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This textbook details basic principles of planetary science that help to unify the study of the solar system. It is organized in a hierarchical manner so that every chapter builds upon preceding ones.

Starting with historical perspectives on space exploration and the development of the scientific method, the book leads the reader through the solar system. Coverage explains that the origin and subsequent evolution of planets and their satellites can be explained by applications of certain basic principles of physics, chemistry, and celestial mechanics and that surface features of the solid bodies can be interpreted by principles of geology.

Introduction to Planetary Science: The Geological Perspective

Preface1. The urge to explore2. From speculation to understanding3. The planets of the solar system4. Life and death of stars5. Origin of the solar system6. The earth: model of planetary evolution7. The clockwork of the solar system8. Meteorites and impact craters9. The Earth-Moon system10. Mercury: too hot for comfort11. Venus: planetary evolution gone bad12. Mars: the little planet that could13. Asteroids: shattered worlds14. Jupiter: heavy-weight champion15. Galilean satellites: jewels of the solar system16. Saturn: the beauty of rings17. Titan: an ancient world in deep freeze18. Uranus: what happened here?19. Neptune: more surprises20. Pluto and Charon: the odd couple21. Ice worlds at the outer limit22. Comets: coming inside from the cold23. Earth: the cradle of humans24. Brown-dwarf stars and extrasolar planetsAppendix I. Mathematical equations used in astronomyAppendix II. Summaries of physical and orbital parametersGlossaryAuthor IndexSubject Index