The Story of the Solar System

by Mark A. Garlick

• ISBN13: 9780521803366
• ISBN10: 0521803365
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-03-18
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

The bodies of our solar system have orbited continuously around the Sun since their formation, but they have not always been there, and conditions have not always been as they are today. The Story of the Solar System explains how our solar system came into existence, how it has evolved and how it might end billions of years from now. After a brief historical introduction, the book illustrates the birth of the Sun, and then explains the steps that built up the bodies of the Solar System. Using vivid illustrations, the planets, moons, asteroids and comets are described in detail. Comparison of these objects, and analysis of how they have changed and evolved since birth, is followed by a look towards the end of the solar system's existence. Fully illustrated with beautiful, astronomically accurate paintings, this book will fascinate anyone with an interest in our solar system.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(7)
Part 1 Genesis of the Sun and Solar Nebula	8	(16)
Time zero: Giant Molecular Cloud	10	(2)
2 000 000 years: Solar Globule	12	(2)
2 030 000 years: Protosun	14	(2)
2 130 000 years: Solar Nebula	16	(2)
3 million years: T-Tauri Phase	18	(2)
3 million years: Outflow and Post-T-Tauri Phase	20	(2)
30--50 million years: The Main Sequence	22	(2)
Part 2 Emergence of the Sun's Family	24	(20)
2 200 000 years: Planetesimals and Protoplanets	26	(2)
2--3 million years: Gas Giants and Asteroids	28	(2)
3--10 million years: Ice Giants and Comets	30	(2)
3--10 million years: Regular Satellites	32	(2)
10--100 million years: Terrestrial Planets	34	(2)
100--1300 million years: The Heavy Bombardment	36	(2)
700--1300 million years: Building the Atmospheres	38	(2)
4500 million years? Formation of the Ring Systems	40	(2)
4660 million years: The Modern Solar System	42	(2)
Part 3 Solar System Past and Present	44	(82)
The Sun -- Local Star	46	(6)
Mercury -- Iron Planet	52	(6)
Venus -- Hell Planet	58	(6)
Earth -- Goldilocks Planet	64	(8)
Mars -- Red Planet	72	(8)
Asteroids -- Vermin of the Skies	80	(6)
Jupiter -- Giant among Giants	86	(8)
Saturn -- Lord of the Rings	94	(6)
Uranus -- World on its Side	100	(6)
Neptune -- Last Giant Outpost	106	(6)
Pluto and Charon -- Binary Planet	112	(6)
Comets -- Dirty Snowballs	118	(8)
Part 4 End of an Era	126	(18)
Present-day--10 900 million years: Main Sequence	128	(2)
10 900--11 600 million years: Subgiant Phase	130	(2)
11 600--12 233 million years: Red Giant Phase	132	(2)
12 233--12 365 million years: Helium Burning and Second Red Giant Phase	134	(2)
12 365 million years: Planetary Nebula Phase	136	(2)
12 365 million years: White Dwarf	138	(2)
Hundreds of billions of years: Black Dwarf	140	(2)
Time unknown: End of an Era ... Start of an Era	142	(2)
Glossary	144	(7)
Index	151