Venus

Description

From the latest scientific advances to observation advice for amateur astronomers, a beautifully illustrated exploration of one of Earth’s closest neighbors. This book is a new, beautifully illustrated account of Venus, taking in the most recent research into this mysterious, inhospitable world. The book looks at the history of our observations of the planet, from early astronomy to future space missions, and seeks to shed light on many of the questions that remain unanswered, such as why Venus and the Earth—so similar in size and mass—evolved in such different directions, and how Venus acquired its dense carbon-dioxide atmosphere. Above all, Venus assesses whether life might have escaped from the oven-like temperatures at the surface and evolved to become perpetually airborne—in which case Venus may not be lifeless after all. Cover Title Page Copyright Contents Preface 1. The ‘Evening Star’ 2. The Telescope: A New Phase Begins 3. Adventures in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries 4. A Planet of Illusions – and a Few Facts 5. Chasing Spectra 6. A New Era: Radar and Spacecraft 7. What Are the Clouds Made Of? 8. The Surface of Venus 9. Life on Venus 10. Observing Venus Appendix I: Venus Data Appendix II: Spacecraft Missions to Venus Appendix III: Transits of Venus, 1631 to 2255 Note on Style, Constants, Units of Measurement and Abbreviations References Further Reading and Resources Acknowledgements Photo Acknowledgements Index