An Introduction to the Solar System - Couverture souple

'An Introduction to the Solar System is clearly written, accurate, up-to-date, well-produced and a pleasure to read. It is a first rate production by a team of professionals, clearly designed for teaching and up to the high standards of The Open University. The many questions that are posed throughout the text (with answers at the back) make it an ideal teaching text. As a beginning text at an undergraduate level, it is hard to fault this book and I suspect that it will be widely used in introductory courses.' Professor S. Ross Taylor, Australian National University

'Of all the planetary science textbooks on my shelf, this is my new favourite. It is up to date, lavishly illustrated and engagingly written at a level that would challenge but not overwhelm the typical undergraduate. It is comprehensive and well-written. Undergraduates will find it educational and senior researchers will find topics outside their fields of expertise lucidly explained.' Dr Alan Rubin, University of California, Los Angeles

'This textbook gives a comprehensive review of the various objects and processes of the Solar System. It succeeds very well in conveying and explaining all the basic information and concepts on the planetary system, and it is as up to date as can be expected in this rapidly evolving field. The layout is clear and intuitive, the writing style is accessible, and calculations are given while avoiding complex mathematics. I highly recommend this book to anybody who wants to have an up-to-date introduction to the planetary sciences.' Professor Christian Koeberl, University of Vienna

'5/5 stars: A must-have for anyone interested in learning more about planetary science.' BBC Sky at Night Magazine

'The rapid increase in knowledge of the Solar System, mostly from space missions, well merits the present revision after only seven years. This is an excellent textbook, well up to the standard of other Open University texts, and could well be used at other universities. It also provides a valuable reference book for specialists in other fields.' The Observatory

'... engaging and well-structured ... ideal for introductory courses on the subject and is suitable for self-study.' Spaceflight

Major leaps in space technology now allow us to view the splendour and diversity of the Solar System in remarkable detail. This textbook presents a fascinating description of the bodies in the Solar System and their origin and evolution. It highlights important concepts and techniques in boxed summaries. There are questions and answers throughout the text, as well as exercises with full solutions. Written and edited by practising planetary scientists, this new edition has been updated to reflect current knowledge and contains new figures to bring it up to date. It is ideal for introductory courses on the subject and is suitable for self-study. Online resources include electronic versions of figures from the book, sample assignments with suggested answers and links to websites featuring video clips and news stories related to the textbook.