On The Origin Of Planets: By Means Of Natural Simple Processes By Means of Natural Simple Processes

The book begins with a historical review of four major theories for the origin of the Solar System in particular, or of planets in general, which highlight the major problems that need to be solved by any plausible theory. In many theories, including that which form the major theme of this book, the formation of planets and stars is intimately linked, so four chapters are devoted to the processes that can be described as the birth, life and death of stars. Recent observations that have revealed the existence of planets around many Sun-like stars are described in detail, followed by a clear exposition of the Capture Theory for the origin of planets. Many aspects of this theory are illustrated with sophisticated computer modelling that convincingly demonstrates the plausibility of the theory. The Capture Theory is in complete accord with all observations, including the estimate it gives for the proportion of Sun-like stars with planets. It is the only theory that sits comfortably with all present observational and theoretical constraints. The general theory of planet formation does not explain the detailed structure of the Solar System. An early postulated collision of two major planets is shown to explain many disparate features of the Solar System the nature of the terrestrial planets, surface features of the Moon and its relationship with Earth, asteroids, comets and dwarf planets, the relationship between Neptune, Triton and Pluto and the characteristics of meteorites, including the isotopic anomalies found in them. The postulate of a planetary collision is given support by a 2009 NASA observation of the residue of such an event around a distant young star 1. Observations Of Stars. 1.1. Locations Of Stars. 1.2. Stellar Material. 1.3. Determining The Distances Of Stars. 1.4. The Temperature Of Stars. 1.5. Stellar Radii. 1.6. Estimating Stellar Masses. 1.7. The Physical Properties Of Main-sequence Stars. 1.8. Stellar Spin Rates 1.9. Summary -- 2. Producing Protostars - Embryonic Stars. 2.1. Star-forming Regions. 2.2. The Formation Of Dense Cool Clouds. 2.3. Maser Emission From Star-forming Regions. 2.4. The Process Of Protostar Formation. 2.5. The Formation Of Binary Systems. 2.6. Modelling The Collapse Of A Cloud. 2.7. The Spin Of Stars. 2.8. Summary -- 3. The Life And Death Of A Star. 3.1. The Journey To The Main Sequence. 3.2. Energy Generation In Main-sequence Stars. 3.3. Leaving The Main Sequence For Low And Moderate-mass Stars. 3.4. The Evolution Of Higher-mass Stars. 3.5. Summary --^ 4. The Evolution Of A Galactic Cluster. 4.1. Embedded Clusters. 4.2. The Formation Of Massive Stars. 4.3. The Embedded Cluster Environment And Binary Star Frequencies. 4.4. The Progress Of Star Formation In A Galactic Cluster. 4.5. Summary -- 5. Exoplanets - Planets Around Other Stars. 5.1. Planets Orbiting Neutron Stars. 5.2. The Characteristics Of Orbits. 5.3. Planets Around Main-sequence Stars; Doppler-shift Detection. 5.4. The Direct Imaging Of Exoplanets. 5.5. Exoplanets And The Solar System. 5.6. Summary -- 6. The Formation Of Planets: The Capture Theory. 6.1. The Interaction Of A Star With A Protostar. 6.2. The Interaction Of A Star With A High-density Region. 6.3. Summary --^ 7. Orbital Evolution. 7.1. The Nature Of The Disk. 7.2. The Force On A Planet Due To The Medium. 7.3. Modelling The Medium And Details Of The Calculation Method. 7.4. Calculations Of Orbital Decay And Round-off. 7.5. Orbits Of High Eccentricity. 7.6. The Range Of Semi-major Axes. 7.7. Simple Ratios Of Orbital Periods. 7.8. Stellar Spin Axes. 7.9. Summary -- 8. The Frequency Of Planetary Systems. 8.1. Observations And Observational Constraints. 8.2. Initial Formation Statistics. 8.3. The Disruption Of Planetary Systems. 8.4. Summary -- 9. Satellite Formation. 9.1. Angular Momentum Considerations. 9.2. The Form Of The Disk. 9.3. The Settling Of Dust. 9.4. The Formation Of Satellitesimals. 9.5. Satellite Formation. 9.6. Comments. 9.7. Summary. 10. Features Of The Solar System. 10.1. The Planets. 10.2. Satellites. 10.3. Dwarf Planets And The Kuiper Belt. 10.4. Asteroids. 10.5. Comets. 10.6. Summary -- 11. Interactions Between Planets. 11.1. The Precession Of Planetary Orbits. 11.2. Close Interactions Of Planets And The Tilts Of Spin Axes. 11.3. The Problem Of The Terrestrial Planets. 11.4. Deuterium And The Major Planets. 11.5. Earth And Venus. 11.6. Summary -- 12. The Moon. 12.1. The Earth-moon Relationship. 12.2. Satellites Of The Colliding Planets. 12.3. Features Of The Moon. 12.4. The Hemispherical Asymmetry Of The Moon. 12.5. The Evolution Of The Moon's Orbit. 12.6. Summary -- 13. Mars And Mercury. 13.1. Larger Solid Bodies Of The Solar System. 13.2. Mars As A Satellite. 13.3. Mercury As A Satellite. 13.4. The Orbits, Spins And Tilts Of Mercury And Mars. 13.5. Summary --^ 14. Neptune, Triton And Pluto. 14.1. The Neptune-pluto Relationship. 14.2. The Strange Satellites Of Neptune. 14.3. The Neptune-triton-pluto Relationship Explained. 14.4. Summary -- 15. Dwarf Planets, Asteroids, Comets And The Kuiper Belt. 15.1. Dwarf Planets. 15.2. Asteroids And Comets. 15.3. Summary -- 16. Meteorites: Their Physical And Chemical Properties. 16.1. The Broad Classes Of Meteorites. 16.2. The Physical And Chemical Characteristics Of Meteorites. 16.3. Interpreting The Physical Properties And Appearance Of Meteorites. 16.4. Summary -- 17. Isotopic Anomalies In Meteorites. 17.1. Isotopes And Anomalies. 17.2. The Planetary Collision And Nuclear Reactions. 17.3. Explanations Of The Anomalies. 17.4. Individual Isotopic Anomalies And How They Are Produced. 17.5. General Remarks Concerning Isotopic Anomalies. 17.6. Summary --^ 18. Overview And Conclusions. 18.1. What Constitutes A Good Theory? 18.2. Protostars And Stars. 18.3. Creating The Conditions For The Capture-theory Process. 18.4. The Capture-theory Process. 18.5. The Frequency Of Planetary Systems. 18.6. Satellite Formation. 18.7. The Tilts Of Spin Axes Of The Planets And Stars. 18.8. A Planetary Collision - Earth And Venus. 18.9. The Moon, Mars And Mercury. 18.10. Neptune, Triton And Pluto. 18.11. Small Bodies Of The Solar System. 18.12. The Characteristics Of Meteorites. 18.13. Conclusions. Michael M. Woolfson. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The general theory of planet formation does not explain the detailed structure of the Solar System. An early postulated collision of two major planets is shown to explain many disparate features of the Solar System -- the nature of the terrestrial planets, surface features of the Moon and its relationship with Earth, asteroids, comets and dwarf planets, the relationship between Neptune, Triton and Pluto and the characteristics of meteorites, including the isotopic anomalies found in them. The postulate of a planetary collision is given support by a 2009 NASA observation of the residue of such an event around a distant young star. -- Book Jacket The book begins with a historical review of four major theories for the origin of the Solar System in particular, or of planets in general, which highlight the major problems that need to be solved by any plausible theory. In many theories, including that which forms the major theme of this book, the formation of planets and stars is intimately linked, so four chapters are devoted to the processes that can be described as the birth, life and death of stars Presents a historical review of four major theories for the origin of the Solar System in particular, or of planets in general, which highlight the major problems that need to be solved by any plausible theory.