An Introduction to the Solar SystemNeil McBride, Iain Gilmour Compiled by a team of experts, this textbook has been designed for introductory university courses in planetary science. It starts with a tour of the Solar System and an overview of its formation. The composition, internal structure, surface morphology and atmospheres of the terrestrial planets are then described. This leads naturally to a discussion of the giant planets and why they are compositionally different. Minor bodies are reviewed and the book concludes with a discussion of the origin of the Solar System and the evidence from meteorites. Written in an accessible style that avoids complex mathematics, and illustrated in colour throughout, this book is suitable for self-study and will appeal to amateur enthusiasts as well as undergraduate students. It contains numerous helpful learning features such as boxed summaries, student exercises with full solutions, and a glossary of terms. The book is also supported by a website hosting further teaching materials. |
Contents
II | 3 |
III | 23 |
IV | 24 |
V | 26 |
VI | 29 |
VII | 31 |
XI | 32 |
XII | 50 |
XXXIV | 189 |
XXXV | 194 |
XXXVI | 199 |
XXXVII | 201 |
XXXVIII | 202 |
XXXIX | 209 |
XL | 233 |
XLI | 242 |
XIII | 61 |
XIV | 72 |
XV | 82 |
XVI | 83 |
XVII | 94 |
XVIII | 109 |
XIX | 114 |
XX | 125 |
XXI | 127 |
XXII | 130 |
XXIII | 134 |
XXIV | 139 |
XXV | 145 |
XXVI | 148 |
XXVII | 152 |
XXVIII | 156 |
XXIX | 157 |
XXX | 161 |
XXXI | 170 |
XXXII | 173 |
XXXIII | 185 |
Other editions - View all
An Introduction to the Solar System Neil McBride,Iain Gilmour,Philip A. Bland No preview available - 2004 |
An Introduction to the Solar System David A. Rothery,Neil McBride,Iain Gilmour No preview available - 2011 |
Common terms and phrases
abundances accretion asteroid belt asthenosphere atoms basalt carbon carbonaceous chondrites chemical chondrules cloud collisions cometary comets condensation convection core crust cryovolcanic density depleted disc distance dust particles Earth Earth's atmosphere ejecta elements energy enriched equator eruption column formation fragments Galileo gases geological giant planets gravitational Hadley cell helium hydrogen impact craters inner Solar System isotope compositions Jupiter kilometres lava flows layers liquid lithosphere lunar magma magnetic field magnetosphere mantle Mars Martian mass material Mercury meteorites meteoroid minerals molecules Moon NASA observed occur ocean orbit outer partial melting peridotite planetary bodies planetary embryos planetesimals Pluto pressure produced pyroclastic QUESTION radiation radius region relative result rock rocky rotation satellites semimajor axis shows silicate solar nebula Solar System solar wind spacecraft spectrum speed stars surface tectonic Telescope temperature terrestrial planets tidal heating Uranus Uranus and Neptune velocity Venus volatile volcanic wavelength