Exploring Planetary Worlds (Scientific American Library)

Plot

Pioneer, Venera, Mariner, Galileo, Giotto, Voyager, Magellan....The names given to space missions evoke images of dramatic, triumphant discovery - and the results have lived up to those images. Direct investigations of the planets and other bodies by these probes have yielded tremendous amounts of information, taking us to unprecedented levels of understanding how the solar system evolved. Exploring Planetary Worlds incorporates the findings from recent space investigations into a fascinating portrayal of the planets and associated planetary satellites, rings, asteroids, and comets. Written by world-renowned planetary scientist David Morrison, the book focuses not only on the processes that shaped each planet's distinctive character, but also on what the unique individuality of the planets tells us about the Earth and the origin and development of our solar system. Morrison's approach is unique. Rather than describe each planet separately, he groups them by primary traits, comparing and distinguishing their sizes, atmospheres, surfaces, magnetic fields, energy sources, chemical compositions, and geologic histories. Throughout, surprising discoveries are revealed - Saturn is not the only planet with rings; the greenhouse effect has rendered the surface of Venus hotter than that of Mercury; the Great Red Spot of Jupiter is actually a massive weather system, and a similar dark spot exists on Neptune; icy and arid Mars once displayed Earthlike rains and rivers; and more. Morrison concludes with one of the most talked-about topics in modern astronomy - the role of collisions between comets, asteroids, and the Earth in shaping the history of life on our planet.