The Cambridge planetary handbook

The Cambridge Planetary Handbook is an invaluable reference text, bringing together key facts and data on the planets and their satellites, discoverers and researchers. It summarises many centuries' worth of data, from the earliest observations of the planets through to the most recent spaceprobe findings. The author discusses the history, mythology and theories of the main objects in our solar system, and provides a comprehensive information section with accurate and up-to-date data on the planets. The book contains excellent photography and explanatory illustrations, along with numerous historical drawings from Galileo, Huygens, Herschel and other astronomers. This book is a must for all astronomy enthusiasts, as well as academic researchers, students and teachers. Those unfamiliar with the sky will find this a user-friendly guide written in clear, non-technical language.

• Preface p. vii
• Acknowledgements p. ix
• Part 1 Lists
• Planets
• Albedo p. 5
• Angular size p. 6
• Atmospheric composition p. 7
• Atmospheric pressure p. 10
• Brightness and size of the Sun from each planet p. 11
• Brilliancy at opposition p. 12
• Cloud features p. 13
• Constellations visited by the Moon and planets p. 14
• Density p. 15
• Distances from Earth p. 16
• Distances from Sun p. 17
• Eccentricity p. 18
• Escape velocity p. 19
• Future dates of conjunction p. 20
• Future dates of opposition p. 24
• Future significant alignments p. 26
• Future transits p. 29
• Inclination of orbit p. 30
• Magnetic field strength and orientation p. 31
• Mass p. 34
• Named features on the planets and the Moon p. 35
• Names of the planets, Sun and Moon around the world p. 44
• Oblateness p. 46
• Orbital period p. 47
• Orbital velocity p. 48
• Rotational period p. 49
• Rotational velocity (equatorial) p. 50
• Size p. 51
• Solar irradiance p. 52
• Speed of light travel times p. 53
• Surface gravity p. 54
• Synodic period p. 55
• Temperature range p. 56
• Tilt of axis p. 57
• Volume p. 58
• Wind speeds p. 59
• Satellites
• Albedo p. 63
• Density p. 65
• Discoverers and dates of discovery p. 67
• Distance from planet p. 69
• Eccentricity p. 71
• Inclination of orbit p. 73
• Mass p. 75
• Orbital period p. 77
• Size p. 79
• Part 2 Planets
• Mercury p. 83
• Venus p. 105
• Earth p. 134
• Mars p. 165
• Jupiter p. 203
• Saturn p. 232
• Uranus p. 261
• Neptune p. 276
• Pluto p. 297
• Appendix A Short biographies of some astronomers p. 310
• Appendix B Unit conversion table p. 315
• Glossary p. 316
• References and sources p. 334
• Index p. 335