Planetary Science The Science of Planets around Stars, Second Edition

Since the publication of the popular first edition, stellar and planetary scientists have produced numerous new observations, theories, and interpretations, including the "demotion" of our former ninth planet Pluto as a dwarf planet. Covering all of these new discoveries, Planetary Science: The Science of Planets around Stars, Second Edition explains the science associated with the planets, the stars they orbit, and the interactions between them. It examines the formation, evolution, and death of stars and the properties of the Sun that influence the planets of the Solar System. Along with more problems, this second edition adds new material and improves some analytical treatments. The book consists of two main components. For students unfamiliar with stellar properties or the overall structure of the Solar System, the first part gives a general picture of the system as a whole and the interrelationships of the bodies within it. It presents an overview of the nature of stars and the Solar System as well as important results obtained by scientific analysis. The second component is a set of 43 appendices describing the majority of the underlying science required to explain the main features of the Solar System. These appendices cover a variety of specialized topics, from mineralogy to the mechanical interactions of radiation and matter. End-of-chapter problems give students a quantitative understanding of stellar and solar system phenomena. The text shows how useful estimates of various quantities can be made even when characteristics of the system are not known with any precision. While the problems can be completed with a hand calculator, students are encouraged to use the Fortran computer programs provided on the book’s CRC Press web page. Avoiding excessive details, this textbook offers a comprehensive account of stellar and planetary topics. It is suitable for students from a range of disciplines, including astronomy, geology, and earth sciences. The book provides students with an understanding of the nature of the Solar System and the influences that govern its behavior, helping them develop an appreciation of the forces that can influence our planet in the future.

Unity of the UniverseCosmic Abundance of the Chemical ElementsSome Examples The Sun and Other StarsThe Galaxy, Field Stars, Binaries, and ClustersComposition of StarsInterstellar MediumDense Cool CloudsHeating and Cooling of Galactic GasesScenario for Producing a Dark Cool CloudFormation of a Galactic ClusterMain-Sequence Stars and Their EvolutionStars, Brown Dwarfs, and PlanetsStellar Planetary Systems The PlanetsOverview of the PlanetsOrbital MotionsOrbits of the PlanetsPlanetary Structures: General Considerations The Terrestrial PlanetsMercuryVenus EarthMars The Major PlanetsJupiterSaturn UranusNeptune The MoonPhysical Characteristics of the MoonEarth–Moon InteractionsLunar and Solar EclipsesLunar SurfaceInterior of the MoonLunar MagnetismSome Indications of Lunar HistoryMoon Summary Satellites and RingsTypes of SatellitesSatellites of MarsSatellites of JupiterSatellites of SaturnSatellites of UranusSatellites of NeptuneRing SystemsGeneral Observations AsteroidsGeneral CharacteristicsTypes of Asteroid OrbitDistribution of Asteroid Orbits: Kirkwood GapsCompositions and Possible Origins of Asteroids Comets and the Kuiper BeltTypes of Comet OrbitPhysical Structure of CometsOort CloudKuiper Belt MeteoritesIntroductionStony MeteoritesStony IronsIron MeteoritesAges of MeteoritesIsotopic Anomalies in Meteorites Dust in the Solar SystemMeteor ShowersZodiacal Light and GegenscheinRadiation Pressure and the Poynting–Robertson Effect Theories of the Origin and Evolution of the Solar SystemCoarse Structure of the Solar SystemDistribution of Angular MomentumOther Features of the Solar SystemLaplace Nebula TheoryJeans’ Tidal TheorySolar Nebula TheoryCapture TheoryIdeas on the Evolution of the Solar SystemPlanetary CollisionEarth and VenusAsteroids, Comets, Meteorites, and Dwarf PlanetsOrigin of the MoonMars and MercuryNeptune, Triton, Pluto and CharonIsotopic Anomalies in MeteoritesGeneral Comments on a Planetary Collision Appendix A: Electromagnetic Radiation: Detecting Atoms, Ions, Molecules, and RadicalsAppendix B: Basic MineralogyAppendix C: Geochronology: Radioactive DatingAppendix D: Virial TheoremAppendix E: Jeans’ Critical MassAppendix F: Free-Fall CollapseAppendix G: Evolution of ProtostarsAppendix H: Equilibrium of Stars on the Main SequenceAppendix I: Energy Production in StarsAppendix J: Evolution of Stars away from the Main SequenceAppendix K: White Dwarfs, Neutron Stars, and Black HolesAppendix L: Exoplanets: Planets around Other StarsAppendix M: Solar System Studies to the Beginning of the Seventeenth Century Appendix N: Newton, Kepler’s Laws, and Solar-System DynamicsAppendix O: Formation of Commensurate Planetary OrbitsAppendix P: Atmosphere of the EarthAppendix Q: Physics of Planetary InteriorsAppendix R: Transfer of HeatAppendix S: Seismology: The Interior of the EarthAppendix T: Moments of InertiaAppendix U: Gravitational Field of a Distorted PlanetAppendix V: Precession of the Earth’s Spin AxisAppendix W: Intrinsic Planetary MagnetismAppendix X: Magnetic Interactions between Planet and StarAppendix Y: Planetary AlbedosAppendix Z: Physics of TidesAppendix AA: Darwin’s Theory of Lunar OriginAppendix AB: Roche Limit and Satellite DisruptionAppendix AC: Tidal Heating of IoAppendix AD: Ram Pressure of a Gas StreamAppendix AE: Trojan AsteroidsAppendix AF: Heating by AccretionAppendix AG: Perturbations of the Oort CloudAppendix AH: Radiation Pressure and the Poynting–Robertson EffectAppendix AI: Analyses Associated with the Jeans’ Tidal TheoryAppendix AJ: Viscous-Disk Mechanism for the Transfer of Angular MomentumAppendix AK: Magnetic Braking of the Spinning SunAppendix AL: Safronov Theory of Planet FormationAppendix AM: Eddington Accretion MechanismAppendix AN: Life on Earth: And Elsewhere? Appendix AO: Global WarmingAppendix AP: Migration of Planetary OrbitsAppendix AQ: Interactions in an Embedded Cluster Program TIDE Program TROJANS Physical Constants and Useful Data References Index Problems appear at the end of each chapter.