Lives of the Planets: A Natural History of the Solar System - Softcover

Corfield, Richard

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0465028519 ISBN 13: 9780465028511

Publisher: Basic Books, 2012

Synopsis

Lives of the Planets is a sweeping tour of our solar system, from the sun and demoted Pluto, to the Kuiper Belt and beyond the edge of the interstellar void. From the Neolithic computer that is Stonehenge to Galileo's telescope to Kepler's latest search for life on other planets, Richard Corfield deftly describes the colorful history of humanity's unfolding discovery of our solar system's secrets.

In this era of unprecedented discovery, Lives of the Planets is a comprehensive survey of our growing knowledge and the history of how we got here.

About this title

About the Author:

Richard Corfield received his doctorate from Cambridge University and was previously an Earth Scientist and Science Writer at Oxford University. He is currently a Senior Lecturer and Researcher in the Centre for Earth, Planetary, Space and Astronomical Research at the Open University, where he was intimately involved in both the Beagle 2 and Huygensmissions. He is the author of two widely acclaimed books, The Silent Landscape and Architects of Eternity. He lives in Oxfordshire, England.

From Publishers Weekly:

Corfield (The Silent Landscape) paints a companionable guide on this tour of the solar system. With a subject spanning 4.6 billion years, many billions of miles and eight (well, maybe nine) planets, a host of moons, asteroids galore, a plethora of comets and more, it is not surprising that many of the details are not filled in. Nonetheless, there is much to grab the average reader. Corfield focuses in turn on each major item in the solar system. Chapters begin by discussing the early ideas humans had about each object and then move to the advances we've made over the past 50 years. Finally, Corfield synthesizes available knowledge and explains what we currently know and why we know it. Throughout, he does a good job of articulating why he believes the billions of dollars spent on space exploration have been worthwhile. Discussing the joint NASA/ESA Cassini-Huygens project to explore Saturn and Titan, one of its moons, Corfield says, We went to Titan because it seemed the world most similar to the Earth when our world was new. With his strong writing and expansive subject, it is impossible not to be infected with Corfield's enthusiasm for planetary science. 28 color photos. (July 9)
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About this edition

• Publisher: Basic Books
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0465028519
• ISBN 13: 9780465028511
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 304