Drifting on alien winds : exploring the skies and weather of other worlds / written and illustrated by Michael Carroll.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Carroll, Michael.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Planetary meteorology.

Planetary science.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (247 p.)

Edition:

1st ed. 2011.

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, 2011.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Drifting on Alien Winds explores the bizarre weather of alien worlds, from the blistering hurricane-force winds of Venus to the gentle methane rain showers of Saturn's giant moon Titan. Blinding bolts of lightning sizzle through Jupiter's skies, ammonia blizzards swirl through Saturnian clouds, and Earth-sized cyclones pinwheel across Uranus and Neptune. Late-breaking scientific discoveries from spacecraft, observatories, and laboratories reveal the mysteries of weather across the Solar System. Our knowledge of weather on other worlds has not come easily. Drifting on Alien Winds introduces the inventors, engineers, and scientists who struggled to launch the first probes that would help us to understand the atmospheres of other worlds. The untold stories of early engineering feats and failures, from small Soviet Venus balloons to advanced studies of blimps and airplanes for Mars and Titan, are showcased here, along with what we’ve learned and are still trying to learn about alien skies. Some of today’s most creative and scientifically feasible ideas for voyaging through distant skies are presented. With spectacular spacecraft images and stunning original paintings by the author, Drifting on Alien Winds is a feast for the eyes as well as the mind.

Contents:

Preface: Something in the Air

Part I: Starting Here and Getting There

Chapter 1: The Sky at Home

Chapter 2: What It Really Takes to Explore Alien Skies

Chapter 3: Studies on the Fly

Chapter 4: Studying the Weather from the Inside

Part II: The Forecast - Clearing, with Scattered Ammonia Showers by Morning

Chapter 5: Venus

Chapter 6: Mars

Chapter 7: Jupiter

Chapter 8: Saturn and Titan

Chapter 9: Uranus, Neptune, and Triton

Part III: Future Explorers

Chapter 10: Future Ballons, Aircraft, and Upcoming Missions

Chapter 11: To Venture on Wilder Seas

Glossary

Chapter Notes

Tables

Index.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-283-08827-4

9786613088277

1-4419-6917-9

OCLC:

707825453