Solar System Astrophysics: Background Science and the Inner Solar System

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Springer Science & Business Media, Apr 3, 2008 - Science - 258 pages

It presents equations and derivations starting from a level that permits one to see the underlying physical ideas. There is no other book that does this on the market.

The book presents an up-to-date overview on all essential topics but is concise where possible to keep it a practical resource for courses.

The book is based on extensive experience in the class room. Its contents have been field-tested for years by students.

 

Selected pages

Contents

Perceptions of the Solar System in History
1
Basic Tools and Concepts
9
211 The Law of Cosines for a Spherical Triangle
11
212 Law of Sines for a Spherical Triangle
15
213 Other Laws
16
22 Properties of Ellipses
23
Celestial Mechanics
30
32 Orbital Elements
35
Rocks and Minerals
149
712 Sedimentary Rocks
150
72 Minerals
151
722 Crystal Density
155
7232 Octahedral Holes
156
725 Mineral Names
157
726 Composition of the Earths Crust
158
727 OxygentoSilicon Ratio in Chemical Symbols
159

33 The Restricted ThreeBody System
37
34 Computation of Ephemerides
38
35 Keplers Equation
41
36 Uses and Limitations of Two and ThreeBody Solutions
45
37 SpinOrbit Coupling
47
372 Effect of Tidal Friction on Orbits
49
373 Resonances and Commensurabilities
50
38 Perturbations
52
382 Deriving the Variation in the Orbital Elements
53
The Core of the Solar System The Sun
61
42 The Sun as a Star in the Milky Way Galaxy
62
43 Observable Properties of the Quiet Sun
65
44 The Suns Radiation
66
442 Black Body Radiation
70
443 Flux and Intensity
71
444 Observed Radiative Properties of the Sun
73
45 The Photosphere
74
451 Opacity and Optical Depth
75
452 CentertoLimb Variation
76
453 Granulation and the Convection Zone
79
454 Other Photospheric Features
80
46 The Chromosphere
81
47 The Corona
84
48 Line Absorption and Emission
85
49 Helioseismology
87
General Properties of the Terrestrial Planets
95
52 Bulk Properties
96
53 Gravitational Potential Fields
98
54 Structure of the Earth
101
541 Seismic Studies
102
542 The AdamsWilliamson Equation
107
543 Moments of Inertia
111
544 Models of the Interior
113
5441 The Size of the Earths Core
114
5443 Noniron Composition of the Core
115
5444 The Inner Core
117
5445 Formation of the Inner Core
118
55 Planetary Surfaces
122
552 Observing Planetary Surfaces
124
Properties of Legendre Polynomials and Associated Legendre Functions
126
Planetary Heat Flow and Temperatures
129
611 Sources of Internal Heat
130
6112 Ongoing Processes
132
612 Methods of Energy Transport
133
6123 Nature of the Convection
134
6124 Temperature Gradient
136
613 Heat Conduction
137
614 Energy Generation
138
615 Equilibrium
139
616 Central Temperature of the Earth
141
63 Solar Heating
142
5 Ratio
160
3 Ratio
161
73 Mineral Content of Igneous Rocks
162
731 Classification of Rocks by Mineral Content
164
74 Phase Transitions
165
7413 Silicate Ilmenite
166
7415 Phase Diagram for Pyroxene
168
75 Densities of Minerals
170
77 Relationship of Phase Diagrams to Seismic Discontinuities
171
78 The CoreMantle Boundary and the D Layer
172
The Moons Surface Structure and Evolution
174
8112 GammaRay Spectrometry
176
82 Lunar Surface Characteristics
177
821 Regolith
178
823 Impact Melts
179
824 Terrae Highlands
180
8243 Highland Rock Types
181
8251 Mineral Composition of Mare Basalts
182
83 Seismic Results
184
831 Upper 25 km
185
833 2560 km Depth
187
835 Lithosphere
188
8411 Rapid Accretion of the Moon
189
8431 First Stage
190
8434 Third Stage
191
85 Dynamical History of the Moon
192
Surface Science of the Terrestrial Planets
197
912 Mercurys Orbit
199
913 Mercurys Physical Properties
200
914 Mercurys Origin
204
921 Visibility and General Properties
207
922 Types of Surface
210
212 9 Surface of the Terrestrial Planets
212
9233 Comparative Plate Tectonics Earth Vs Venus
214
924 Magellan Spacecraft Results
219
925 Crust
220
926 Tectonics on Venus
221
927 Surface Information from the Soviet Landers
223
9274 Composition at the Soviet Lander Sites
224
928 Interior Heat Budget of Venus
225
9291 Advection
226
9293 Plate Tectonics
227
93 Mars
228
932 Global Terrain
229
9322 Canyons Channels and Related Features
231
9323 Other types of terrain
235
933 Evidence of Climate Change on the Martian Surface
238
934 The Evidence for Past Life on Mars
243
Index
248
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