Solar System Astrophysics - Background Science and the Inner Solar System

Preface

Acknowledgments

Contents

1. Perceptions of the Solar System in History

References

Challenges

2. Basic Tools and Concepts

2.1 Circular Arcs and Spherical Astronomy

2.2 Properties of Ellipses

References

Challenges

3. Celestial Mechanics

3.1 The Two-Body Problem

3.2 Orbital Elements

3.3 The Restricted Three-Body System

3.4 Computation of Ephemerides

3.5 Kepler’s Equation

3.6 Uses and Limitations of Two and Three-Body Solutions

3.7 Spin–Orbit Coupling

3.8 Perturbations

References

Challenges

4. The Core of the Solar System: The Sun

4.1 The Solar Context

4.2 The Sun as a Star in the Milky Way Galaxy

4.3 Observable Properties of the Quiet Sun

4.4 The Sun’s Radiation

4.5 The Photosphere

4.6 The Chromosphere

4.7 The Corona

4.8 Line Absorption and Emission

4.9 Helioseismology

References

Challenges

5. General Properties of the Terrestrial Planets

5.1 Overview of Terrestrial Planets

5.2 Bulk Properties

5.3 Gravitational Potential Fields

5.4 Structure of the Earth

5.5 Planetary Surfaces

5.6 Addendum: Properties of Legendre Polynomials and Associated Legendre Functions

References

Challenges

6. Planetary Heat Flow and Temperatures

6.1 Heat Flow

6.2 Geotherms

6.3 Solar Heating

References

Challenges

7. Rocks and Minerals

7.1 Rocks

7.2 Minerals

7.3 Mineral Content of Igneous Rocks

7.4 Phase Transitions

7.5 Densities of Minerals

7.6 Seismic Discontinuities in the Earth’s Mantle

7.7 Relationship of Phase Diagrams to Seismic Discontinuities

7.8 The Core–Mantle Boundary and the D'' Layer

References

8. The Moon’s Surface, Structure, and Evolution

8.1 Surface Composition

8.2 Lunar Surface Characteristics

8.3 Seismic Results

8.4 Geochemical Evolution

8.5 Dynamical History of the Moon

References

Challenges

9. Surface Science of the Terrestrial Planets

9.1 Mercury

9.2 Venus

9.3 Mars

References

Challenges

Index