Abstract
In this chapter we offer an overview of the properties of our planetary system — both concerning its dynamical structure, namely the orbital and rotational motions of the constituent bodies, and their physical nature and structure, e.g., size, composition, the presence of an atmosphere and/or of an observable solid surface. These data will mostly be presented in the form of tables and figures with synthetic captions and comments. As discussed in the Introduction, our purpose is not descriptive, but rather to provide an insight on the main physical principles and processes. Therefore, we shall concentrate mainly on the data which are used and/or interpreted in other parts of the book.
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Further Readings
For a general overview of the current knowledge on the bodies forming the solar system, see J. Kelly Beatty, B. O’Leary and A. Chaikin (eds.), The New Solar System, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1981).
A basic textbook with an original, comparative approach to planetary science is W.K. Hartmann, Moons ans Planets (2nd edition), Wadsworth, Belmont (1983).
The Space Science Series published by University of Arizona Press (T. Gehrels, general editor) includes several comprehensive and updated volumes on various individual planets and subsystems of the solar system.
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© 1990 Kluwer Academic Publishers
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Bertotti, B., Farinella, P. (1990). The Planetary System. In: Physics of the Earth and the Solar System. Geophysics and Astrophysics Monographs, vol 31. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1916-7_14
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1916-7_14
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7355-4
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-1916-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive