Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishings Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the worlds literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Product Description
This completely rewritten new edition begins with a historical perspective of the place of the solar system in the universe. Evidence from meteorites is used to describe how the planets were formed and the giant planets are considered in the light of the discovery of new extrasolar giants. Other chapters discuss satellites, comets, centaurs, asteroids and why Pluto is not a planet. Explanations on why Earth and Venus turned out so differently, and how Mars and Mercury are the survivors of many similar bodies, are also discussed. ... Read more

Product Description
The search for clean, renewable energy sources has yielded enormous growth and new developments in these technologies in a few short years, driving down costs and encouraging utilities in many nations, both developed and developing, to add and expand wind and solar power capacity. The first, best-selling edition of Wind and Solar Power Systems provided the most complete and modern treatment of renewable energy. This second edition continues the tradition by offering updated and expanded coverage of this growing field.

The book begins with individual sections devoted to wind power and solar photovoltaic technologies, their engineering fundamentals, conversion characteristics, operational considerations to maximize output, and emerging trends. The discussion of wind power includes the theory of induction machine performance and operation as well as generator speed control, while the solar PV section includes array design, environmental variables, and sun-tracking methods. This edition includes two chapters devoted to new and specialized technologies. The third section explores large-scale energy storage technologies, overall electrical system performance, and total plant economy while the final section explores ancillary power systems derived from the sun.

Focusing on the complete system rather than on a single component, Wind and Solar Power Systems: Design, Analysis, and Operation, Second Edition offers the most comprehensive reference to all aspects of modern renewable energy systems. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

more wind than anything else
From the title of the book it could be expected a share of both topics, wind and solar energy, however the book is full of wind power analysis everywhere,concentrating solar power is almost non existing, just a couple of pages on chapter 17, and considering the number of applications and complexity of this topics it deserves a lot more than that. So the book is nice but one should not expect too much of anything but wind energy, which is fine. On photovoltaic there is not much either, including nothing on emerging technologies in the field, so it is fairly classic what you have there for conventional design but not giving any clue of what comes next. For instance flexible systems for non flat roof applications or any other non regular shape buildings or semi transparent components. When considering grid connections it goes again for wind almost inmediately. This is fine but my point is whay do not call the book "wind power with some solar..." instead of giving the wrong impression ?, so I give 4 starts for wind and 2 for solar (really it should be just one) giving 3 as average.

Outdated History Reveiw
I had to get this book for school, for a renewable energy class.It has a lot of outdated stats in the book.Its really not the writer, as far as the history of wind, pvs, and batteries go, he does a good job explaining, but that is just it, Its a history lesson in renewables.Do not get this book for projects

Great book!
This book is a lucid, up-to-date and comprehensive reference for theory and practical matters surrounding our two most viable alternate energy sources.Be careful though because the first edition has a few typographical errors, one or two in its derivations.

An excellent, comprehensive text
Very readable, and accessible, even to a non-engineer.

Great reference book....
This is a good reference book on renewable energy sources. It is wellorganized and easy to follow, even for non-electrical engineers.As anenvironmental engineer, I have found it an excellent reference. ... Read more

Product Description

From a space shuttle fashioned out of a lemonade carton and felt to a Mars rover made from a cereal box and juice cans, the variety of imaginative projects in this resource can be built with simple everyday classroom and household items. Surrounding these activities are fun facts, illustrations, and related information on each space topic—all of which meets curriculum standards for early elementary science. For young students, their families, and teachers, this expedition through the galaxy is a perfect method for introducing astronomy in a way that also stimulates creativity and curiosity.

Product Description
Take a trip around the solar system and cruise your space neighborhood.But watch out! Don't get too close to the sun or you'll fry.Steer clear of comets heading straight for you and don't fall into any black holes!Each Extraordinary book is packed with mind-blowing facts, fantastic photos, and zany comic strips.Exciting information bursts off every page of these vibrant full-color books.Science and nature become fun when ordinary topics become Extraordinary!
... Read more

Product Description
Did you know that the ancient Egyptians mummified their pets? Or that the Great Red Spot on Jupiter is actually an enormous storm larger than Earth? Put on your 3-D glasses (included with each book) and explore the truth and legends behind mummies and our vast solar system. The sophisticated design incorporates new 3-D technology that allows clear, full-color images, ensuring exciting encounters that are truly in-your-face!

Packed with surprising facts and spine-tingling photographs, 3-D Mummies and 3-D Solar System offer the kind of learning fun that kids love. ... Read more

Product Description
The Cambridge Guide to the Solar System provides a comprehensive, funamental, and up-to-date description of the solar system.It is written in a concise, light and uniform style, without being unnecessarily weighted down with specialized materials or the variable writing of multiple authors.It is filled with vital facts and information for astronomers of all types and for anyone with a scientific interest in the Earth, our Moon, all the other planets and their satellites, and related topics such as asteroids, comets, meteorites and meteors. The language, style, ideas and profuse illustrations will attract the general reader as well as professionals.A thorough report for general readers, it includes much compact reference data. Metaphors, similes and analogies will be of immense help to the lay person or non-science student, and they add to the enjoyment of the material.Vignettes containing historical, literary and even artistic material make this book unusual and interesting, and enhance its scientific content. Kenneth Lang is professor of astronomy in the Physics and Astronomy Department at Tufts University.He is the author of several astrophysics books, including The Sun from Space (Springer Verlag, 2000), Astrophysical Formulae: Radiation, Gas Processes, and High Energy Physics (Springer Verlag, 1999), Sun, Earth and Sky (Copernicus Books, 1997), Astrophysical Data: Planets and Stars (Springer Verlag, 1993), and Wanderers in Space: Exploration and Discovery in the Solar System (Cambridge, 1991), ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Do not use this seller
I ordered a text book in August. The book did not ship in the time frame that was stated in my order. The book did not arrive in the stated time frame. In fact, the book never shipped. I contacted the seller 4 times, and did not receive any communication back.
I sell books all the time on Amazon, and it is sellers like these that make us all look untrustworthy.

Surprisingly Up To Date for a 2003 Publication Date
Back when I went to college and took a class in astronomy (I think the world was still considered to be flat) we studied all that known at the time about the sun and the planets. The amount of knowledge that we have learned about the solar system since that time makes this book seem to be almost a book on a different subject.

Now the planets have been photographed from spacecraft, and several from landers. Here are pictures from Sojourner rover as it moves around Mars. Here are men walking around on the Moon. Poor Pluto has been lowered in status to a mere Kuiper-belt object (Surprising in a book written before the recent decisions).

All in all, beautiful photographs (157 in color, 159 in B&W), clear line drawings (114), and clearly written text. The book is suitable for use as a text in undergraduate courses, and will have appeal to interested individuals.

Well balanced!
This book is written in a clear and easy to read style. If you are a novice on astronomy you will still be able to understand the text. At the same time this book offers enough in-depth and up-to-date information to satisfy the person who is more knowledgeable on the subject. The text is richly illustrated, with a multitude of photographs, charts, schematics, drawings etc.

The first three chapters of the book deal with general subjects like the history of astronomy, the forming of impact craters, the principles of volcanism in the solar system, the (presumed) existence of water on several solar objects, the characteristics of atmospheres of planets and Titan etc. etc. After this there are separate chapters about the earth, our moon, the asteroids, comets and all planets. Unexpectedly, although understandable in view of their similarities, Uranus and Neptune are put together in one chapter. Even more peculiar is the fact that there is not a separate chapter about Pluto and its companion Charon. They are described in four pages in one of the general chapters. So Pluto is not treated as a real planet but more as an object of the Kuiper-belt. The last chapter of the book is called "Worlds colliding" and deals with the impact in 1994 of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 into Jupiter, collisions of comets with the sun, existing impact craters on earth and the chances of disaster by incoming asteroids/meteoroids.

All in all I find this a very nice book that should appeal to both beginners in the field as to the more knowledgeable "amateur-astronomers" among us. In this way it is a "well balanced" book.

One-Stop Solar System Shopping
This is a hugely informative compendium of current knowledge of our solar system. Included is up-to-date science, compiled from the missions of all the modern spacecraft, of all (make that most) of the planets plus all of their known moons; plus comets, asteroids, solar winds, magnetic fields, and everything else present in the solar system. A bonus is found in the beginning chapters of the book, which present the history of astronomical discovery by earthbound explorers, and also a large chapter on Earth itself. Included are informative treatises on the Earth's geology, topology, and atmosphere, setting up equally fascinating examinations of those topics on the other planets. Thus we get up-to-date and in-depth coverage of everything from the bizarre volcanoes of Venus to the encrusted oceans of Europa to the pink smog of Titan. Just watch out for some sneaky politics in the chapter on the Earth, as coverage of atmospheric changes leads to some not wholly appropriate comments on the political side of global warming. And while the book is uniformly fascinating and informative, one humbug for me is a nearly complete lack of coverage for Pluto. This is likely because we haven't yet been able to send a spacecraft there, and also because the creators of this book have followed the currently accepted scientific theory of Pluto as a non-planet that doesn't deserve the attention of the "real" planets. (In fact, Pluto is actually missing from the book's lists of planets of the solar system). Come on, cut the little guy some slack already! [~doomsdayer520~] ... Read more

Product Description
Planetron, the transformer robot turned spacecraft, speeds Will on an exciting journey into the far reaches of our galaxy where he learns a great deal about astronomy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

ADVENTURES BEYOND THE SOLAR SYSTEM: PLANETRON AND ME
Originally purchased this wonderful book for my son when he was four years old.It taught him basic information about our solar system that I mistakenly thought he was too young to understand.The data was presented in an informative and entertaining way.The book that I purchased came with a cassette tape and he was able to read along.He read and re-read the book so many times that he wore out the binding.The story is of a young boy who is befriended by "Planetron."As I remember, Planetron, a robot, takes him on a tour of the solar system.The book is colorfully illustrated with pictures of the planets and sun.Information about each celestial body is displayed with the picture.My son is 19 years old now and recently mentioned that it is the one book he really remembers and would like to keep as a momento of his childhood. ... Read more

Product Description
Incredibly detailed information on how to make any type of solar air heater. It covers all of the rules of thumb, the materials, where to get them and much more. Whether you?re a homeowner or a contractor, this book has everything that you need to know about the construction and operation of all types of solar air heaters for space and domestic water heating. If you?re looking for one book that will get you into ?hot air,? this is the one! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Solar Air Heating Review
The book "Complete Handbook of Solar Air Heating Systems", was very down to earth type reading geared to the practical aspects of analyzing and installing a solar type air system. I would recommend this text for the do it yourself types and those new to solar construction.

Basics ideas ok but not very
The book showes the necessary basics and can drive/set the minds of people to start their own solar projects. However the items should be rewritten with the new inovations that are there at i.e. Youtube solar furnaces movies.

Best Book written on Solar Heating Systems that I'v read.
This is the only book that you will ever have to read to know anything about solar heating systems or solar hot water systems.Technical yet understandable.My young son can understand the technical workings ofsolar heating with this book. ... Read more

Product Description
ASTRONOMY: THE SOLAR SYSTEM AND BEYOND and its accompanying learning tools CengageNOW and Virtual Astronomy Labs shows you your place in the universe, not just your location, but also your role as a planet dweller in an evolving universe. You will learn to focus on the scientific method through the strong central questioning themes of "What are we?" and "How do we know?" Rather than memorize facts, you will be empowered to create your own understanding of your place in the cosmos. Use CengageNOW to not only enhance your conceptual understanding of the content, but to improve your grade in the course. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great General Book
IF you are the type who wants to learn the basics about Astronomy then this is the book for you.It has great information about what astronomy is about and is able to teach you about it without having any physics or astrophysics background.I highly recomend this boo

Beautiful Introductory Text
This book is a text aimed at the astronomy course that non-science majors might take in fulfillment of the requirement that they can't get out of college without at least one science class. As such, the book goes far beyond simply looking at the solar system and a few stars.

Perhaps the most important concept in the book is for the student to come away with a basic understanding of the scientific method. Here is how you study/observe nature, create a theory, test the theory, use the theory to make predictions, test the predictions, alter the theory as needed. In a time where the President of the United States is talking about things like Intelligent Design as though it is science, this simple explanation of science is sorely needed in the population.

This is the fifth edition of the book. The most important changes in the new edition is the inclusion of new ideas, new photographs, new things that have been discovered since the last edition. Other changes include new writeups, new figures that are hopefuly more clear than in preceeding editions. ... Read more

Product Description
Physics of Solar System Plasmas provides a comprehensive introduction to the plasma physics and magnetohydrodynamics that are needed to study the solar wind and magnetosphere. The text includes a broad introduction to plasma physics, including important discussions of kinetic theory, single particle motion, magnetohydrodynamics, geomagnetically trapped energetic particles and the physics of magnetic reconnection. This leads into a thorough description of the Sun and the solar wind, and, finally, the author addresses magnetospheric physics. Among the topics covered here are magnetospheric morphology, bow shocks, magnetospheric convection and electrical currents, substorms, ionospheric physics, magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling, auroral physics and the interaction of the solar wind with the planets. Problem sets at the end of each chapter make this a useful text for advanced undergraduate students in astrophysics, geophysics, or atmospheric sciences. Graduate students and researchers will also find it a valuable source of information. ... Read more

Product Description
They range in size from microscopic particles to masses of many tons. The geologic diversity of asteroids and other rocky bodies of the solar system are displayed in the enormous variety of textures and mineralogies observed in meteorites. The composition, chemistry, and mineralogy of primitive meteorites collectively provide evidence for a wide variety of chemical and physical processes.This book synthesizes our current understanding of the early solar system, summarizing information about processes that occurred before its formation.It will be valuable as a textbook for graduate education in planetary science and as a reference for meteoriticists and researchers in allied fields worldwide. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The State of the Art as of March 2006
First some definitions from Wikipedia: A METEORITE is an extraterrestrial body that survives its impact with the Earth's (or other planet's) surface without being destroyed. While in space it is called a METEOROID. When it enters the atmosphere, air resistance causes the body to heat up and emit light, thus forming a fireball, also known as a METEOR or shooting star.

This book is about meteorites, their makeup, and what we have learned from them. Some 88 authors from nine countries have contributed to the writing. This book describes the state of the art as known to science as of March 2006 when the book was finally put to bed. It is suitable as a graduate level text and a reference for meteoriticists and other researchers in allied fields.

The study of meteorites is a fairly new science. It is only in the last century or so that people realized that rocks could fall from the heavens. In that time scientists have come to realize that these rocks, coming from outside the Earth provide a unique insite to exterrestrial situations including the birth of the solar system. ... Read more

Product Description
The Solar System calendar features the system of planets, moons and stars that we as humans living on Planet Earth, call home. Beautiful images of moon surfaces, asteroids, and star clusters round out the collection of our solar system's planets and sun. ... Read more

Product Description
David H. Levy, the science columnist for PARADE magazine, who took over Carl Sagan's post, is one of the world's foremost astronomers and a contributor to ASTRONOMY magazine. He has discovered 22 comets, including Shoemaker-Levy 9, which collided with Jupiter and made news around the world. In this easily understood book, he takes the armchair reader around the cosmos, introducing the major subjects studied by astronomy students in a manner non-students, and ageing ex-students can understand. Accompanied by b&w illustrations and a color section of important discoveries and maps, this book is the place to start for anybody who wants an introductory course or refresher course in a subject of extraordinary scope. ... Read more

Product Description
"Solar Thermal Systems" summarizes the theoretical and practical knowledge gained from over 20 years of research, implementation and operation of thermal solar installations. This work provides answers to a variety of key questions by examining current solar installations, drawing upon past experiences and making proposals for future planning.
* how do system components and materials behave under continuous operation?
* which components have proven themselves and how are they used properly?
* what are the causes of defects and how can they be avoided?
* how long is the service life of modern solar installations?
* what is the difference between the various solar collectors?
* what performance can be expected from solar installations?
* how are solar installations planned and structured correctly?

In addition to practical recommendations on implementation, the theoretical background is also clearly explained. This book is a valuable guide for all those who deal with solar technology and at the same time a reference for the daily work of planners and fitters. It will also prove a useful tool for training and education. ... Read more

Product Description
Physics and Chemistry of the Solar System, 2nd Edition, is a comprehensive survey of the planetary physics and physical chemistry of our own solar system. It covers current research in these areas and the planetary sciences that have benefited from both earth-based and spacecraft-based experimentation.

These experiments form the basis of this encyclopedic reference, which skillfully fuses synthesis and explanation. Detailed chapters review each of the major planetary bodies as well as asteroids, comets, and other small orbitals. Astronomers, physicists, and planetary scientists can use this state-of-the-art book for both research and teaching.

This Second Edition features extensive new material, including expanded treatment of new meteorite classes, spacecraft findings from Mars Pathfinder through Mars Odyssey 2001, recent reflections on brown dwarfs, and descriptions of planned NASA, ESA, and Japanese planetary missions.

* New edition features expanded treatment of new meteorite classes, the latest spacecraft findings from Mars, information about 100+ new discoveries of planets and stars, planned lunar and planetary missions, more end-of-chapter exercises, and more
* Includes extensive new material and is amply illustrated throughout
* Reviews each major planetary body, asteroids, comets, and other small orbitals ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Little Bit Of Everything
I teach a class in Planetary Atmospheres at the local state university (Arkansas).There is no dedicated text on planetary atmospheres for the non-expert, but you can take parts of this book and do pretty well.And that's the general theme of this book: it has at least a little bit of coverage on almost every aspect of the solar system.I think you could easily do the same thing for a class in planetary geology or solar system evolution or orbital dynamics or even a little biology.Nothing is explored in tremendous detail, but almost every sub-topic of the solar system receives good coverage.Geology is probablly the most-addressed topic.

The book is a great read to just learn about the solar system and how it got here, but you'll need a strong background in chemistry and physics to really understand it.It was one of my favorite books even before I was selected to teach this course.

Lewis' writing is folksy at time, and that's a good thing.Sometimes he's even funny.He gives some thorough overviews of the history of figuring out the various aspects of our solar system, such as the long history of figuring out the composition of the atmospheres of Venus and Mars.It's definitely not a dry book.

The one downside is probably not the author's fault: the photographs are very poorly reproduced.This is probably a publisher thing, but pictures that I know to be beautiful are reduced to grainy, low-res grayscale.Also, be careful which one you order: there is a first edition, a revised first edition and a second edition.You want the latter, although they are not vastly different from one another.The second edition has some color plates grouped together, and this helps.

I recommend this book enthusiastically for anyone with a technical background that wants to learn more about any aspect of the solar system.

A great book loaded with practical information.
Chapters: I. Introduction; II. Astronomical Perspective; III. General Description of the Solar System; IV. The Sun and the Solar Nebula; V. The Major Planets; VI. Pluto and the Icy Satellites of the Outer Planets; VII. Comets and Meteors; VIII. Meteorites and Asteroids; IX. The Airless Rocky Bodies: Io, Phobos, Deimos, the Moon, and Mercury; X. The Terrestrial Planets: Mars, Venus, and Earth; XI. Planets and Life about Other Stars; XII. Future Prospects; Appendices; Suggested Reading; Index

This book discusses the physics and chemistry of the Solar System in great detail.It assumes that the reader has completed one year of mathematics, physics, and chemistry at the university level. Appropriate physics and chemistry formulas and equations are sprinkled throughout the book.The focus is on practicality, not on rigorous derivation: Formulas are often introduced with a phrase like "It can be shown that...", though some key concepts are discussed in more math! ematical detail in the appendices.For the reader who wants more, the "Suggested Reading" section lists many more publications dealing with aspects of the subject matter of this book, ranging in intended readership between non-mathematical and professional scientific.

The text is informative and to the point. Inclusion of many results from recent space missions to various planets, asteroids, and comets is evident.The author includes many pictures (mostly in black and white) of (parts of) the planets and other discussed celestial bodies. Also included are a great number of plots and diagrams that illustrate points made in the text.Many provide specific information on characteristics of the materials being discussed.I particularly like these diagrams: A general discussion of, for instance, the different kinds of water ice is interesting in its own right, but the inclusion of a diagram where you can look up your own favorite combination of temperature and press! ure to find which kind of water ice exists under those cond! itions allows you to consider also many situations that are not explicitly treated in the text.

The book starts with a discussion that puts the Solar System in a wider astronomical context (involving galaxies and the universe at large), and ends (after extensive discussion of the members of the Solar System) with a discussion of the physics and chemistry of life and planets around other stars, and of the future prospects for answering remaining questions about our celestial neighbors.Some exercises are included at the end of each chapter.

The only negative point I found about this book is that it does not discuss the one topic I was looking for when I bought it: the physics of the shape of celestial bodies.For instance, why can Mars support much taller mountains that the Earth?How irregular can the shape be of a moon or asteroid, depending on its size?This certainly falls within the scope of the title.Nevertheless, the great wealth and practicality of the other i! nformation contained in this volume ensure that I do not at all regret buying it. ... Read more