Satellites of the Outer Planets: Worlds in Their Own Right - Softcover

Rothery, David A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0198542909 ISBN 13: 9780198542902

Publisher: Clarendon Press, 1992

Synopsis

The author here casts a geological eye over the major satellites of the outer planets (from Jupiter to Neptune), and shows that each one is a distinctive member of a family of worlds. He draws attention to the similarities and differences between them, and discusses in particular how tectonic and volcanic processes have shaped their rigid outer layers, driven by heat from within. The text is illustrated with close-up images from the Voyager space probes and explanatory line drawings. Written at an introductory level, the book should be of use to those who wish to know more about our solar system. It explains to astronomers what interests planetary geologists about these bodies, and opens a window for geologists by showing them a host of geological processes occurring on other worlds.

About this title

Review

On the first edition: "Rothery does an excellent job of synthesizing the research inspired by the Voyager missions into a coherent description of outer solar system geology." ―Jonathan I. Lunine, Sky & Telescope

"...a highly readable, respectably accurate and complete nontechnical summary of planetary satellites for general and scientific audiences that is not otherwise available. Indeed, this is how I might have wished to write a book on icy satellites should I have done so." ―Paul M. Schenk, Icarus

"Rothery brings these satellites to life." ―David Hughes, New Scientist

"The depth and authority of the treatment of physical geological processes makes this a good introduction to the outer satellites for undergraduate students, while the clarity of the text ensures that things do not become too complicated for less expert readers." ―Lionel Wilson, Times Higher Eduation Supplement

From the Author

This is a new edition, revized in the light of new data.
I hope you like this new edition. I have extensively revized and re-illustrated it in the light of the findings by the Galileo mission (in orbit about Jupiter since 1995), discoveries by the Hubble Space Telescope, and further interpretation of Voyager data on the satellites of Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

Edition details

• Publisher: Clarendon Press
• Publication date: 1992
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0198542909
• ISBN 13: 9780198542902
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 221