How to Kill an Asteroid: The Real Science of Planetary Defense

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Publisher : W. W. Norton & Company
ISBN 13 : 1324050209
Total Pages : 287 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (24 download)

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Book Synopsis How to Kill an Asteroid: The Real Science of Planetary Defense by : Robin George Andrews

Download or read book How to Kill an Asteroid: The Real Science of Planetary Defense written by Robin George Andrews and published by W. W. Norton & Company. This book was released on 2024-10-01 with total page 287 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A gripping account of the “city-killer” asteroids that could threaten Earth and the race to build a planetary defense system. There are approximately 25,000 “city killer” asteroids in near-Earth orbit—and most are yet to be found. Small enough to evade detection, they are capable of large-scale destruction, and represent our greatest cosmic threat. But in September 2022, against all odds, NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission deliberately crashed a spacecraft into a carefully selected city killer, altering the asteroid’s orbit and proving that we stand a chance against them. In How to Kill an Asteroid, award-winning science journalist Robin George Andrews—who was at DART mission control when it happened—reveals the development of the technology that made it possible, from spotting elusive asteroids and comets to figuring out their geologic defenses and orchestrating a deflection campaign. In a propulsive narrative that reads like a sci-fi thriller, Andrews tells the story of the planetary defense movement, and introduces the international team of scientists and engineers now working to protect Earth.

Super Volcanoes: What They Reveal about Earth and the Worlds Beyond

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Publisher : W. W. Norton & Company
ISBN 13 : 0393542076
Total Pages : 265 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (935 download)

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Book Synopsis Super Volcanoes: What They Reveal about Earth and the Worlds Beyond by : Robin George Andrews

Download or read book Super Volcanoes: What They Reveal about Earth and the Worlds Beyond written by Robin George Andrews and published by W. W. Norton & Company. This book was released on 2021-11-02 with total page 265 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An exhilarating, time-traveling journey to the solar system’s strangest and most awe-inspiring volcanoes. Volcanoes are capable of acts of pyrotechnical prowess verging on magic: they spout black magma more fluid than water, create shimmering cities of glass at the bottom of the ocean and frozen lakes of lava on the moon, and can even tip entire planets over. Between lava that melts and re-forms the landscape, and noxious volcanic gases that poison the atmosphere, volcanoes have threatened life on Earth countless times in our planet’s history. Yet despite their reputation for destruction, volcanoes are inseparable from the creation of our planet. A lively and utterly fascinating guide to these geologic wonders, Super Volcanoes revels in the incomparable power of volcanic eruptions past and present, Earthbound and otherwise—and recounts the daring and sometimes death-defying careers of the scientists who study them. Science journalist and volcanologist Robin George Andrews explores how these eruptions reveal secrets about the worlds to which they belong, describing the stunning ways in which volcanoes can sculpt the sea, land, and sky, and even influence the machinery that makes or breaks the existence of life. Walking us through the mechanics of some of the most infamous eruptions on Earth, Andrews outlines what we know about how volcanoes form, erupt, and evolve, as well as what scientists are still trying to puzzle out. How can we better predict when a deadly eruption will occur—and protect communities in the danger zone? Is Earth’s system of plate tectonics, unique in the solar system, the best way to forge a planet that supports life? And if life can survive and even thrive in Earth’s extreme volcanic environments—superhot, superacidic, and supersaline surroundings previously thought to be completely inhospitable—where else in the universe might we find it? Traveling from Hawai‘i, Yellowstone, Tanzania, and the ocean floor to the moon, Venus, and Mars, Andrews illuminates the cutting-edge discoveries and lingering scientific mysteries surrounding these phenomenal forces of nature.

Breaking the Chains of Gravity

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Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1472911199
Total Pages : 313 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (729 download)

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Book Synopsis Breaking the Chains of Gravity by : Amy Shira Teitel

Download or read book Breaking the Chains of Gravity written by Amy Shira Teitel and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2015-10-22 with total page 313 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The incredible story of spaceflight before the establishment of NASA. NASA's history is a familiar story, one that typically peaks with Neil Armstrong taking his small step on the Moon in 1969. But America's space agency wasn't created in a vacuum. It was assembled from pre-existing parts, drawing together some of the best minds the non-Soviet world had to offer. In the 1930s, rockets were all the rage in Germany, the focus both of scientists hoping to fly into space and of the German armed forces, looking to circumvent the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles. One of the key figures in this period was Wernher von Braun, an engineer who designed the rockets that became the devastating V-2. As the war came to its chaotic conclusion, von Braun escaped from the ruins of Nazi Germany, and was taken to America where he began developing missiles for the US Army. Meanwhile, the US Air Force was looking ahead to a time when men would fly in space, and test pilots like Neil Armstrong were flying cutting-edge, rocket-powered aircraft in the thin upper atmosphere. Breaking the Chains of Gravity tells the story of America's nascent space program, its scientific advances, its personalities and the rivalries it caused between the various arms of the US military. At this point getting a man in space became a national imperative, leading to the creation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, otherwise known as NASA.

Defending Planet Earth

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309149681
Total Pages : 152 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Defending Planet Earth by : National Research Council

Download or read book Defending Planet Earth written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2010-07-21 with total page 152 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The United States spends approximately $4 million each year searching for near-Earth objects (NEOs). The objective is to detect those that may collide with Earth. The majority of this funding supports the operation of several observatories that scan the sky searching for NEOs. This, however, is insufficient in detecting the majority of NEOs that may present a tangible threat to humanity. A significantly smaller amount of funding supports ways to protect the Earth from such a potential collision or "mitigation." In 2005, a Congressional mandate called for NASA to detect 90 percent of NEOs with diameters of 140 meters of greater by 2020. Defending Planet Earth: Near-Earth Object Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies identifies the need for detection of objects as small as 30 to 50 meters as these can be highly destructive. The book explores four main types of mitigation including civil defense, "slow push" or "pull" methods, kinetic impactors and nuclear explosions. It also asserts that responding effectively to hazards posed by NEOs requires national and international cooperation. Defending Planet Earth: Near-Earth Object Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies is a useful guide for scientists, astronomers, policy makers and engineers.

Planetary Defense

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Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 3030010007
Total Pages : 496 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (3 download)

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Book Synopsis Planetary Defense by : Nikola Schmidt

Download or read book Planetary Defense written by Nikola Schmidt and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-12-26 with total page 496 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Planetary defense from near-Earth objects such as asteroids is a far more nuanced and challenging topic than it might seem. Each day, technology is making it easier to detect asteroid impact threats in advance, but at present, there is still no easy way to design and implement any form of global defense. This book examines how various asteroid deflection methods can change global political affairs. The authors believe that the final policy for potential Earth impacts should be based on practical engineering solutions and innovative architectural structures, while at the same time reflecting the most recent political science contributions in ethical security studies and security cosmopolitanism. Their focus is not limited to effective engineering solutions, but rather extends to how such proposals resonate in possible political structures of the future. Planetary defense cannot be achieved with technology alone; the chapters in this volume highlight the issues that arise when space science and technology intersect with political science. This complex interdisciplinary project not only demands global participation and collaboration, but also proposes the way we can achieve it. The authors explore various concepts of governance and their far-reaching implications for planetary defense and vice versa—how scientific progress in Solar System observations and asteroid collision engineering influence political science and put pressure on the international legal framework. The text is intentionally written for a diverse scholarly and diplomatic audience in a style accessible to non-specialists and practitioners and can be read by those across diverse disciplinary backgrounds.

Legal Aspects of Planetary Defence

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Publisher : BRILL
ISBN 13 : 9004467602
Total Pages : 458 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (44 download)

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Book Synopsis Legal Aspects of Planetary Defence by : Irmgard Marboe

Download or read book Legal Aspects of Planetary Defence written by Irmgard Marboe and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2021-09-27 with total page 458 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Impacts by asteroids or comets on Earth may lead to natural disasters of catastrophic dimensions. This book addresses legal and policy aspects of ‘planetary defence’ activities by space agencies and other actors aiming at the prediction and mitigation of Near-Earth Objects (NEOs).

Cave Art (World of Art)

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Publisher : Thames & Hudson
ISBN 13 : 0500773823
Total Pages : 457 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (7 download)

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Book Synopsis Cave Art (World of Art) by : Bruno David

Download or read book Cave Art (World of Art) written by Bruno David and published by Thames & Hudson. This book was released on 2017-02-28 with total page 457 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An archaeological exploration of the mysterious world of cave art through the ages Deep underground, some of humanity’s earliest artistic endeavors have lain untouched for millennia. The dark interiors of caves, wherever they may be found, seem to have had a powerful draw for ancient peoples, who littered the cave floors with objects they had made. Later, they adorned cave walls with sacred symbols and secret knowledge, from the very first abstract symbols and handprints to complex and vivid arrangements of animals and people. Often undisturbed for many tens of thousands of years, these were among the first visual symbols that humans shared with each other, though they were made so long ago that we have entirely forgotten their meaning. However, as archaeologist Bruno David reveals, caves decorated more recently may help us to unlock their secrets. David tells the story of this mysterious world of decorated caves, from the oldest known painting tools to the magnificent murals of the European Ice Age. Showcasing the most astounding discoveries made in more than 150 years of archaeological exploration, Cave Art explores the creative achievements of our remotest ancestors and what they tell us about the human past.

End Times

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Publisher : Hachette UK
ISBN 13 : 0316449601
Total Pages : 336 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (164 download)

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Book Synopsis End Times by : Bryan Walsh

Download or read book End Times written by Bryan Walsh and published by Hachette UK. This book was released on 2019-08-27 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this history of extinction and existential risk, a Newsweek and Bloomberg popular science and investigative journalist examines our most dangerous mistakes -- and explores how we can protect and future-proof our civilization. End Times is a compelling work of skilled reportage that peels back the layers of complexity around the unthinkable -- and inevitable -- end of humankind. From asteroids and artificial intelligence to volcanic supereruption to nuclear war, veteran science reporter and TIME editor Bryan Walsh provides a stunning panoramic view of the most catastrophic threats to the human race. In End Times, Walsh examines threats that emerge from nature and those of our own making: asteroids, supervolcanoes, nuclear war, climate change, disease pandemics, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and extraterrestrial intelligence. Walsh details the true probability of these world-ending catastrophes, the impact on our lives were they to happen, and the best strategies for saving ourselves, all pulled from his rigorous and deeply thoughtful reporting and research. Walsh goes into the room with the men and women whose job it is to imagine the unimaginable. He includes interviews with those on the front lines of prevention, actively working to head off existential threats in biotechnology labs and government hubs. Guided by Walsh's evocative, page-turning prose, we follow scientific stars like the asteroid hunters at NASA and the disease detectives on the trail of the next killer virus. Walsh explores the danger of apocalypse in all forms. In the end, it will be the depth of our knowledge, the height of our imagination, and our sheer will to survive that will decide the future.

Cosmic Catastrophes

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Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 148996553X
Total Pages : 281 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (899 download)

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Book Synopsis Cosmic Catastrophes by : Clark R. Chapman

Download or read book Cosmic Catastrophes written by Clark R. Chapman and published by Springer. This book was released on 2013-12-01 with total page 281 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The authors discuss such topics as "impacts with asteroids, the greenhouse effect, nuclear winter, fringe catastrophism, supernovae and an assessment of risks." (New Scientist).

The Doomsday Book

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Publisher : Union Square & Co.
ISBN 13 : 1454939974
Total Pages : 623 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (549 download)

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Book Synopsis The Doomsday Book by : Marshall Brain

Download or read book The Doomsday Book written by Marshall Brain and published by Union Square & Co.. This book was released on 2021-08-03 with total page 623 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How might the world as we know it end? In this illustrated guide, How Stuff Works author Marshall Brain explores myriad doomsday scenarios and the science behind them. What if the unimaginable happens? A nuclear bomb detonates over a major city, for example, or a deadly virus infects millions around the world. There are other disasters we don’t even have to imagine because they’ve already occurred, like violent hurricanes or cataclysmic tsunamis that have caused horrific loss of life and damage. In The Doomsday Book, Marshall Brain explains how everything finally ends—the decimation of nations and cities, of civilization, of humanity, of all life on Earth. Brain takes a deep dive into a wide range of doomsday narratives, including manmade events such as an electromagnetic pulse attack, a deadly pandemic, and nuclear warfare; devastating natural phenomena, such as an eruption from a super-volcano, the collapse of the Gulf Stream, or lethal solar flares; and science-fiction scenarios where robots take over or aliens invade. Each compelling chapter provides a detailed description of the situation, the science behind it, and ways to prevent or prepare for its occurrence. With fun graphics and eye-catching photographs at every turn, The Doomsday Book will be the last book you’ll ever have to read about the last days on Earth. Scenarios include: - Asteroid Strike: a massive asteroid could obliterate life—just as it might have killed the dinosaurs. - Gray Goo: self-replicating nanobots engulf the planet. - Grid Attack: an attack on our power grid shuts down the internet, affecting airports, banks, computers, food delivery, medical devices, and the entire economic system. - Gulf Stream collapse: the shutdown of this important ocean current causes temperatures to plummet. - Ocean acidification: if the oceans’ pH levels shift due to a rise in carbon dioxide, all marine life could die.

Black Body Radiation and the Ultraviolet Catastrophe

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Author :
Publisher : Lulu.com
ISBN 13 : 1411622235
Total Pages : 260 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (116 download)

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Book Synopsis Black Body Radiation and the Ultraviolet Catastrophe by : Brown, Jefffrey P.

Download or read book Black Body Radiation and the Ultraviolet Catastrophe written by Brown, Jefffrey P. and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2005-01-03 with total page 260 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A fifteen year old boy, gifted in science, perplexed by the opposite sex, with parents who give him everything except affection, goes from a normal, everyday earth-boy existence to encountering a mysterious being, druid priest, monk/historian, the beautiful and matronly Queen Ogaboom, extraterrestrials, a black hole named Fudge, and war-gone Wargons. In the process, he discovers himself, comes to the aid of an embattled extraterrestrial race, and sets right the wrongs he's inflicted on his dimension, thus curing a portion of general, all around, universal angst . . . or does he? Is there more to the story? Will the boy come to the aid of the Queen and her planet Doufear? Will he come to the aid of the universe by stopping the Wargons in their plight to take out thousands of years of built up anger? Will earth survive? Will Doufear? The Milky Way? Beta Bot? where the great Augur resides--alleged spiritual healer of the universe. Lots of questions. Little time. Pick up the book. Before it's too late!

Advanced Topics in Quantum Mechanics

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Publisher : Cambridge University Press
ISBN 13 : 1108852858
Total Pages : 274 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (88 download)

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Book Synopsis Advanced Topics in Quantum Mechanics by : Marcos Mariño

Download or read book Advanced Topics in Quantum Mechanics written by Marcos Mariño and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2021-12-09 with total page 274 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Quantum mechanics is one of the most successful theories in science, and is relevant to nearly all modern topics of scientific research. This textbook moves beyond the introductory and intermediate principles of quantum mechanics frequently covered in undergraduate and graduate courses, presenting in-depth coverage of many more exciting and advanced topics. The author provides a clearly structured text for advanced students, graduates and researchers looking to deepen their knowledge of theoretical quantum mechanics. The book opens with a brief introduction covering key concepts and mathematical tools, followed by a detailed description of the Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin (WKB) method. Two alternative formulations of quantum mechanics are then presented: Wigner's phase space formulation and Feynman's path integral formulation. The text concludes with a chapter examining metastable states and resonances. Step-by-step derivations, worked examples and physical applications are included throughout.

Space Weapons Earth Wars

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Publisher : Rand Corporation
ISBN 13 : 0833032526
Total Pages : 231 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (33 download)

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Book Synopsis Space Weapons Earth Wars by : Robert Preston

Download or read book Space Weapons Earth Wars written by Robert Preston and published by Rand Corporation. This book was released on 2002-02-13 with total page 231 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This overview aims to inform the public discussion of space-based weapons by examining their characteristics, potential attributes, limitations, legality, and utility. The authors do not argue for or against space weapons, nor do they estimate the potential costs and performance of specific programs, but instead sort through the realities and myths surrounding space weapons in order to ensure that debates and discussions are based on fact.

Human Flourishing

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Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0192590855
Total Pages : 304 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (925 download)

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Book Synopsis Human Flourishing by : Andrew Briggs

Download or read book Human Flourishing written by Andrew Briggs and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2021-10-18 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'A careful and thoughtful provocation' (Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury) Ambitiously placed at the intersection of scientific insights and spiritual wisdom, Human Flourishing prompts us to reflect on what constitutes a good life and the choices that can help achieve it. For thousands of years, humans have asked 'Why we are here?' and 'What makes for a good life?' At different times, different answers have held sway. Nowadays, there are more answers proposed than ever. Much of humanity still finds the ultimate answers to such questions in religion. But in countries across the globe, secular views are widely held. In any event, whether religious or secular, individuals, communities and governments still have to make decisions about what people get from life. This book therefore examines what is meant by human flourishing and see what it has to offer for those seeking after truth, meaning and purpose. This is a book written for anyone who wants a future for themselves, their children, and their fellow humans - a future that enables flourishing, pays due consideration to issues of truth and helps us find meaning and purpose in our lives. At a time when most of us are bombarded with messages about what we should or should not do to live healthily, attain a work-life balance and find meaning, a careful consideration of the contributions of both scientific insight and spiritual wisdom provides a new angle. This is therefore a book that not only helps readers clarify their views and see things afresh but also help them improve their own well-being in an age of AI and other new technologies.

Asteroid Hunters

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Publisher : Simon and Schuster
ISBN 13 : 1501120085
Total Pages : 128 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (11 download)

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Book Synopsis Asteroid Hunters by : Carrie Nugent

Download or read book Asteroid Hunters written by Carrie Nugent and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2017-03-14 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: One of the top scientists in the field of asteroid hunting explains how, for the first time, humanity could have the knowledge to prevent a devastating asteroid impact. --

Spark

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Publisher : Princeton University Press
ISBN 13 : 069124815X
Total Pages : 456 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (912 download)

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Book Synopsis Spark by : Timothy J. Jorgensen

Download or read book Spark written by Timothy J. Jorgensen and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2023-06-06 with total page 456 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A fresh look at electricity and its powerful role in life on Earth When we think of electricity, we likely imagine the energy humming inside our home appliances or lighting up our electronic devices—or perhaps we envision the lightning-streaked clouds of a stormy sky. But electricity is more than an external source of power, heat, or illumination. Life at its essence is nothing if not electrical. The story of how we came to understand electricity’s essential role in all life is rooted in our observations of its influences on the body—influences governed by the body’s central nervous system. Spark explains the science of electricity from this fresh, biological perspective. Through vivid tales of scientists and individuals—from Benjamin Franklin to Elon Musk—Timothy Jorgensen shows how our views of electricity and the nervous system evolved in tandem, and how progress in one area enabled advancements in the other. He explains how these developments have allowed us to understand—and replicate—the ways electricity enables the body’s essential functions of sight, hearing, touch, and movement itself. Throughout, Jorgensen examines our fascination with electricity and how it can help or harm us. He explores a broad range of topics and events, including the Nobel Prize–winning discoveries of the electron and neuron, the history of experimentation involving electricity’s effects on the body, and recent breakthroughs in the use of electricity to treat disease. Filled with gripping adventures in scientific exploration, Spark offers an indispensable look at electricity, how it works, and how it animates our lives from within and without.

Saturn in the 21st Century

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Publisher : Cambridge University Press
ISBN 13 : 110710677X
Total Pages : 495 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (71 download)

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Book Synopsis Saturn in the 21st Century by : Kevin H. Baines

Download or read book Saturn in the 21st Century written by Kevin H. Baines and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2019 with total page 495 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A detailed overview of Saturn's formation, evolution and structure written by eminent planetary scientists involved in the Cassini Orbiter mission.