The Solar System in Close-Up

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiv

   PDF

2. The New Solar System

   • John Wilkinson

   Pages 1-24

3. Space Probes and Telescopes

   • John Wilkinson

   Pages 25-46

4. The Dominant Sun

   • John Wilkinson

   Pages 47-68

5. Mercury: The Iron Planet

   • John Wilkinson

   Pages 69-83

6. Venus: A Hot, Toxic Planet

   • John Wilkinson

   Pages 85-101

7. Earth: The Planet of Life

   • John Wilkinson

   Pages 103-128

8. Mars: The Red Planet

   • John Wilkinson

   Pages 129-150

9. The Asteroid Belt

   • John Wilkinson

   Pages 151-167

10. Jupiter: The Gas Giant

    • John Wilkinson

    Pages 169-188

11. Saturn: The Ringed Planet

    • John Wilkinson

    Pages 189-213

12. Uranus: The Coldest Planet

    • John Wilkinson

    Pages 215-232

13. Neptune: Another Cold World

    • John Wilkinson

    Pages 233-248

14. Beyond Neptune: TNO’s and Comets

    • John Wilkinson

    Pages 249-279

15. Back Matter

    Pages 281-291

    PDF

In response to the new information gained about the Solar System from recent space probes and space telescopes, the experienced science author Dr. John Wilkinson presents the state-of-the art knowledge on the Sun, solar system planets and small solar system objects like comets and asteroids. He also describes space missions like the New Horizon’s space probe that provided never seen before pictures of the Pluto system; the Dawn space probe, having just visited the asteroid Vesta, and the dwarf planet Ceres; and the Rosetta probe inorbit around comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko that has sent extraordinary and most exciting pictures. Those and a number of other probes are also changing our understanding of the solar system and providing a wealth of new up close photos. This book will cover all these missions and discuss observed surface features of planets and moons like their compositions, geisers, aurorae, lightning phenomena etc.Presenting the fascinating aspects of solar system astronomy this book is a complete guide to the Solar System for amateur astronomers, students, science educators and interested members of the public.

• Comet Churyumov–Gerasimenko
• Guide to the Solar System
• Messenger spacecraft
• Philae Robotic Lander
• Planet Mercury
• Planetary Missions
• Rosetta Space Probe
• Solar System Explained
• Space Missions

“Each chapter begins with bullet points of chapter highlights, followed by copious detail on the subjects … many excellent images, some tables, and useful diagrams. … All references are web links (mostly to NASA). Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates, general readers.” (M.-K. Hemenway, Choice, Vol. 54 (4), December, 2016)

• Castlemaine, Australia

  John Wilkinson

Dr. John Wilkinson is an experienced science author having recently written  “The Moon in Close-up” (Springer 2010),  and “New eyes on the Sun” (Springer 2012) and 100+ science textbooks published for Australian schools.  Science textbooks have been published by Macmillan Australia and Oxford University Press (Australia).
John is a science educator and former university lecturer in Physics and Science Education, 30 years as a secondary science teacher.  He writes regular Astronomy articles for Australian Science Teachers Journal, Lab Talk, and Australian Astronomy magazines.
John completed his Masters degree and PhD in science education at LaTrobe University, Melbourne. He has research interests in science education and astronomy.

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