Pioneer, Venera, Mariner, Galileo, Giotto, Voyager, Magellan: The names given to space missions evoke images of dramatic, discovery. Results have lived up to those images. Direct investigations of the planets & other bodies by these probes have yielded huge amounts of information, taking us to unprecedented levels of understanding how the solar system evolved. Exploring Planetary Worlds incorporates the findings from space investigations into a portrayal of the planets & associated planetary satellites, rings, asteroids & comets. Written by planetary scientist David Morrison, the book focuses not only on the processes that shaped each planet's distinctive character, but also on what the individuality of the planets tells us about the Earth & the origin & development of our solar system. His approach is unique. Rather than describe each planet separately, he groups them by primary traits, comparing & distinguishing their sizes, atmospheres, surfaces, magnetic fields, energy sources, chemical compositions & geologic histories. Throughout, surprising discoveries are revealed-Saturn isn;t the only planet with rings; the greenhouse effect has rendered the surface of Venus hotter than that of Mercury; the Great Red Spot of Jupiter is actually a massive weather system & a similar dark spot exists on Neptune; icy & arid Mars once displayed Earthlike rains & rivers; & more. Morrison concludes with one of the most talked-about topics in modern astronomy-the role of collisions between comets, asteroids & the Earth in shaping the history of life on our planet. Preface Prologue: Wanderers: evolving perspectives on the planets Giants: the jovian planets Cratered worlds: the Moon & Mercury Strange twins: Venus & Earth Destination Mars: the planet most like earth Fire & ice: small bodies in the outer solar system Remnants of creation: comets, asteroids & the origin of the solar system Epilogue: Cosmic impacts: a planetary perspective Further Readings Sources of Illustrations Index