In 350 B.C.E., Aristotle, the great Greek philosopher, wrote that the Earth is the center of the solar system, and that all the other bodies in the solar system orbit the Earth while set into a complex series of spheres. However, in 1514 C.E., Nicolas Copernicus, a Prussian scientist and canon in the Catholic church, challenged these previous beliefs, theorizing that the center of the universe is not the Earth, but the Sun, that the distance from the Earth to the Sun is imperceptible compared to the distance to the stars, and that the apparent retrograde motion of the planets is due to observing them from the orbiting Earth. In a single, informative reference, "The Sun, Mercury, and Venus" discusses the innermost solar system and the importance of the Sun's energy on orbiting bodies. As the closest planet to the Sun, Mercury is the least visited of terrestrial planets and is difficult to see because it is always close to the Sun from the Earth's perspective. The Sun's brightness either damages instruments that attempt to see Mercury, or simply makes Mercury a dim and ill-resolved speck next to the limb of the Sun. This volume also covers the geological characteristics of Venus in relation to the Sun and the rest of the solar system. Perfect for those interested in understanding the science and history behind the exploration of these three celestial bodies, this volume puts a new spin on this exciting area of planetary science.

In antiquity, Jupiter and Saturn formed a part of mankind's understanding of the gods, but toward the end of the Renaissance in the 17th century, the invention of the telescope allowed scientists to reform their ideas about these orbital bodies in the solar system. Because of their immense size and prominence, Jupiter and Saturn were immediate targets for observation by early astronomers. In a single, informative reference, "Jupiter and Saturn" discusses what is known and still unknown about Jupiter 200 years later in the development of telescopes and astronomy, as well as Saturn's interior structure, heat production, and magnetic field. This volume also explores the orbital movements of Jupiter in the solar system and its internal and external composition, movements, and temperatures, as well as Saturn's extensive ring system. Perfect for those interested in understanding the science and history behind the exploration of Jupiter and Saturn, this volume provides a detailed look into the geological profiles of these planets as they relate to the rest of the solar system.

Unlike all the planets closer to the Sun, known since antiquity, the farthest reaches are discoveries of the modern world. Uranus was discovered in 1781; Neptune, 1846; Pluto, 1930; the Kuiper belt group of objects, 1992; and though the Oort cloud had been theorized since 1950, its first member was just found in 2004. The discovery of the outer planets made such an impact on mankind that they were immortalized in the names of the newly discovered elements: uranium, neptunium, and plutonium. In a single, informative reference, "Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and the Outer Solar System" discusses what data there is on the distant gas planets and investigates theories about their formation and evolution. It also touches on the fact that Pluto and its moon Charon are part of a much larger population of icy and rocky bodies now known as the Kuiper belt and describes what is known about the Oort cloud, along with the reasoning that led to its theorization and the technology that has allowed its actual discovery. Perfect for those interested in understanding the science and history behind the exploration of these celestial bodies, this volume brings the mystery of the outer solar system to the forefront.