An Introduction to the Solar System

Updated third edition introduces undergraduates to the Solar System's bodies, the processes upon and within them, and their origins and evolution.

David A. Rothery (Edited by), Neil McBride (Edited by), Iain Gilmour (Edited by)

9781108430845, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 11 January 2018

440 pages, 328 colour illus. 96 exercises
26.3 x 21 x 2.2 cm, 1.24 kg

Ongoing advances in Solar System exploration continue to reveal its splendour and diversity in remarkable detail. This undergraduate-level textbook presents fascinating descriptions and colour images of the bodies in the Solar System, the processes that occur upon and within them, and their origins and evolution. It highlights important concepts and techniques in boxed summaries, while questions and exercises are embedded at appropriate points throughout the text, with full solutions provided. Written and edited by a team of practising planetary scientists, this third edition has been updated to reflect our current knowledge. It is ideal for introductory courses on the subject, and is suitable for self-study. The text is supported by online resources, hosted at www.cambridge.org/solarsystem3, which include selected figures from the book, self-assessment questions and sample tutor assignments, with outlines of suggested answers.

Introduction
1. A tour of the Solar System
2. The internal structure of the terrestrial planets
3. Planetary volcanism
4. Planetary surface processes
5. Atmospheres of terrestrial planets
6. The giant planets
7. Minor bodies of the Solar System
8. The origin of the Solar System
9. Meteorites: a record of formation
Answers and comments
Appendices
Glossary
Further reading
Acknowledgements
Figure references
Index.

Subject Areas: Astronomy, space & time [PG]