Solar System Astrophysics (eBook)

Preface 5
Acknowledgments 7
Contents 9
10. Planetary Atmospheres 16
10.1 Atmospheric Constituents 16
10.2 Atmospheric Structure 19
10.3 Circulation in the Atmosphere 26
10.4 Atmospheric E.ects on the Heat Budget 45
10.5 Planetary Circulation E.ects 53
References 69
Challenges 70
11. Planetary Ionospheres and Magnetospheres 71
11.1 Earth: Ionospheric Layers 71
11.2 Atmospheric and Ionospheric Chemistry on Mars and Venus 78
11.3 Solar Wind 83
11.4 Maxwell’s Equations and the Plasma Frequency 84
11.5 The Earth’s Magnetosphere 89
11.6 Electric Currents in the Ionosphere and Magnetosphere 104
11.7 Magnetospheres of Mercury, Venus, and Mars 121
References 129
Challenges 130
12. The Giant Planets 133
12.1 Jupiter 133
12.2 Saturn 142
12.3 Uranus 145
12.4 Neptune 147
12.5 Internal Pressures 150
12.6 Excess Radiation 151
12.7 Ionospheres of the Giant Planets 153
12.8 The Jovian Magnetosphere 154
References 162
Challenges 164
13. Satellite and Ring Systems 165
13.1 Satellites 165
13.2 Origins of Ring systems 203
13.3 Ring Structures 206
13.4 Orbital Stability of the Moons and the Case of Pluto 217
13.5 Origins of the Moons 221
References 221
Challenges 224
14. Comets and Meteors 226
14.1 Comets in History 226
14.2 Comet Designations 231
14.3 Cometary Orbits 233
14.4 Typical and Historically Important Comets 238
14.5 Cometary Structure 242
14.6 Cometary Composition 244
14.7 Origins of Comets 250
14.8 Cometary Demise 253
14.9 Meteor Showers 255
14.10 Meteors 256
14.11 Micrometeorites 262
14.12 Dust Destinies 264
References 266
Challenges 269
15. Meteorites, Asteroids and the Age and Origin of the Solar System 270
15.1 Stones from Heaven 270
15.2 Undi.erentiated Meteorites: the Chondrites 278
15.3 DSR Meteorites 286
15.4 Iron Meteorites 290
15.5 Ages and Origins of Meteorites 292
15.6 Other Sources of Evidence for Meteoritic Origins 297
15.7 Parent Bodies and the Asteroids 299
15.8 Implications for the Origin of the Solar System 315
15.9 The Solar Nebula 316
15.10 The Proto-Planetary Disk 318
References 320
Challenges 323
16. Extra-Solar Planetary Systems 325
16.1 Historical Perspective 325
16.2 Methods to Find Small”-Mass Companions 350
16.3 De.nitions of Planets and Brown Dwarfs 365
16.4 Extra-Solar Planets Detected or Strongly Suspected 368
16.5 Origins of Brown Dwarfs and Planets 379
References 383
Challenges 396
Index 398