Satellites of the Outer Planets Worlds in Their Own Right

by Rothery, David A.

• ISBN13: 9780195125559
• ISBN10: 019512555X
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-12-30
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Extensively revised and updated, this new edition of David A. Rothery's acclaimed geological guide to the outer solar system includes results and close-up color and black and white images from both the 1995-1999 Galileo mission to Jupiter and the Voyager space probe. Rothery, a noted planetary scientist, explains the geological aspects of the major satellites of the outer planets, from Jupiter to Neptune and the Pluto-Charon system. In particular he shows how tectonic and volcanic processes, driven by heat from within, have shaped the rigid outer layers of these worlds. Rothery also discusses the similarities and differences among them and the ways in which they resemble Earth-like planets. This fascinating book is written in an introductory style ideal for first- or second-year college courses. Amateur geologists and astronomers will also find its insights rewarding.

Author Biography

David A. Rothery is a volcanologist and planetary scientist. A Senior Lecturer at the Open University, UK, he is well known for his research on volcano monitoring and has written numerous popular magazine articles as well as made appearances on on radio and TV in the UK to explain volcanoes and planetary science.

Table of Contents

Preface to First Edition	vii
Preface to Second Edition	ix
Introduction	3	(12)
Geology on Planetary Satellites	4	(3)
A Gallery of Worlds	7	(8)
Composition and Evolution of Satellites	15	(18)
Planetary Satellites Seen from Earth	16	(2)
Origin of Planetary Satellites	18	(5)
Origin of the Solar System	18	(4)
Satellite Formation	22	(1)
Heaitng and Differentiation of an Icy Moon	23	(7)
Accretional Heating	24	(1)
Radiogenic Heating	24	(3)
Tidal Heating	27	(1)
Implications of Heating and Differentiation	28	(2)
Partial Melting	30	(1)
The Pre-Voyager View	30	(3)
Voyager and Galileo	33	(16)
The Grand Tour	33	(2)
The Voyager Project	35	(7)
The Voyager Spacecraft	36	(3)
The Encounters	39	(2)
Onward into the Abyss	41	(1)
The Galileo Project	42	(3)
Mapping the Satellites using Spacecraft Images	45	(4)
The Naming of Names	46	(3)
Icy Lithospheres	49	(14)
Inside the Earth	49	(4)
Earth's Lithosphere and Asthenosphere	51	(1)
Mantle Convection	52	(1)
Lithospheres of the Other Terrestrial Planets	53	(1)
The Lithosphere of an Icy World	53	(10)
Compositional Layers in Icy Moons	54	(3)
Ice-Dominated Lithospheres and Asthenospheres	57	(2)
Icy Volcanism	59	(4)
Dead Worlds	63	(36)
Impact Cratering	64	(8)
Crater Statistics	64	(3)
Crater Formation	67	(3)
Regolith	70	(2)
Impact Cratering in the Outer Solar System	72	(3)
Crater Scaling Between Satellites	72	(2)
Impactor Populations	74	(1)
Callisto	75	(11)
Multiringed Basins	77	(4)
Crater Relaxation and Retention	81	(2)
Crater Chains	83	(1)
Landslides and Frost Migration	84	(2)
Rhea	86	(2)
Iapetus	88	(3)
Mimas	91	(2)
Oberon	93	(3)
Umbriel	96	(3)
Recently Active Worlds	99	(44)
Ganymede	99	(13)
The Dark Terrain	102	(4)
The Bright Terrain	106	(4)
Subsequent History	110	(2)
Dione	112	(6)
Terrain Types and Tectonic Features	112	(3)
Geological History	115	(3)
Tethys	118	(5)
Ariel	123	(8)
Terrain Types and Tectonic Features	123	(2)
Tectonic Processes on Ariel	125	(2)
Volcanic Processes on Ariel	127	(3)
Geological History	130	(1)
Titania	131	(1)
Miranda	132	(11)
Terrain Units	133	(3)
Geological History	136	(7)
Active Worlds	143	(54)
Io	143	(18)
The Surface of Io	144	(6)
Eruption Plumes and Hot Spots	150	(3)
Hot Spot Temperatures	153	(2)
Silicates or Sulfur Lavas?	155	(4)
Internal Structure of IO	159	(2)
Europa	161	(18)
The Voyager View of Europa	161	(5)
The Galileo View of Europa	166	(9)
Is Europa Still Active?	175	(1)
Life on Europa?	176	(3)
Enceladus	179	(5)
Terrain Units on Enceladus	179	(1)
Volcanic and Tectonic Processes on Enceladus	180	(3)
The Heat Source for Enceladus	183	(1)
Triton	184	(13)
The Composition of Triton	185	(2)
The Surface of Triton	187	(5)
The Polar Cap	192	(2)
Plumes	194	(3)
Unseen Worlds	197	(10)
Titan	197	(4)
Pluto and Charon	201	(3)
The Kuiper Belt and Beyond	204	(3)
What Next?	207	(6)
The Missing Data	207	(2)
Cassini	209	(1)
Europa Orbiter	210	(1)
Pluto-Kuiper Express	211	(1)
Boldly Going...	212	(1)
Appendix: Names of Surface Features	213	(2)
Glossary	215	(8)
Bibliography	223	(8)
Index	231