Planetary Sciences

An authoritative introduction for graduate students in the physical sciences, this award-winning textbook explains the wide variety of physical, chemical, and geological processes that govern the motions and properties of planets. This updated second edition has been revised and improved while maintaining its existing structure and organization. Many data tables and plots have been updated to account for the latest measurements. A new Appendix focuses on recent discoveries since the second edition was first published. These include results from Cassini, Kepler, MESSENGER, MRO, LRO, Dawn at Vesta, Curiosity, and others, as well as many ground-based observatories. With over 300 exercises to help students apply the concepts covered, this textbook is ideal for graduate courses in astronomy, planetary science and earth science, and well suited as a reference for researchers. Color versions of many figures, movie clips supplementing the text, and other resources are available at www.cambridge.org/depater.

1. Introduction -- 2. Dynamics -- 3. Solar Heating and Energy Transport -- 4. Planetary Atmospheres -- 5. Planetary Surfaces -- 6. Planetary Interiors -- 7. Magnetic Fields and Plasmas -- 8. Meteorites -- 9. Minor Planets -- 10. Comets -- 11. Planetary Rings -- 12. Extrasolar Planets -- 13. Planet Formation -- Appendix A: List of Symbols Used -- Appendix B: Acronyms Used -- Appendix C: Units and Constants -- Appendix D: Periodic Table of Elements -- Appendix E: Observing Techniques -- Appendix F: Interplanetary Spacecraft -- Appendix G: Recent Developments in Planetary Sciences.