- Summarizes current knowledge of water in the universe and discusses its importance for life
- Discusses water from chemical, biological and physical perspectives
- Includes a brief overview of the role of water in human history
- Easy-to-read presentation with many illustrative figures
- Astrophysical background knowledge presented in an appendix
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- About this book
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Due to its specific chemical and physical properties, water is essential for life on Earth. And it is assumed that this would be the case for extraterrestrial life as well. Therefore it is important to investigate where water can be found in the Universe. Although there are places that are completely dry, places where the last rainfall happened probably several 100 million years ago, surprisingly this substance is quite omnipresent. In the outer solar system the large satellites of Jupiter and Saturn are covered by a thick layer of ice that could be hiding a liquid ocean below. This of course brings up the question of whether the recently detected extrasolar planets could have some water on their surfaces and how we can detect this. Water molecules are also found in interstellar gas and dust clouds. This book begins with an introductory chapter reviewing the physical and chemical properties of water. Then it illuminates the apparent connection between water and life. This is followed by chapters dealing with our current knowledge of water in the solar system, followed by a discussion concerning the potential presence and possible detection of water on exoplanets. The signature of water in interstellar space and stars are reviewed before the origin of water in the Universe is finally discussed. The book ends with an appendix on detection methods, satellite missions and astrophysical concepts touched upon in the main parts of the book. The search for water in the Universe is related to the search for extraterrestrial life and is of fundamental importance for astrophysics, astrobiology and other related topics. This book therefore addresses students and researchers in these fields.
- Table of contents (9 chapters)
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Water on Earth, Properties of Water
Pages 1-24
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Life and Water
Pages 25-36
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Water on Planets and Dwarf Planets
Pages 37-69
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Satellites of Planets in the Solar System
Pages 71-103
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Water on Small Solar System Bodies
Pages 105-127
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Table of contents (9 chapters)
- Download Preface 1 PDF (50.5 KB)
- Download Sample pages 2 PDF (519.8 KB)
- Download Table of contents PDF (69.6 KB)
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Bibliographic Information
- Bibliographic Information
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- Book Title
- Water in the Universe
- Authors
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- Arnold Hanslmeier
- Series Title
- Astrophysics and Space Science Library
- Series Volume
- 368
- Copyright
- 2011
- Publisher
- Springer Netherlands
- Copyright Holder
- Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
- eBook ISBN
- 978-90-481-9984-6
- DOI
- 10.1007/978-90-481-9984-6
- Hardcover ISBN
- 978-90-481-9983-9
- Softcover ISBN
- 978-94-007-3356-5
- Series ISSN
- 0067-0057
- Edition Number
- 1
- Number of Pages
- XIV, 242
- Topics
