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The New Solar System
Discusses the interplanetary explorations of the last quarter century, revealing the new discoveries and findings due to the technological advancements which have enabled man to visit all the planets except Pluto
334 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1981
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July 7, 2019I have the german edition: Die Sonne und Ihre Planeten
and the english edition.
and the english edition.
May 13, 2008
(Note: I'm reading the 1998 ed., but couldn't find it in goodreads, just this much earlier ed.)
Our understanding of our local corner of the Universe has accelerated in the last 50-60 years, and it becomes difficult for the interested layman to keep up with it all. So books like this are very useful for those of us who are interested in the Solar System. Despite being 10 years old (and I hope another version is coming soon) there is a great deal here to keep even someone like myself, who tries to Keep Up, busy and in wonder.
The more we know about the Solar System the more we understand how busy a place it is. Pluto as everyone knows has been demoted from "major" planet status, but then promoted to first and foremost of a large and growing family of fascinating transNeptunian or Kuiper Belt objects.
But we are constantly learning about the old familiar planets also. Mars, Venus, even Mercury, are still giving up their secrets. Frozen water on Mercury, so close to the Sun? Yup. Evidence that Mars was once a very wet and slushy place? Yup. And why is Venus so smooth, with so few craters? Then there are the Jovian moons, and Saturn's rings whose complexity is only now being truly understood. And the ice giants Uranus and Neptune...they have their own wonder as well.
This book is a bit technical, and I would be lying if I said I understood everything in it. But like many things, you are only going to stretch if you expose yourself to things that are just a bit beyond you. So...if you are a science and/or Solar System geek to any extent, this is for you. Drink up!
Our understanding of our local corner of the Universe has accelerated in the last 50-60 years, and it becomes difficult for the interested layman to keep up with it all. So books like this are very useful for those of us who are interested in the Solar System. Despite being 10 years old (and I hope another version is coming soon) there is a great deal here to keep even someone like myself, who tries to Keep Up, busy and in wonder.
The more we know about the Solar System the more we understand how busy a place it is. Pluto as everyone knows has been demoted from "major" planet status, but then promoted to first and foremost of a large and growing family of fascinating transNeptunian or Kuiper Belt objects.
But we are constantly learning about the old familiar planets also. Mars, Venus, even Mercury, are still giving up their secrets. Frozen water on Mercury, so close to the Sun? Yup. Evidence that Mars was once a very wet and slushy place? Yup. And why is Venus so smooth, with so few craters? Then there are the Jovian moons, and Saturn's rings whose complexity is only now being truly understood. And the ice giants Uranus and Neptune...they have their own wonder as well.
This book is a bit technical, and I would be lying if I said I understood everything in it. But like many things, you are only going to stretch if you expose yourself to things that are just a bit beyond you. So...if you are a science and/or Solar System geek to any extent, this is for you. Drink up!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews