Uranus and Neptune

Description

A comprehensive, accessible, and stunningly illustrated introduction to these far-off worlds.   The most distant planets in our solar system, Uranus and Neptune were unknown by the ancients—Uranus was discovered in the 1780s and Neptune only in the 1840s. Our discovery and observation of both planets have been hampered by their sheer distance from Earth: there has only been one close encounter, Voyager 2 in the late 1980s. The Voyager mission revealed many enticing details about the planets and their moons but also left many more questions unanswered. This book is an informative and accessible introduction to Uranus, Neptune, and their moons. It takes readers on a journey from discovery to the most recent observations made from space- and ground-based telescopes, and it will appeal to amateur and professional astronomers alike. Cover Title Page Copyright Contents Preface 1. Uranus, Its Discovery and Pre-Voyager Observations 2. Voyager 2 Flypast of Uranus 3. Uranus after Voyager 4. Moons of Uranus 5. Neptune, Its Discovery and Pre-Voyager Observations 6. Voyager 2 Flypast of Neptune 7. Neptune after Voyager 8. Moons of Neptune 9. Observing the Ice Giants Appendix i: Future Time and Dates and Apparent Magnitude of the Planets at Opposition Appendix II: Uranus Data Appendix III: Uranus Ring Data Appendix IV: Neptune Data Appendix V: Neptune Ring Data Appendix VI: Satellites of Uranus Appendix VII: Satellites of Neptune References Bibliography Acknowledgements Photo Acknowledgements Index