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This series provides a vehicle for the publication of advances in planetary science research. It includes reference volumes and postgraduate-level books on the terrestrial and gas giant planets and their satellites; asteroids; comets; meteorites; Solar System evolution; the interplanetary medium; and extra-solar planets.

  • Editorial Boards: Jim Bell, Leigh Fletcher, David Jewitt, Ralph Lorenz, Francis Nimmo, David Vokrouhlický

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27 results in Cambridge Planetary Science

Page 1 of 2

Ordinary Chondrites
  • The Most Common Meteorites
  • Alan E. Rubin
  • Coming soon
  • Expected online publication date:
    April 2026
    Print publication:
    30 April 2026
  • Ordinary chondrites, the most abundant meteorites, constitute about 80% of meteorite falls and are essential to our understanding of cosmochemistry. They provide important information about planetary accretion, the early Solar System, and the geological history of asteroids, including such processes as thermal metamorphism, shock metamorphism, and aqueous alteration. This comprehensive guide begins with meteorite classifications and useful definitions, followed by a discussion of fall phenomena and terrestrial weathering. It provides a detailed overview of the three main ordinary-chondrite groups, which include the most primitive, least-processed meteorites known. Compositional differences among these samples furnish clues to the nature of processes operating in the solar nebula 4.5 billion years ago. These rocks also disclose information on the nature and origin of chondrules, matrix material, and metallic iron-nickel grains. This book is a valuable resource for graduate students and research professionals interested in meteorites and planetary science, as well as amateur meteorite enthusiasts.

Martian Impact Craters
  • A Morphological Perspective
  • Peter J. Mouginis-Mark, Joseph M. Boyce
  • Coming soon
  • Expected online publication date:
    October 2025
    Print publication:
    30 October 2025
  • Our exploration of Mars has revealed a world as fascinating as Earth, with a changing climate, giant volcanoes, former oceans, polar ice caps, and numerous impact craters. This book provides a comprehensive summary of the morphology and distribution of meteorite craters on Mars, and the wealth of information these can provide on the crustal structure, surface geology, climate and evolution of the planet. The chapters present highly illustrated case studies of landforms associated with impact craters to highlight their morphological diversity, using high-resolution images and topographic data to compare these features with those on other bodies in the Solar System. Including research questions to inspire future work, this book will be valuable for researchers and graduate students interested in impact craters (both terrestrial and extra-terrestrial) and Mars geology, as well as planetary geologists, planetary climatologists and astrobiologists.

Ganymede
  • Edited by Martin Volwerk, Melissa McGrath, Xianzhe Jia, Tilman Spohn
  • Published online:
    03 February 2025
    Print publication:
    20 February 2025
  • With ESA's upcoming JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE) mission to Jupiter and Ganymede, this book provides a fascinating and timely summary of our current knowledge about Ganymede: the largest moon in the Solar System and the only one with an intrinsic magnetic field. Written by a team of multidisciplinary experts spanning geology, space physics and habitability, it provides up-to-date knowledge about Ganymede. The history of its discovery, formation, surface, atmosphere and space environment are discussed in accessible language and supported by the enormous amount of data obtained by Galileo, the Hubble Space Telescope and earlier missions. The latest surface maps of Ganymede are also presented, providing an invaluable reference for graduate students and researchers working in planetary science.

Vesta and Ceres
  • Insights from the Dawn Mission for the Origin of the Solar System
  • Edited by Simone Marchi, Carol A. Raymond, Christopher T. Russell
  • Published online:
    01 April 2022
    Print publication:
    31 March 2022
  • The NASA Dawn mission, launched in 2007, aimed to visit two of the most massive protoplanets of the main asteroid belt: Vesta and Ceres. The aim was to further our understanding of the earliest days of the Solar System, and compare the two bodies to better understand their formation and evolution. This book summarises state-of-the-art results from the mission, and discusses the implications for our understanding not only of the asteroid belt but the entire Solar System. It comprises of three parts: Part 1 provides an overview of the main belt asteroids and provides an introduction to the Dawn mission; Part 2 presents key findings from the mission; and Part 3 discusses how these findings provide insights into the formation and evolution of the Solar System. This is a definitive reference for academic researchers and professionals of planetary science, asteroid science and space exploration.

Meteorite Mineralogy
  • Alan Rubin, Chi Ma
  • Published online:
    11 August 2021
    Print publication:
    05 August 2021
  • Meteorites are fascinating cosmic visitors. Using accessible language, this book documents the history of mineralogy and meteorite research, summarizes the mineralogical characteristics of the myriad varieties of meteorites, and explains the mineralogical characteristics of Solar System bodies visited by spacecraft.  Some of these bodies contain minerals that do not occur naturally on Earth or in meteorites. The book explains how to recognize different phases under the microscope and in back-scattered electron images.  It summarizes the major ways in which meteoritic minerals form – from condensation in the expanding atmospheres of dying stars to crystallization in deep-seated magmas, from flash-melting in the solar nebula to weathering in the terrestrial environment. Containing spectacular back-scattered electron images, colour photographs of meteorite minerals, and with an accompanying online list of meteorite minerals, this book provides a useful resource for meteorite researchers, terrestrial mineralogists, cosmochemists and planetary scientists, as well as graduate students in these fields

Remote Compositional Analysis
  • Techniques for Understanding Spectroscopy, Mineralogy, and Geochemistry of Planetary Surfaces
  • Edited by Janice L. Bishop, James F. Bell III, Jeffrey E. Moersch
  • Published online:
    15 November 2019
    Print publication:
    28 November 2019
  • How do planetary scientists analyze and interpret data from laboratory, telescopic, and spacecraft observations of planetary surfaces? What elements, minerals, and volatiles are found on the surfaces of our Solar System's planets, moons, asteroids, and comets? This comprehensive volume answers these topical questions by providing an overview of the theory and techniques of remote compositional analysis of planetary surfaces. Bringing together eminent researchers in Solar System exploration, it describes state-of-the-art results from spectroscopic, mineralogical, and geochemical techniques used to analyze the surfaces of planets, moons, and small bodies. The book introduces the methodology and theoretical background of each technique, and presents the latest advances in space exploration, telescopic and laboratory instrumentation, and major new work in theoretical studies. This engaging volume provides a comprehensive reference on planetary surface composition and mineralogy for advanced students, researchers, and professional scientists.

Meteoroids
  • Sources of Meteors on Earth and Beyond
  • Edited by Galina O. Ryabova, David J. Asher, Margaret D. Campbell-Brown
  • Published online:
    04 October 2019
    Print publication:
    10 October 2019
  • This definitive guide provides advanced students and researchers with a detailed yet accessible overview of all of the central topics of meteor science. Leading figures from the field summarise their active research on themes ranging from the physical composition of meteoroids to the most recent optical and radar observations and ongoing theoretical developments. Crucial practical issues are also considered, such as the risk posed by meteoroids - to spacecraft, and on the ground - and future avenues of research are explored. Taking advantage of the latest dynamical models, insights are offered into meteor flight phenomena and the evolution of meteoroid streams and complexes, as well as describing the in-depth laboratory analysis of recovered material. The rapid rate of progress in twenty-first-century research makes this volume essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand how recent developments broaden our understanding of meteors, meteoroids and their origins.

Spectroscopy and Photochemistry of Planetary Atmospheres and Ionospheres
  • Mars, Venus, Titan, Triton and Pluto
  • Vladimir A. Krasnopolsky
  • Published online:
    09 February 2019
    Print publication:
    14 February 2019
  • The chemical composition of any planetary atmosphere is of fundamental importance in determining its photochemistry and dynamics in addition to its thermal balance, climate, origin and evolution. Divided into two parts, this book begins with a set of introductory chapters, starting with a concise review of the Solar System and fundamental atmospheric physics. Chapters then describe the basic principles and methods of spectroscopy, the main tool for studying the chemical composition of planetary atmospheres, and of photochemical modeling and its use in the theoretical interpretation of observational data on chemical composition. The second part of the book provides a detailed review of the carbon dioxide atmospheres and ionospheres of Mars and Venus, and the nitrogen-methane atmospheres of Titan, Triton and Pluto. Written by an expert author, this comprehensive text will make a valuable reference for graduate students, researchers and professional scientists specializing in planetary atmospheres.

Saturn in the 21st Century
  • Edited by Kevin H. Baines, F. Michael Flasar, Norbert Krupp, Tom Stallard
  • Published online:
    13 December 2018
    Print publication:
    06 December 2018
  • The Cassini Orbiter mission, launched in 1997, has provided state-of-the-art information into the origins and workings of Saturn. Drawing from new discoveries and scientific insight from the mission, this book provides a detailed overview of the planet as revealed by Cassini. Chapters by eminent planetary scientists and researchers from across the world comprehensively review the current state of knowledge regarding Saturn's formation, interior, atmosphere, ionosphere, thermosphere and magnetosphere. Specialised chapters discuss the planet's seasonal variability; the circulation of strong zonal winds; the constantly changing polar aurorae; and the Great Storm of 2010–2011, the most powerful convective storm ever witnessed by humankind. Documenting the latest research on the planet, from its formation to how it operates today, this is an essential reference for graduate students, researchers and planetary scientists.

Mercury
  • The View after MESSENGER
  • Edited by Sean C. Solomon, Larry R. Nittler, Brian J. Anderson
  • Published online:
    10 December 2018
    Print publication:
    20 December 2018
  • Observations from the first spacecraft to orbit the planet Mercury have transformed our understanding of the origin and evolution of rocky planets. This volume is the definitive resource about Mercury for planetary scientists, from students to senior researchers. Topics treated in depth include Mercury's chemical composition; the structure of its crust, lithosphere, mantle, and core; Mercury's modern and ancient magnetic field; Mercury's geology, including the planet's major geological units and their surface chemistry and mineralogy, its spectral reflectance characteristics, its craters and cratering history, its tectonic features and deformational history, its volcanic features and magmatic history, its distinctive hollows, and the frozen ices in its polar deposits; Mercury's exosphere and magnetosphere and the processes that govern their dynamics and their interaction with the solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field; the formation and large-scale evolution of the planet; and current plans and needed capabilities to explore Mercury further in the future.

Chondrules
  • Records of Protoplanetary Disk Processes
  • Edited by Sara S. Russell, Harold C. Connolly Jr., Alexander N. Krot
  • Published online:
    30 June 2018
    Print publication:
    19 July 2018
  • Chondrules are spherical silicate grains which formed from protoplanetary disk material, and as such provide an important record of the conditions of the Solar System in pre-planetary times. Chondrules are a major constituent in chondritic meteorites, however despite being recognised for over 200 years, their origins remain enigmatic. This comprehensive review describes state-of-the-art research into chondrules, bringing together leading cosmochemists and astrophysicists to review the properties of chondrules and their possible formation mechanisms based on careful observations of their chemistry, mineralogy, petrology and isotopic composition. Current and upcoming space missions returning material from chondritic asteroids and cometary bodies has invigorated research in this field, leading to new models and observations, and providing new insight into the conditions and timescales of the solar protoplanetary disk. Presenting the most recent advances, this book is an invaluable reference for researchers and graduate students interested in meteorites, asteroids, planetary accretion and solar system dynamics.

Planetary Ring Systems
  • Properties, Structure, and Evolution
  • Edited by Matthew S. Tiscareno, Carl D. Murray
  • Published online:
    26 February 2018
    Print publication:
    22 March 2018
  • Planetary rings are among the most intriguing structures of our solar system and have fascinated generations of astronomers. Collating emerging knowledge in the field, this volume reviews our current understanding of ring systems with reference to the rings of Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and more. Written by leading experts, the history of ring research and the basics of ring–particle orbits is followed by a review of the known planetary ring systems. All aspects of ring system science are described in detail, including specific dynamical processes, types of structures, thermal properties and their origins, and investigations using computer simulations and laboratory experiments. The concluding chapters discuss the prospects of future missions to planetary rings, the ways in which ring science informs and is informed by the study of other astrophysical disks, and a perspective on the field's future. Researchers of all levels will benefit from this thorough and engaging presentation.

The Atmosphere and Climate of Mars
  • Edited by Robert M. Haberle, R. Todd Clancy, François Forget, Michael D. Smith, Richard W. Zurek
  • Published online:
    05 July 2017
    Print publication:
    29 June 2017
  • Humanity has long been fascinated by the planet Mars. Was its climate ever conducive to life? What is the atmosphere like today and why did it change so dramatically over time? Eleven spacecraft have successfully flown to Mars since the Viking mission of the 1970s and early 1980s. These orbiters, landers and rovers have generated vast amounts of data that now span a Martian decade (roughly eighteen years). This new volume brings together the many new ideas about the atmosphere and climate system that have emerged, including the complex interplay of the volatile and dust cycles, the atmosphere-surface interactions that connect them over time, and the diversity of the planet's environment and its complex history. Including tutorials and explanations of complicated ideas, students, researchers and non-specialists alike are able to use this resource to gain a thorough and up-to-date understanding of this most Earth-like of planetary neighbours.

Planetesimals
  • Early Differentiation and Consequences for Planets
  • Edited by Linda T. Elkins-Tanton, Benjamin P. Weiss
  • Published online:
    25 February 2017
    Print publication:
    26 January 2017
  • Processes governing the evolution of planetesimals are critical to understanding how rocky planets are formed, how water is delivered to them, the origin of planetary atmospheres, how cores and magnetic dynamos develop, and ultimately, which planets have the potential to be habitable. Theoretical advances and new data from asteroid and meteorite observations, coupled with spacecraft missions such as Rosetta and Dawn, have led to major advances in this field over the last decade. This transdisciplinary volume presents an authoritative overview of the latest in our understanding of the processes of planet formation. Combining meteorite, asteroid and icy body observations with theory and modelling of accretion and orbital dynamics, this text also provides insights into the exoplanetary system and the search for habitable worlds. This is an essential reference for those interested in planetary formation, solar system dynamics, exoplanets and planetary habitability.

Asteroids
  • Astronomical and Geological Bodies
  • Thomas H. Burbine
  • Published online:
    01 February 2017
    Print publication:
    15 December 2016
  • Asteroid science is a fundamental topic in planetary science and is key to furthering our understanding of planetary formation and the evolution of the Solar System. Ground-based observations and missions have provided a wealth of new data in recent years, and forthcoming missions promise further exciting results. This accessible book presents a comprehensive introduction to asteroid science, summarising the astronomical and geological characteristics of asteroids. The interdisciplinary nature of asteroid science is reflected in the broad range of topics covered, including asteroid and meteorite classification, chemical and physical properties of asteroids, observational techniques, cratering, and the discovery of asteroids and how they are named. Other chapters discuss past, present and future space missions and the threat that these bodies pose for Earth. Based on an upper-level course on asteroids and meteorites taught by the author, this book is ideal for students, researchers and professional scientists looking for an overview of asteroid science.

Volcanism on Io
  • A Comparison with Earth
  • Ashley Gerard Davies
  • Published online:
    05 October 2014
    Print publication:
    09 August 2007
  • The most powerful volcanoes in the Solar System are not on Earth, but on Io, a tiny moon of Jupiter. Whilst Earth and Io are the only bodies in the Solar System to have active, high-temperature volcanoes, those found on Io are larger, hotter, and more violent. This, the first book dedicated to volcanism on Io, contains the latest results from Galileo mission data analysis. As well as investigating the different styles and scales of volcanic activity on Io, it compares these volcanoes to their contemporaries on Earth. The book also provides a background to how volcanoes form and how they erupt, and explains quantitatively how remote-sensing data from spacecraft and telescopes are analysed to reveal the underlying volcanic processes. This richly illustrated book will be a fascinating reference for advanced undergraduates, graduate students and researchers in planetary sciences, volcanology, remote sensing and geology.

Planetary Rings
  • A Post-Equinox View
  • Larry W. Esposito
  • Published online:
    05 March 2014
    Print publication:
    06 March 2014
  • Fully updated and expanded, this new edition presents a cutting-edge summary of planetary rings, including results from Cassini's Saturn System, Equinox and Solstice missions, and the New Horizons flyby of Jupiter. The book introduces basic physical processes and simple mathematical approaches in an accessible manner, including N-body and stochastic models of ring dynamics. Further revised chapters present highlighted topics including Saturn's F ring, Uranus' rings and moons, Neptune's partial rings, dusty rings, and Jupiter's ring-moon system after Galileo and New Horizons. Cassini results are fully integrated throughout, including new images in color, and a new Afterword links ring images in the Cassini 'Hall of Fame' gallery to the relevant explanation in the text. An online cache of images and videos from NASA's collection makes it easy to locate relevant and beautiful illustrative materials. This is a key resource for students, researchers and professionals in planetary science, astronomy and space-mission research.

Titan
  • Interior, Surface, Atmosphere, and Space Environment
  • Edited by Ingo Müller-Wodarg, Caitlin A. Griffith, Emmanuel Lellouch, Thomas E. Cravens
  • Published online:
    05 January 2014
    Print publication:
    24 February 2014
  • Titan, the largest of Saturn's moons, shares remarkable similarities with Earth. Its thick atmosphere is composed primarily of nitrogen; it features the most complex organic chemistry known outside of Earth and, uniquely, hosts an analog to Earth's hydrological cycle, with methane forming clouds, rain and seas. Using the latest data from the ongoing Cassini–Huygens missions, laboratory measurements and numerical simulations, this comprehensive reference examines the physical processes that shape Titan's fascinating atmospheric structure and chemistry, weather, climate, circulation and surface geology. The text also surveys leading theories about Titan's origin and evolution, and assesses their implications for understanding the formation of other complex planetary bodies. Written by an international team of specialists, chapters offer detailed, comparative treatments of Titan's known properties and discuss the latest frontiers in the Cassini–Huygens mission, offering students and researchers of planetary science, geology, astronomy and space physics an insightful reference and guide.

Planetary Surface Processes
  • H. Jay Melosh
  • Published online:
    05 June 2012
    Print publication:
    25 August 2011
  • Planetary Surface Processes is the first advanced textbook to cover the full range of geologic processes that shape the surfaces of planetary-scale bodies. Using a modern, quantitative approach, this book reconsiders geologic processes outside the traditional terrestrial context. It highlights processes that are contingent upon Earth's unique circumstances and processes that are universal. For example, it shows explicitly that equations predicting the velocity of a river are dependent on gravity: traditional geomorphology textbooks fail to take this into account. This textbook is a one-stop source of information on planetary surface processes, providing readers with the necessary background to interpret new data from NASA, ESA and other space missions. Based on a course taught by the author at the University of Arizona for 25 years, it is aimed at advanced students, and is also an invaluable resource for researchers, professional planetary scientists and space-mission engineers.

Planetary Tectonics
  • Edited by Thomas R. Watters, Richard A. Schultz
  • Published online:
    30 March 2010
    Print publication:
    17 December 2009
  • This book describes the tectonic landforms resulting from major internal and external forces acting on the outer layers of solid bodies throughout the Solar System. It presents a detailed survey of tectonic structures at a range of length scales found on Mercury, Venus, the Moon, Mars, the outer planet satellites, and asteroids. A diverse range of models for the sources of tectonic stresses acting on silicate and icy crusts is outlined, comparing processes acting throughout the Solar System. Rheological and mechanical properties of planetary crusts and lithospheres are discussed to understand how and why tectonic stresses manifest themselves differently on various bodies. Results from fault population data are assessed in detail. The book provides methods for mapping and analysing planetary tectonic features, and is illustrated with diagrams and spectacular images returned by manned and robotic spacecraft. It forms an essential reference for researchers and students in planetary geology and tectonics.

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