Galileo's Medicean Moons (IAU S269)
Their Impact on 400 Years of Discovery

IAU S269 examines the current vision of our Solar System, in light of Galileo Galilei's astronomical discoveries 400 years ago.

Cesare Barbieri (Edited by), Supriya Chakrabarti (Edited by), Marcello Coradini (Edited by), Monica Lazzarin (Edited by)

9780521195560, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 25 November 2010

296 pages, 150 b/w illus. 20 tables
25.2 x 17.8 x 1.6 cm, 0.7 kg

'This volume is an excellent summary of the scientific history and studies of the Jovian system, and a reminder of how important Galileo's discovery was in shaping our present-day view of the Universe.' The Observatory

IAU Symposium 269 celebrates the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei's discovery of the Medicean Moons, Jupiter's four largest satellites, exploring the impact his findings have had on science and the humanities. Galileo's instrumental discovery and his belief that the planets and moons in our Solar System could be habitable worlds encouraged a deeper understanding of our place in the Universe. Today, ongoing space missions to Jupiter's moons, our own Moon, Mars, Saturn and Enceladus reveal our continued fascination with the possibilities of alien life, but this time with a focus on potential host sites for primitive life forms. These critical reviews examine our present knowledge of the Jupiter system and consider how future space missions and improvements in telescopes will bolster the contemporary vision of our Solar System, of the many known extrasolar planetary systems and of life forms beyond the Solar System.

Preface
1. Galileo's telescopic observations: the marvel and meaning of discovery George V. Coyne, S. J.
2. Popular perceptions of Galileo Dava Sobel
3. The slow growth of humility Tobias Owen and Scott Bolton
4. A new physics to support the Copernican system. Gleanings from Galileo's works Giulio Peruzzi
5. The telescope in the making, the Galileo first telescopic observations Alberto Righini
6. The appearance of the Medicean Moons in 17th century charts and books. How long did it take? Michael Mendillo
7. Navigation, world mapping and astrometry with Galileo's moons Kaare Aksnes
8. Modern exploration of Galileo's new worlds Torrence V. Johnson
9. Medicean Moons sailing through plasma seas: challenges in establishing magnetic properties Margaret G. Kivelson, Xianzhe Jia and Krishan K. Khurana
10. Aurora on Jupiter: a magnetic connection with the Sun and the Medicean Moons Supriya Chakrabarti and Marina Galand
11. Io's escaping atmosphere: continuing the legacy of surprise Nicholas M. Schneider
12. The Jovian Rings Wing-Huen Ip
13. The Juno mission Scott J. Bolton and the Juno Science Team
14. Seeking Europa's ocean Robert T. Pappalardo
15. Europa lander mission: a challenge to find traces of alien life Lev Zelenyi, Oleg Korablev, Elena Vorobyova, Maxim Martynov, Efraim L. Akim and Alexander Zakahrov
16. Atmospheric moons Galileo would have loved Sushil K. Atreya
17. The study of Mercury Louise M. Prockter and Peter D. Bedini
18. Jupiter and the other giants: a comparative study Thérèse Encrenaz
19. Spectroscopic and spectrometric differentiation between abiotic and biogenic material on icy worlds Kevin P. Hand, Chris McKay and Carl Pilcher
20. Other worlds, other civilizations? Guy Consolmagno, S. J.
21. Concluding remarks Roger M. Bonnet
Posters
Author index
Object index.

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