Destiny or Chance Revisited
Planets and their Place in the Cosmos

An exciting tour of our Universe exploring our current knowledge of exoplanets and the search for another Earth-like planet.

Stuart Ross Taylor (Author)

9781107016750, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 27 September 2012

313 pages, 12 b/w illus. 9 colour illus.
23.4 x 15.9 x 1.8 cm, 0.66 kg

'Taylor puts the reader at ease early by defining terminology in an inviting conversational tone, which continues throughout the book … Useful for intrepid laypersons, students, and professionals. Summing up: recommended. Lower-division undergraduates and above; general audiences.' N. W. Hinman, Choice

This exciting tour of our Universe explores our current knowledge of exoplanets and the search for another Earth-like planet. Beginning with the basic concepts of planet formation and the composition of the Universe, Stuart Ross Taylor summarises our knowledge of exoplanets, how they compare with our planets and why some stars have better habitable zones. Further sections provide a detailed study of our Solar System, as a basis for understanding exoplanetary systems, and a detailed study of the Earth as our only current example of a habitable planet. The book concludes with a philosophical and historical discussion of topics surrounding planets and the development of life, including why our chances of finding aliens on exoplanets is very low. This is an engaging and informative read for anyone interested in planetary formation and the exploration of our Universe.

Preface
Acknowledgements
List of abbreviations
1. Prologue
2. The Universe
3. Forming planets
4. The exoplanets
5. Our Solar System
6. Earth and Moon
7. Perspectives
Appendix A. Sources
Appendix B. The geological time scale on the Earth
Appendix C. The geological time scale on Mars
Appendix D. The geological time scale on the Moon
Index.

Subject Areas: Astronomy, space & time [PG], Mathematics & science [P]