Jupiter

✍ Scribed by William Sheehan, Thomas Hockey

• Publisher: Reaktion Books
• Year: 2018
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 192
• Series: Kosmos
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Majestic and untwinkling, Jupiter is the grandest of all planets. It is the largest planet in our solar system and among the brightest objects in the night sky. It shines with a noble, steady luster, and its calming presence has inspired humans for centuries. Jupiter was the “beloved star” of the first serious observers of the planets, the ancient Sumerians and Babylonians, and has inspired poetic utterances from eminent writers such as William Wordsworth and Walt Whitman. It also continues to inspire contemporary astronomers and stargazers, and this beautifully illustrated volume brings our understanding of Jupiter right up to date.

The scientific study of Jupiter is at a watershed: NASA’s Juno space probe has entered orbit about Jupiter to investigate the planet, while information gleaned from improved telescopes and other robotic explorers in space continues to improve our understanding of the planet’s origin, evolution, and composition. Jupiter provides a concise and expert overview of the history of our observations of this largest of planetary spheres, as well as reports on the much-anticipated initial findings from the Juno space probe. Also incorporating other recent research that is not widely available, Jupiter is an accessible and engaging introduction to planetary science that will deepen our knowledge both of this magnificent planet and of our own place in the solar system.

✦ Table of Contents

Cover......Page 1
Title Page......Page 4
Imprint Page......Page 5
Contents......Page 6
Prologue......Page 8
1. The Jovian Planets......Page 16
2. Jupiter: A Primer for a Giant Planet......Page 35
3. Superficial Matters......Page 47
4. Atmospherics......Page 52
5. The Great Red Spot Becomes Great......Page 64
6. A Bewildering Phantasmagoria: Jovian Meteorology......Page 95
7. Above Jupiter......Page 114
8. Jupiter in Collision......Page 142
9. Juno to Jupiter......Page 154
10. Observing Jupiter......Page 162
Appendix I: Jupiter by the Numbers......Page 170
Appendix II: Conjunctions of Jupiter......Page 173
Appendix III: The Galilean Satellites by the Numbers......Page 175
Appendix IV: Space Probes to Jupiter......Page 176
Glossary......Page 178
References......Page 180
Acknowledgements......Page 184
Photo Acknowledgements......Page 186
Index......Page 188