Moons and Planets: An Introduction to Planetary Science

by William K. Hartmann

Book Overview

Written by a well-known author, scientist, and painter, Moon and Planets remains a unique classic in the field through its organization by physical subjects, such as planetary surfaces, planetary interiors, atmosphere, etc. Only this approach allows true comparative planetology (i.e., presentation of general physical principles, such as volcanism, tectonic evolution, mantle convection, cratering processes, and atmosphere temperature structure, followed...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 053418894X
• ISBN13: 9780534188948
• Release Date: July 1992
• Publisher: Brooks Cole
• Length: 500 Pages
• Weight: 2.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 7.6" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

A Solar System Reference Book for the Rest of Us!

The first time I read this book was when one of my graduate teachers asked me to review it. While he thought it to basic for graduate-level work, I have used this book ever since, for students of all ages. Well written and illustrated with black- & -white pictures as well as the author's own well-respected artwork, it covers so much in such a small book it's hard to believe. The appendix of plantary data is up-to-date & comprehensive, lacking only some of the more esoteric elements (like the moment of inertia factor and J2 moment - if you don't know what those are, you won't miss them). Best at an undergraduate level, no math is required; all the math is set aside in boxes from the text, ready to use when the reader is ready but not required for a firm understanding of the subject at hand. And while it's clearly written as a textbook, it's far better reading than your average college text on the subject. While there are many "overview" books on the market, this is one of the best in my opinion; while I like and use more flashy texts like "The New Solar System", this is the one that I go back to again & again to review the basics or perform a simple calculation.