Satellites of the Outer Planets

Each of the moons of the outer planets from Jupiter to Neptune is a "world in its own right". There are volcanoes, troughs cut by fault movements and craters caused by collisions with space debris. This book sets out to describe and explain these phenomena, treating each moon individually.

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The author here casts a geological eye over the major satellites of the outer planets (from Jupiter to Neptune), and shows that each one is a distinctive member of a family of worlds. He draws attention to the similarities and differences between them, and discusses in particular how tectonic and volcanic processes have shaped their rigid outer layers, driven by heat from within. The text is illustrated with close-up images from the Voyager space probes and explanatory line drawings. Written at an introductory level, the book should be of use to those who wish to know more about our solar system. It explains to astronomers what interests planetary geologists about these bodies, and opens a window for geologists by showing them a host of geological processes occurring on other worlds.