James Lequeux

Therese Encrenaz

This book presents a global and synthetic vision of planetology – the study of objects in the Solar System. In the past several decades, planetology has undergone a real revolution, marked in particular by the discovery of the Kuiper belt beyond Neptune, the discovery of extrasolar planets, and also by the space exploration of ever more distant objects. Today, it is at the crossroads of many disciplines: astronomy, geophysics, geochemistry and biology. The Solar System 2 studies the outer Solar System: satellites and rings of giant planets, small bodies and dwarf planets. It also deals with meteorites and cosmochemistry, as well as the formation and dynamics of the Solar System. It addresses the question of the origin of life and extraterrestrial life, and presents all of the methods in the study of planetology.

External Satellites, Small Bodies, Cosmochemistry, Dynamics, Exobiology

The Solar System 2

Jean-Louis Steinberg

les méthodes radioélectriques au service de l'astrophysique

Radioastronomie

"This book is a comprehensive short textbook about stars, their formation, their evolution and their death. It includes a thorough study of single stars, of interactive binary stars, of the formation of elements in stars and of the evolution of galaxies. The most interesting observations are described, then illustrated with beautiful and sometimes spectacular images. The theory is explained in simple terms, but it includes some mathematical or physical developments when they are considered necessary for a good understanding of the phenomena."--Provided by publisher.

Birth, Evolution and Death of Stars

Thérèse Encrenaz

Cet ouvrage présente une vision globale et synthétique de la planétologie, c’est-à-dire de l’étude des objets du Système solaire. Au cours des dernières décennies, la planétologie a connu une véritable révolution, marquée en particulier par la découverte de la ceinture de Kuiper au-delà de Neptune, puis par celle des planètes extrasolaires, ainsi que par l’exploration spatiale d’objets toujours plus lointains. Elle est aujourd’hui à la croisée de nombreuses disciplines : astronomie, géophysique, géochimie, biologie. Cet ouvrage étudie, dans un premier temps, le Système solaire extérieur : satellites et anneaux des planètes géantes, petits corps et planètes naines. Il traite également des météorites et de la cosmochimie, ainsi que de la formation et de la dynamique du Système solaire. Il s’intéresse à la question de l’origine de la vie et de la vie extraterrestre et présente enfin l’ensemble des méthodes d’étude de la planétologie.

Petits corps, cosmochimie, dynamique, exobiologie

Le Système solaire 2

Fabienne Casoli

More than 4300 planets around nearby stars! Who could have imagined this extraordinary harvest only thirty years ago? As the vast majority of stars are surrounded by planets, we can surmise that there must be more than a hundred billion planets in our Galaxy. The Solar system is therefore very far from unique. However, it looks quite different from most of the external systems that we know today, but the variety of planetary systems is such that it is difficult to conclude that the Solar System is truly particular. Understanding how diverse planet systems were formed and how they evolved, studying the nature of exoplanets and their atmospheres, are challenges that hundreds of researchers around the world are working on. Does any of these planets harbor life? We do not yet have an answer, but the new means of observation and analysis that astronomers have and will soon have at their disposal are so powerful that they could give a first answer in a few decades, and perhaps even in a few years if we are lucky. This book gives a comprehensive vision of this complex and fascinating area of research, presented in a simple and lively way.

The Exoplanets Revolution

It has been known for a long time that stars are similar to our Sun. But it was only in 1810 that they were shown to be made of an incandescent gas. The chemical composition of this gas began to be determined in 1860. In 1940, it was demonstrated that the energy radiated by the stars is of thermonuclear origin. How stars form from interstellar matter and how they evolve and die was understood only recently, with our knowledge still incomplete. It was also realized recently that close double stars present a wide variety of extraordinary phenomena, which are far from being completely explored. This book explains all these aspects, and also discusses how the evolution of stars determine that of galaxies. The most interesting observations are illustrated by spectacular images, while the theory is explained as simply as possible, without however avoiding some mathematical or physical developments when they are necessary for a good understanding of what happens in stars. Without being a textbook for specialists, this book can be profitably read by students or amateurs possessing some basic scientific knowledge, who would like to be initiated in-depth to the fascinating world of stars. The author, an emeritus astronomer of the Paris Observatory, worked in various domains of astronomy connected with the subject of this book: interstellar matter and evolution of stars and galaxies. He directed the Marseilles observatory from 1983 to 1988 and served for fifteen years as Chief Editor of the professional European journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. He has written many articles and books about physics and astronomy at different levels.

Cet ouvrage présente une vision globale et synthétique de la planétologie, c’est-à-dire de l’étude des objets du Système solaire. Au cours des dernières décennies, la planétologie a connu une véritable révolution, marquée en particulier par la découverte de la ceinture de Kuiper au-delà de Neptune, puis par celle des planètes extrasolaires, ainsi que par l’exploration spatiale d’objets toujours plus lointains. Elle est aujourd’hui à la croisée de nombreuses disciplines : astronomie, géophysique, géochimie, biologie. Cet ouvrage traite, dans un premier temps, du Système solaire dans son ensemble, offrant une présentation générale des objets qui le composent et de sa place dans la Galaxie. Il traite également des systèmes planétaires, des exoplanètes et de l’interaction des objets du Système solaire avec le milieu interplanétaire. Il analyse enfin les planètes telluriques et géantes.

Planètes telluriques et géantes, milieu interplanétaire, exoplanètes

Le Système solaire 1

François Arago, the first to show in 1810 that the surface of the Sun and stars is made of incandescent gas and not solid or liquid, was a prominent physicist of the 19th century. He used his considerable influence to help Fresnel, Ampere and others develop their ideas and make themselves known. This book covers his personal contributions to physics, astronomy, geodesy and oceanography, which are far from negligible, but insufficiently known. Arago was also an important and influential political man who, for example, abolished slavery in the French colonies. One of the last humanists, he had a very broad culture and range of interests. In parallel to his biography, this title also covers the spectacular progresses of science at the time of Arago, especially in France: the birth of physical optics, electromagnetism and thermodynamics. Francois Arago’s life is a fascinating epic tale that reads as a novel.

A 19th Century French Humanist and Pioneer in Astrophysics

François Arago

Describing interstellar matter in our galaxy in all of its various forms, this book also considers the physical and chemical processes that are occurring within this matter. The first seven chapters present the various components making up the interstellar matter and detail the ways that we are able to study them. The following seven chapters are devoted to the physical, chemical and dynamical processes that control the behaviour of interstellar matter. These include the instabilities and cloud collapse processes that lead to the formation of stars. The last chapter summarizes the transformations that can occur between the different phases of the interstellar medium. Emphasizing methods over results, The Interstellar Medium is written for graduate students, for young astronomers, and also for any researchers who have developed an interest in the interstellar medium.

James Lequeux

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