Saturn in the 21st Century

A detailed overview of Saturn's formation, evolution and structure written by eminent planetary scientists involved in the Cassini Orbiter mission.

Kevin H. Baines (Edited by), F. Michael Flasar (Edited by), Norbert Krupp (Edited by), Tom Stallard (Edited by)

9781107106772, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 6 December 2018

460 pages, 189 b/w illus. 77 colour illus.
28.6 x 22.1 x 2.5 cm, 1.59 kg

'This volume summarizes what has been gleaned from the gigantic trove of data collected by that mission; each of the 14 chapters was written by a group of experts chosen by the editors. … until another mission visits the planet, this will be the definitive reference book on Saturn for graduate students and planetary scientists.' T. D. Oswalt, Choice

The Cassini Orbiter mission, launched in 1997, has provided state-of-the-art information into the origins and workings of Saturn. Drawing from new discoveries and scientific insight from the mission, this book provides a detailed overview of the planet as revealed by Cassini. Chapters by eminent planetary scientists and researchers from across the world comprehensively review the current state of knowledge regarding Saturn's formation, interior, atmosphere, ionosphere, thermosphere and magnetosphere. Specialised chapters discuss the planet's seasonal variability; the circulation of strong zonal winds; the constantly changing polar aurorae; and the Great Storm of 2010–2011, the most powerful convective storm ever witnessed by humankind. Documenting the latest research on the planet, from its formation to how it operates today, this is an essential reference for graduate students, researchers and planetary scientists.

Preface
List of contributors
List of reviewers
1. Introduction to Saturn in the 21st century Kevin H. Baines, F. Michael Flasar, Norbert Krupp and Tom Stallard
2. The origin and evolution of Saturn, with exoplanet perspective Sushil K. Atreya, Aurélien Crida, Tristan Guillot, Jonathan I. Lunine, Nikku Madhusudhan and Olivier Mousis
3. The interior of Saturn Jonathan J. Fortney, Ravit Helled, Nadine Nettelmann, David J. Stevenson, Mark S. Marley, William B. Hubbard and Luciano Iess
4. Saturn's magnetic field and dynamo Ulrich R. Christensen, Hao Cao, Michele Dougherty and Krishan Khurana
5. The mysterious periodicities of Saturn: clues to the rotation rate of the planet James F. Carbary, Matthew M. Hedman, Thomas W. Hill, Xianzhe Jia, William Kurth, Laurent Lamy and Gabby Provan
6. Global configuration and seasonal variations of Saturn's magnetosphere Norbert Krupp, Peter Kollmann, Donald G. Mitchell, Michelle Thomsen, Xianzhe Jia, Adam Masters and Philippe Zarka
7. Saturn's aurora Tom Stallard, Sarah Badman, Ulyana A. Dyudina, Denis Grodent and Laurent Lamy
8. Saturn's ionosphere Luke Moore, Marina Galand, Arvydas J. Kliore, Andrew F. Nagy and James O'Donoghue
9. Saturn's variable thermosphere Darrell F. Strobel, Tommi Koskinen and Ingo Müller-Wodarg
10. Saturn's seasonally changing atmosphere: thermal structure, composition and aerosols Leigh N. Fletcher, Thomas K. Greathouse, Sandrine Guerlet, Julianne I. Moses and Robert A. West
11. The global atmospheric circulation of Saturn Adam P. Showman, Andrew P. Ingersoll, Richard Achterberg and Yohai Kaspi
12. Saturn's polar atmosphere Kunio M. Sayanagi, Kevin H. Baines, Ulyana A. Dyudina, Leigh N. Fletcher, Agustin Sánchez-Lavega and Robert A. West
13. The great Saturn storm of 2010–2011 Agustín Sánchez-Lavega, Georg Fischer, Leigh N. Fletcher, Enrique García-Melendo, Brigette Hesman, Santiago Pérez-Hoyos, Kunio M. Sayanagi and Lawrence A. Sromovsky
14. The future exploration of Saturn Kevin H. Baines, Sushil K. Atreya, Frank Crary, Scott G. Edgington, Thomas K. Greathouse, Henrik Melin, Olivier Mousis, Glenn S. Orton, Thomas R. Spilker and Anthony Wesley
Index.

Subject Areas: Solar system: the Sun & planets [PGS], Astronomical observation: observatories, equipment & methods [PGG], Astronomy, space & time [PG]