This book serves as a fascinating progress report on the outer solar system, offering a way to better appreciate the newest findings. It unlocks some of the mysteries surrounding Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto — from the drama of their discoveries to the startling results of Voyager 2’s historic 1989 encounter with Neptune.

In the vast expanse of the universe, the stars that limit our imagination are filled with infinite mysteries. With each step we take towards the depths of space, humanity's journey of exploration, fueled by boundless curiosity, continues as an unending adventure. "Beyond Planets: Quest for Life and Future Perspectives" is a part of this epic journey. This book is a captivating voyage intertwined with science, technology, and philosophy, nourishing our curiosity about distant worlds among the stars. Exoplanets, planets outside our Solar System, have become one of the most exciting and rapidly evolving research topics in astronomy today. Within these pages, you will discover the stories of scientists, philosophers, and researchers who seek traces of life in the cosmos. Amidst the complex dance of planets, stars, and galaxies, their tales of exoplanet discovery will challenge your imagination. As we explore how exoplanets were found, what habitable zones truly mean, the impact of atmospheres and climates on life, and even the possibility of intelligent beings, we will also explore how these discoveries have shaped our worldview. Additionally, we will confront ethical and scientific challenges, such as exoplanet colonization and its potential future implications. In this book, you will witness not only the technicalities of scientific research but also the power of imagination and humanity's unyielding desire for exploration. Exoplanets are not merely subjects of scientific inquiry; they embody humanity's relentless pursuit of knowledge and represent a reflection of our collective cosmic curiosity. While exploring the complexities of exoplanets, you will bear witness to the immense power of imagination, ingenuity, and the potential for life beyond Earth. Exoplanets are not just distant celestial bodies; they are gateways to unraveling the grand mysteries of the cosmos. In the immensity of space, on the journey through the stars, we stand on the threshold of understanding the grandeur and intricacy of the universe. In this book, we extend our invitation to embark on this extraordinary odyssey. Uncover the secrets of exoplanets, push the boundaries of your imagination, and join us on this epic quest that transcends time and space. In the vastness of the cosmos, venturing to the stars is an honor greater than any other, and we are excited to have you by our side on this path. Happy reading!

This is a completely updated and revised version of a monograph published in 2002 by the NASA History Office under the original title Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes, 1958-2000. This new edition not only adds all events in robotic deep space exploration after 2000 and up to the end of 2016, but it also completely corrects and updates all accounts of missions from 1958 to 2000--Provided by publisher.

We are at the cusp of a golden age in space science, as increasingly more entrepreneurs—Elon Musk, Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos—are seduced by the commercial potential of human access to space. But Beyond Earth does not offer another wide-eyed technology fantasy: instead, it is grounded not only in the human capacity for invention and the appeal of adventure, but also in the bureaucratic, political, and scientific realities that present obstacles to space travel—realities that have hampered NASA's efforts ever since the Challenger disaster. In Beyond Earth, the authors offer groundbreaking research and argue persuasively that not Mars, but Titan—a moon of Saturn with a nitrogen atmosphere, a weather cycle, and an inexhaustible supply of cheap energy—offers the most realistic, and thrilling, prospect of life without support from Earth.

Tracing the evolution of humankind's pursuit of astronomical knowledge, this resource looks deep into the furthest reaches of space. Children will follow along as the realization that the Earth is not at the center of the universe leads all the way up to recent telescopic proof of planets orbiting stars outside the solar system. In addition to its engaging history, this book contains 21 hands-on projects to further explore the subjects discussed. Readers will build a three-dimensional representation of the constellation Orion, see how the universe expands using an inflating balloon, and construct a reflecting telescope out of a makeup mirror and a magnifying glass. It also includes small biographies of famous astronomers, a time line of major scientific discoveries, a glossary of technical terms, and dozens of full-color images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope and the Chandra X-Ray Observatory.

The past few years have seen an incredible explosion in our knowledge of the universe. Since its 2009 launch, the Kepler satellite has discovered more than two thousand exoplanets, or planets outside our solar system. More exoplanets are being discovered all the time, and even more remarkable than the sheer number of exoplanets is their variety. In Exoplanets, astronomer Michael Summers and physicist James Trefil explore these remarkable recent discoveries: planets revolving around pulsars, planets made of diamond, planets that are mostly water, and numerous rogue planets wandering through the emptiness of space. This captivating book reveals the latest discoveries and argues that the incredible richness and complexity we are finding necessitates a change in our questions and mental paradigms. In short, we have to change how we think about the universe and our place in it, because it is stranger and more interesting than we could have imagined.

Learn about the planets that exist outside of our solar system, and the actions scientists are taking to learn more about them. --

An engaging account of our quest for habitable environments, recounting fascinating recent discoveries and providing insight into future space missions.

In the ten years preceding publication, the known solar system more than doubled in size. For the first time in almost two centuries an entirely new population of planetary objects was found. This 'Kuiper Belt' of minor planets beyond Neptune revolutionised our understanding of the solar system's formation and finally explained the origin of the enigmatic outer planet Pluto. This is the fascinating story of how theoretical physicists decided that there must be a population of unknown bodies beyond Neptune and how a small band of astronomers set out to find them. What they discovered was a family of ancient planetesimals whose orbits and physical properties were far more complicated than anyone expected. We follow the story of this discovery, and see how astronomers, theoretical physicists and one incredibly dedicated amateur observer came together to explore the frozen boundary of the solar system.

This is a book on planets: Solar system planets and dwarf planets. And planets outside our solar system – exoplanets. How did they form? What types of planets are there and what do they have in common? How do they differ? What do we know about their atmospheres – if they have one? What are the conditions for life and on which planets may they be met? And what’s the origin of life on Earth and how did it form? You will understand how rare the solar system, the Earth and hence life is. This is also a book on stars. The first and second generation of stars in the Universe. But in particular also on the link between planets and stars – brown dwarfs. Their atmospheric properties and similarities with giant exoplanets. All these fascinating questions will be answered in a non-technical manner. But those of you who want to know a bit more may look up the relevant mathematical relationships in appendices.