The Planetary Scientist's Companion

Scientists have collected a wealth of physical and chemical data for the Sun, planets, and small bodies in our solar system, but until now this information has been scattered throughout the technical literature. The Planetary Scientist's Companion solves this problem, providing for the first time a single, extensive reference for the interdisciplinary fields of planetary science and cosmochemistry. he book begins with a summary of frequently used physicalnd chemical constants, unit conversion factors, propertiesf some compounds and minerals, thermodynamic data,artition coefficients, and useful formulas. This isollowed by an overview of the solar system, includingomparative data for the planets and their satellites andbundances of the elements. Much of the book is devoted to aeries of chapters describing in turn the Sun, each of thelanets, and the groups of small bodies (asteroids, comets,eteorites, and Kuiper Belt and Centaur objects). Eachhapter includes an introduction, followed by tables ofhysical and chemical properties compiled from many sources,ncluding data on planetary atmospheres, surfaces, andnteriors. The book concludes with data on nearby stars, thenterstellar medium, and recently discovered brown dwarfsnd possible extrasolar planets, followed by a glossary. Anique and practical resource for anyone interested inontemporary planetary science and cosmochemistry, thisvolume is likely to be an essential tool in future research.