named for men, but only 28 for women, this valuable survey offers an illuminating perspective on the latter... The cumulative result of these neat but telling histories is a memorable introduction to 28 strong, smart, and too often forgotten female pioneers of science and exploration. * Publishers Weekly *The book's clear writing style is complemented by relevant, high-quality graphics and photos ... the quality of the printing, paper, and binding give The Women of the Moon the look and feel of a fine book ... Astronomy and science history enthusiasts should consider adding this informative and interesting read to their book shelf or buying it for a young woman interested in STEM. * Brian Webb, Space Archive *The book gives the reader an in-depth introduction to the Moon, its formation and lunar nomenclature ... However, the book's strength is in the individual chapters reserved for the women immortalised on the Moon ... To sum up, this book acts as a really nice biographical collection of many historical female scientists. * Carolyn Kennet, Astronomy Now *A readable and enjoyable title. * Brian Clegg, Popular Science blog *[Altschuler and Ballesteros] write extremely well, explaining the science parts with enough simplicity and clarity for a non-scientist to grasp at least the relevance and importance of it, and recounting the life stories of these remarkable women with warmth and admiration ... An excellent book that I heartily recommend to all, but think would be especially great to give as a gift to a teenage girl who's interested in a career in science. * FictionFan *Table of ContentsUnderstanding the Moon Lunar Nomenclature 1: Hypatia of Alexandria (355 or 370-415) 2: Catherine of Alexandria (~287-~305) 3: Nicole-Reine de la Briere Lepaute (1723-1788) 4: Caroline Lucretia Herschel (1750-1848) 5: Mary Fairfax Greig Somerville (1780-1872) 6: Anne Sheepshanks (1789-1876) 7: Catherine Wolfe Bruce (1816-1900) 8: Maria Mitchell (1818-1889) 9: Agnes Mary Clerke (1842-1907) 10: Sofia Vasílyevna Kovalévskaya (1850-1891) 11: Annie Scott Dill Russell Maunder (1868-1947) 12: Williamina Paton Fleming (1857-1911) 13: Annie Jump Cannon (1863-1941) 14: Antonia Maury (1866-1952) 15: Henrietta Leavitt (1868-1921) 16: Mary Adela Blagg (1858-1944) 17: Mary A. Proctor (1862-1957) 18: Marie Sk?odowska-Curie (1867-1934) 19: Lise Meitner (1878-1968) 20: Amalie Emmy Noether (1882-1935) 21: Louise Freeland Jenkins (1888-1970) 22: Priscilla Fairfield Bok (1896-1975) 23: Gerty Theresa Radnitz Cori (1896-1957) 24: Judith Arlene Resnik (1949-1986) 25: Sharon Christa McAuliffe (1948-1986) 26: Kalpana Chawla (1962-2003) 27: Laurel Blair Salton Clark (1961-2003) 28: Valentina Vladímirovna Nikolayeva Tereshkova (1937-)

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Book Synopsis Simone Marchi presents the emerging story of how cosmic collisions shaped both the solar system and our own planet, from the creation of the Moon to influencing the evolution of life on Earth. The Earth emerged out of the upheaval and chaos of massive collisions in the infancy of the Solar System, more than four billion years ago. The largest of these events sent into orbit a spray of molten rocks out of which the Moon coalesced. As in ancient mythological tales, this giant catastrophe marks the birth of our planet as we know it. Space exploration has shown that signs of ancient collisions are widespread in the Solar System, from the barren and once-habitable Mars to the rugged asteroids. On Earth these signs are more subtle, but still cataclysmic, such as the massive asteroid strike which likely sparked the demise of the dinosaurs and many other forms of life some 66 million years ago. Signatures of even more dramatic catastrophes are concealed in ancient rocks. These events wreaked havoc on our planet''s surface, influencing global climate and topography, while also enriching the Earth with gold and other rare elements. And recently, modern science is finding that they could even have contributed to developing the conditions conducive to life. In Colliding Worlds, Simone Marchi explores the key role that collisions in space have played in the formation and evolution of our solar system, the development of planets, and possibly even the origin of life on Earth. Analysing our latest understanding of the surfaces of Mars and Venus, gleaned from recent space missions, Marchi presents the dramatic story of cosmic collisions and their legacies.Trade ReviewIn Colliding Worlds, Simone Marchi explores the key role that collisions in space have played in the formation and evolution of our solarsystem, the development of planets, and possibly even the origin of life on Earth. Analyzing our latest understanding of the surfaces of Mars and Venus, gleaned from recent space missions, Marchi presents the dramatic story of cosmic collisions and their legacies. * Lunar and Planetary Information Bulletin No. 167 (January 2022) *Although collisions form the main thread running through the book, it's actually wider in scope than that, covering both the history of the Solar System, and the history of our understanding of it. That includes our understanding of our own planet, and one of the eye-opening facts is how long it took the academic world to recognise the role played by collisions in geological history. Basically, the topic got lost for decades in the gap between the geology and astronomy departments. [...] Marchi's first-hand accounts of work he was personally involved in - such as NASAs Dawn mission to the asteroid belt - make especially fascinating reading. For anyone wanting an up-to-date account of the Solar System and the processes that shape it, this is the perfect place to start. * Brian Clegg, Popular Science *Colliding Worlds is a fascinating and fresh look at the history of our solar system through the lens of the cataclysmic events that have profoundly shaped it. Marchi's engaging and clearly written book helps us understand the nature and significance of impacts for Earth's geologic history and the emergence of life, as well as their implications for our sibling terrestrial planets and exoplanetary systems. * Carol A. Raymond, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology *A fascinating story of how our Solar System was formed, and how we have arrived at the current understanding of it, from the unique perspective of cosmic collisions. Information from a few hundred years of planetary and astronomical research to the latest space exploration is marvellously weaved together. The very success of being able to connect diverse subjects in such a coherent and engaging manner attests to the fundamental importance of cosmic collisions, or "creative destruction" as the author puts it, in our search for the grand theory of planetary formation in the coming years. * Jun Korenaga, Yale University *Table of Contents1: Born out of Fire and Chaos 2: A Clash of Giants 3: Wandering Among the Planets 4: Earth's Wild Years 5: A Watery Mars 6: Creative Destruction Endnotes

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Book Synopsis''Philosophy is written in this great book which is continually open before our eyes - I mean the universe...''Galileo''s astronomical discoveries changed the way we look at the world, and our place in the universe. Threatened by the Inquisition for daring to contradict the literal truth of the Bible, Galileo ignited a scientific revolution when he asserted that the Earth moves. This generous selection from his writings contains all the essential texts for a reader to appreciate his lasting significance. Mark Davie''s new translation renders Galileo''s vigorous Italian prose into clear modern English, while William R. Shea''s version of the Latin Sidereal Message makes accessible the book that created a sensation in 1610 with its account of Galileo''s observations using the newly invented telescope.All Galileo''s contributions to the debate on science and religion are included, as well as key documents from his trial before the Inquisition in 1633. A lively introduction and clear notesTrade Reviewincludes substantial explanatory notes and a useful introduction, but what really brings it alive is the readable modern language of the translations ... it makes [Galileo's] ideas accessible ... and available to a much wider audience. * Astronomy and Geophysics *This book is an absolute joy. * The Observatory *Includes substantial explanatory notes and a useful introduction, but what really brings it alive is the readable modern language of the translations ... it makes [Galileo's] ideas accessible ... and available to a much wider audience. * Astronomy and Geophysics *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION; SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY; A CHRONOLOGY OF GALILEO; A SIDEREAL MESSAGE; LETTERS ON THE SUNSPOTS; SCIENCE AND RELIGION; FROM THE ASSAYER; DIALOGUE ON THE TWO CHIEF WORLD SYSTEMS; THE TRIAL; TWO NEW SCIENCES; EXPLANATORY NOTES; INDEX

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Book SynopsisGalileo's telescopic discoveries, and especially his observation of sunspots, caused great debate in an age when the heavens were thought to be perfect and unchanging. This title features a collection of the correspondence that constituted the public debate, including the English translation of Scheiner's two tracts and Galileo's three letters.

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Book SynopsisTraces the history of scientific research on the planet Jupiter from the observations of Galileo to the explorations of the Pioneer and Voyager space probes.

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Book SynopsisWill Gater is an astronomy journalist and author. He has written for several of the UK's top astronomy and science magazines and promotes both these subjects with frequent appearances on television and radio, including the BBC's Sky at Night. Anton Vamplew is a freelance astronomer. As well as writing about astronomy in books and magazine articles, he has worked at the Royal Greenwich Observatory and made regular broadcasts on BBC television and radio.

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Book SynopsisDiscover the mysteries of the Universe and journey to galaxies beyond our own in this fact-packed companion to space.From icy worlds and hot, fiery giants to the biggest telescopes and latest spacecraft, this book covers more than 40 profiles of the planets, stars, and objects in our universe. Find out all about our neighboring planets, from tiny Mercury to gigantic Jupiter. Discover what lies beyond our solar system and the stars we can see in the night sky. Learn about the latest space technology and when humans may finally land on Mars.Broken down by type, each object is presented in a clear, engaging way, with stunning images and bite-sized chunks of information. Detailed NASA photography brings the mysteries of outer space to life, while pronunciation guides help with tricky names, and a visual index gives a quick overview of all the key objects in the book. Filled with fascinating details for every young stargazer and budding astronaut, My Book of Sta

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Book SynopsisWhile various accomplishments have answered important questions about the physics of the Sun, the interplanetary medium, and the space environments of Earth and other solar system bodies, they have also highlighted other questions. This book organizes these questions in terms of five challenges, to be the focus of scientific investigations.Table of Contents1 Front Matter; 2 Executive Summary; 3 1. Solar and Space Physics: Milestones and Science Challenges; 4 2. Integrated Research Strategy for Solar and Space Physics; 5 3. Technology Development; 6 4. Connections Between Solar and Space Physics and Other Disciplines; 7 5. Effects of the Solar and Space Environment on Technology and Society; 8 6. Education and Public Outreach; 9 7. Strengthening the Solar and Space Physics Research Enterprise; 10 Appendix A: Statement of Task; 11 Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations; 12 Appendix C: Biographical Information for Members of the Solar and Space Physics Survey Committee

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Book SynopsisQuestions about the origin and nature of Earth and the life on it have long preoccupied human thought and the scientific endeavor. This book captures, in a series of questions, the essential scientific challenges that constitute the frontier of Earth science at the start of the 21st century.Table of Contents1 Front Matter; 2 Summary; 3 1 Origins; 4 2 Earth's Interior; 5 3 A Habitable Planet; 6 4 Hazards and Resources; 7 References; 8 Appendix A: Biographical Sketches of Committee Members; 9 Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

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Book SynopsisThe sun radiates a tremendous amount of energy, called solar energy or solar radiation, which is the main natural source of energy on the Earth, by far. Because solar radiation is the almost unique supplier of energy to the Earth, it has a primary influence on life and activities on the Earth. The climate is a first example, but there are many others, such as plant growth or human health, or even the design of buildings, the production of energy, notably electrical and thermal, or even aging materials. This book aims to provide simple answers to anyone who has questions about solar radiation. Its ambition is to help by presenting the fundamental elements of the solar radiation received on the ground. The book includes many examples and numerous illustrations, as well as some simple but fairly precise equations to calculate the various elements covered and to reproduce the figures and graphs. The first of the three parts of this book is devoted to the relative geometry between the direction of the sun and an observer on the ground as well as to the solar radiation emitted by the sun and received at the top of the atmosphere. The orbit of the Earth around the sun and the solar declination are described. The concept of time is introduced which is closely linked to the solar cycle and the rotation of the Earth on itself. Equations are given to calculate the solar radiation received on a horizontal or inclined surface located at the top of the atmosphere. The spectral distribution of the extraterrestrial solar radiation is described. The second part of this book addresses how the solar radiation incident at the top of the atmosphere is attenuated and modified in its downward path to the ground. The reflection of the radiation by the ground is presented. The solar radiation received on the ground by a horizontal or inclined collector plane, such as a natural slope or a rooftop, is discussed, as well as its spectral distribution. The variability of the radiation is addressed in relation to the properties of solar radiation estimated from the measurements. The third part deals with direct or indirect measurements of the solar radiation received on the ground over a given integration time (minute, hour, day, or month), whether for total radiation or radiation in a spectral range such as ultraviolet (UV), or daylight, or photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). It also explains how to check the plausibility of the measurements.Fundamentals of Solar Radiation will be a valuable resource to all professionals, engineers, researchers, students, and other practitioners that seek an understanding of solar radiation.Table of ContentsThe Definition of Time and Different Time Systems, The Course of the Sun over an Observer on the Ground, Solar Radiation Incident at the Top of the Atmosphere, Radiative Transfer in the Atmosphere, Ground Reflection, Solar Radiation Received at Ground Level, Spectral Distribution of the Solar Radiation at Ground, Variability – Implications for Estimating Radiation, Ground-Based Instruments for Measuring Solar Radiation at Ground, Other Means for Estimating Solar Radiation at Surface, Control of the Plausibility of Measurements, Visual and Automated Procedures.

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Book SynopsisA critical issue which is fundamentally affecting the development of the Earth Observation sector is not so much the technology but the data policy. The conditions which govern access to the data, distribution of the data and the price of the data are now vital to the exploitation of this important environmental data resource.Table of ContentsInfluencing Factors. Existing Policies and Policy Making Processes. Physical Access to Earth Observation Data. Data Protection. Data Pricing Policy. Data Preservation. Conclusions and Recommendations. Appendix. References. Index.

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Book SynopsisA jawdropping book of photographs that transports the reader into space aboard the Rosetta probe.Trade Review'An extraordinary book' - Black & White Photography'Bringing us ever closer to these distant worlds' - Financial Times'A raft of truly otherworldly photographs … Testament to a hugely ambitious and pioneering scientific feat, Comet is an extraordinary book that transports the reader deep into the cosmos' - Outdoor PhotographyTable of ContentsIntroduction • 1. Launching • 2. First Earth Flyby • 3. Mars Flyby • 4. Second Earth Flyby • 5. Asteroid Stein Flyby • 6. Third Earth Flyby • 7. Asteroid Lutetia Flyby 8. Entering Deep Space Hibernation • 9. Exiting Deep Space Hibernation • 10. Rendezvous Manouevre • 11. Arrival at Comet • 12. Philae Landing • 13. Nominal Mission End

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Book SynopsisGrab your gloves and your lab coat and prepare to explore chemistry, zoology, botany and astronomy in this ultimate science showdown. Did you know that Planet Earth is bigger than Mars? Or that you brushed your teeth with a chemical element this morning? Can you name a plant that eats insects? How about an animal that is louder than a jet engine? In Bigger Than This, the four suits have been replaced by four different fields of science chemistry, zoology, botany and astronomy. Collect cards by asking your opponents for cards that are either bigger than or smaller than one of the science elements in your hand. If your opponent can't satisfy your request, you'll win the round. Keep an eye out for the eight wildcards that will cause a malfunction in the lab they really throw a spanner in the works!

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Book SynopsisMeteorite research is fundamental to our understanding of the origin and early history of the Solar System. Some meteorites were produced by melting on asteroids, a few are from the Moon and others are martian. Their study yields a chronology of the first 100 million years of Solar System history and provides evidence that our Sun went through a highly radiative, T Tauri stage. This book considers the mechanism and timing of core formation and basaltic volcanism on asteroids and the effects of heating water-rich bodies. Results from meteorite research are placed in a galactic setting, and a theory is proposed for the origin of the planets of our Solar System. This advanced yet succinct introduction provides a classification of meteorites and discusses their ages and origin. It will be valuable to graduate students and scientists in astrophysics, space research, cosmochemistry, geochemistry, isotope geology and earth and planetary sciences.Trade Review'Graduate students and researchers with geologic training will find Meteorites an invaluable reference for concise distillations of the essential properties of each meteorite group. … This book pays appropriate homage to the extraordinary treasure trove that falls out of the sky and into our laboratories.' Rhian Jones, University of New Mexico'Hutchison's book will serve as an invaluable reference for anyone wanting to understand the diversity of meteorites.' Geological MagazineTable of ContentsPreface; Acknowledgements; 1. Introduction; 2. The chondrites: chemistry and classification; 3. The components of chondrites; 4. Petrography of the chondrites I: carbonaceous chondrites; 5. Petrography of the chondrites II: non-carbonaceous chondrites; 6. Time in the evolution of chondrites; 7. Origin of chondrites and their components; 8. Differentiated meteorites I: primitive achondrites, ureilites and aubrites; 9. Differentiated meteorites II: asteroidal, lunar and Martian basaltic meteorites; 10. Differentiated meteorites III: iron and stony iron meteorites; 11. Parent body processes and petrogenetic associations; 12. Origin of Solar System planets: a meteoriticist's view; Glossary; Bibliography; Index of meteorite names; General index.

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Book SynopsisInterpretations of the geological processes operating on Mars are based on our knowledge of processes occurring on Earth. This 2007 book presents contributions from leading planetary geologists to demonstrate the parallels and differences between these two planets, and will therefore be a key reference for students and researchers of planetary science.Trade ReviewReview of the hardback: 'This book … will have wide appeal for planetary geologists. … it stresses the value of Earth-based comparisons in the understanding of images returned from the Red Planet. … The book is very well illustrated and contains a selection of colour plates. … As the prospect of a manned mission to Mars continues to recede, this book should prove to be of special importance for some time to come.' The ObservatoryReview of the hardback: 'A thought-provoking book - highly recommended.' Journal of Geological MagazineTable of ContentsIntroduction M. G. Chapman; 1. The geology of Mars: New insights and outstanding questions J. W. Head; 2. Impact structures on Earth and Mars N. G. Barlow, V. Sharpton and R. O. Kusmin; 3. Terrestrial analogs to the calderas of the Tharsis volcanoes on Mars P. J. Mouginis-Mark, A. J. L. Harris and S. K. Rowland; 4. Volcanic features of New Mexico analogous to volcanic features on Mars L.S. Crumpler, J.C. Aubele and J.R. Zimbelman; 5. Comparison of flood lavas on Earth and Mars L. Keszthelyi and A. McEwen; 6. Rootless volcanic cones on Iceland and on Mars S. A. Fagents and T. Thordarson; 7.Mars interior layered deposits and terrestrial sub-ice volcanoes compared: Observations and interpretations of similar geomorphic characteristics M. G. Chapman and J. L. Smellie; 8. Unique lava flow morphologies in Amazonis Planitia, Mars: Interactions of ice, dust and lava? T. Gregg; 9. Aeolian features in the western United States as analogs to wind-related features on Mars J. R. Zimbelman and S. H. Williams; 10. Debris flows in Greenland and on Mars F. Costard, F. Forget, V. Jomelli, N. Mangold and J. Peulvast; 11. Siberian rivers and Martian outflow channels: an analogy F. Costard and E. Gautier; 12. Formation of valleys and cataclysimic flooding on Earth and Mars G. Komatsu and V. R. Baker; 13. Playa environments on Earth: Possible analogues for Mars G. Komatsu, G. G. Ori, L. Maninangeli and J. E. Moersch; 14. Signatures of habitats and life in Earth's high-altitude lakes: clues to Noachian aqueous environments on Mars N. A. Cabrol, E. A. Grin, K. T. Kiss, E. Ács, I. Grigorszky, K. Szabò, B. Tóth, D. A. Fike, A. N. Hock, C. Demergasso, L. Escudero, G. Chong, P. Galleguillos, B.H Grigsby, J. Zambrana Román, C. P. McKay and C. Tambley; 15. The canyonlands model for 'simple' planetary grabens: Revised physical basis and implications R. A. Schultz, J. M. Moore, E. B. Grosfils, K.L. Tanaka and D. Mège; 16. Geochemical analogues and Martian meteorites H. E. Newsom; 17. Integrated mission simulation design using analogues for science-driven geological and biological planetary exploration with humans and robots K. Snook, B. Glass, G. Briggs and J. Jasper; Index.

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