Our Worlds: The Magnetism and Thrill of Planetary Exploration

by Edited by S. Alan Stern

• ISBN13: 9780521631648
• ISBN10: 0521631645
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-03-28
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

What have Apollo, Voyager, Magellan and Galileo told us about the solar system? In Our Worlds, eight planetary scientists explain what we know about their favourite world and why they find it fascinating to explore with space age techniques. Writing from a personal point of view, the distinguished researchers give a unique insight into planetary science during today's golden age of discovery. With passion and punch, the authors describe the most enticing discoveries about their subject. In this voyage of exploration you meet Mars, Venus, and the Moon, take a trip with Comet Halley, visit the moons Io, Titan, and Triton, and see asteroids close up. This is an insider's perspective written for a general readership by scientists at the cutting edge.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
ALAN STERN
Welcome home	1	(6)
ALAN STERN
Inner Worlds	7	(86)
Exploring Mars	9	(22)
STEVE SQUYRES
Venus: the way we might have been	31	(16)
ELLEN STOFAN
Moonlighting	47	(18)
CARLE PIETERS
Small worlds, up close	65	(28)
CLARK R. CHAPMAN
Outer Worlds	93
Cruisin' with Comet Halley	95	(22)
PAUL WEISSMAN
Io and I	117	(18)
JOHN SPENCER
Titan: a world seen but darkly	135	(16)
JONATHAN LUNINE
Triton is doomed	151
BILL McKINNON
Color sections	facing pp. 52 and 116