Searching for Water in the Universe (Springer Praxis Books Popular Astronomy)

In **Searching for Water in the Solar System, Thérèse Encrenaz takes the reader on a journey through the Universe in search of water. She begins by introducing the most well-known of molecule H2O, its physical and chemical characteristics and its cosmic Formation and abundance. She examines the methods by which the presence of water is detected, both within the solar system and beyond. One by one she visits a diversity of locations in the cosmos, from the nearest planets to the furthest galaxies, where water has been discovered. In the formation of the solar system, she explains how the water molecule played a major part, with the so-called ‘ice frontier’ determining the natures of the terrestrial and giant planets.** **The book explores the presence of water in the various bodies of the Solar System: in the giant planets, with their rings and systems of satellites, in comets, asteroids and in the terrestrial planets. By tracing the history of water in the atmospheres of Mars, Venus and the Earth, the author explains how small differences in temperatures, causing water to exist in different states on different planets – vapour on Venus, liquid on Earth and solid ice on Mars – have led to a great divergence in the evolutions of the three planets. The story of water on Mars, an aspect of great topical interest, offers an insight into the possibility (still only a theory) that there was once life on that planet. The book concludes by looking at the important role played by water in studies of habitable exoplanets.** Springer Contents 6 INTRODUCTION WHY WATER? 8 Life on Earth... 10 ... and elsewhere in the Universe 17 1. A VERY SIMPLE MOLECULE 18 The H[sub(2)]O molecule 19 The various states of water 20 Great cosmic abundance 23 The spectrum of the water molecule 29 The ortho and para states of water 31 Heavy water 33 How do we search for water in the Universe? 33 2. THE QUEST FOR COSMIC WATER 38 1877: canals on Mars 39 1950–1970: Mars, Saturn and interstellar water 41 1970–1990: Mars and the comets 44 1994–1995: water vapour and the galaxies 45 1995–1998: the Infrared Space Observatory 46 The post-ISO era 52 Future projects: Herschel and SPICA 57 3. THE ICE LINE AND THE BIRTH OF THE PLANETS 58 The solar system today 59 The collapse of the protosolar cloud 65 From protoplanetary disk to planetesimals 66 Terrestrial planets and giant planets 69 A brief chronology of events 73 Where do we look for water in the solar system? 76 4. COMETS AND WATER 83 The nucleus: a 'dirty snowball' 84 Halley's comet, 1986: the first detection of water vapour 87 An elusive kind of ice 91 Water ice ... and others 93 Cometary matter and interstellar matter 97 Water: historian of the comets 98 Space exploration of comets: recent results and future projects 102 5. WATER IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM 104 The atmospheres of the giant planets 106 Water and the giant planets 107 Satellites of the outer solar system 112 The Galilean satellites 115 Saturn's satellites 118 The companions of Uranus 121 Triton: an example of cryovolcanism 122 Rings and minor satellites of the giant planets 124 Pluto and the trans-Neptunian objects 129 6. AT THE ICE LINE: THE ASTEROIDS 134 Minor planets 135 Asteroid or comet? 139 Meteorites: the possibility of in situ measurement 141 7. WATER AND THE TERRESTRIAL PLANETS 145 Mercury and the Moon: no atmosphere, but traces of water? 147 Phobos and Deimos: Mars' tiny moons 148 Venus, Earth and Mars: three very different worlds 149 Traces of water vapour on Mars and Venus 151 The history of water on Mars and Venus 156 Divergent destinies 157 The history of water on Mars 161 Searching for life on Mars 163 8. THE SEARCH FOR OTHER EARTHS 168 How do we define life? 169 How does life begin? 170 Early discoveries of exoplanets 172 Giant exoplanets near stars 174 Are there other Earth-like planets? 175 Possibilities of life on Earth-like planets 176 How do we find extraterrestrial life? 178 The search for extraterrestrial civilisations 180 GLOSSARY 182 A 182 B 182 C 182 D 183 E 183 G 183 H 183 I 183 J 184 K 184 L 184 M 184 N 184 O 184 P 184 R 185 S 185 T 185 U 186 V 186 BIBLIOGRAPHY 187 INDEX 190 A 190 B 190 C 190 D 191 E 191 F 191 G 191 H 191 I 192 J 192 K 192 L 192 M 192 N 193 O 193 P 193 Q 193 R 193 S 193 T 194 U 194 V 194 W 194 X 194 ISBN-13:,9780387341743

in searching For Water In The Solar System, Thérèse Encrenaz Takes The Reader On A Journey Through The Universe In Search Of Water. She Begins By Introducing The Most Well-known Of Molecule H2o, Its Physical And Chemical Characteristics And Its Cosmic Formation And Abundance. She Examines The Methods By Which The Presence Of Water Is Detected, Both Within The Solar System And Beyond. One By One She Visits A Diversity Of Locations In The Cosmos, From The Nearest Planets To The Furthest Galaxies, Where Water Has Been Discovered. In The Formation Of The Solar System, She Explains How The Water Molecule Played A Major Part, With The So-called ‘ice Frontier’ Determining The Natures Of The Terrestrial And Giant Planets.

the Book Explores The Presence Of Water In The Various Bodies Of The Solar System: In The Giant Planets, With Their Rings And Systems Of Satellites, In Comets, Asteroids And In The Terrestrial Planets. By Tracing The History Of Water In The Atmospheres Of Mars, Venus And The Earth, The Author Explains How Small Differences In Temperatures, Causing Water To Exist In Different States On Different Planets Vapour On Venus, Liquid On Earth And Solid Ice On Mars Have Led To A Great Divergence In The Evolutions Of The Three Planets. The Story Of Water On Mars, An Aspect Of Great Topical Interest, Offers An Insight Into The Possibility (still Only A Theory) That There Was Once Life On That Planet. The Book Concludes By Looking At The Important Role Played By Water In Studies Of Habitable Exoplanets.

In "The Search for Water in the Solar System and Beyond", Therese Encrenaz takes the reader on a journey through the Universe in search of water. She begins by introducing the most well-known of molecule H2O, its physical and chemical characteristics and its cosmic formation and abundance. She examines the methods by which the presence of water is detected, both within the solar system and beyond. One by one she visits a diversity of locations in the cosmos, from the nearest planets to the furthest galaxies, where water has been discovered. In the formation of the solar system, she explains how the water molecule played a major part, with the so-called 'ice frontier' determining the natures of the terrestrial and giant planets. The book explores the presence of water in the various bodies of the Solar System: in the giant planets, with their rings and systems of satellites, in comets, asteroids and in the terrestrial planets.; By tracing the history of water in the atmospheres of Mars, Venus and the Earth, the author explains how small differences in temperatures, causing water to exist in different states on different planets - vapour on Venus, liquid on Earth and solid ice on Mars - have led to a great divergence in the evolutions of the three planets. The story of water on Mars, an aspect of great topical interest, offers an insight into the possibility (still only a theory) that there was once life on that planet. The book concludes by looking at the important role played by water in studies of habitable exoplanets In Searching for Water in the Solar System, Thrse Encrenaz takes the reader on a journey through the Universe in search of water. She begins by introducing the most well-known of molecule H 2 O, its physical and chemical characteristics and its cosmic Formation and abundance. She examines the methods by which the presence of water is detected, both within the solar system and beyond. One by one she visits a diversity of locations in the cosmos, from the nearest planets to the furthest galaxies, where water has been discovered. In the formation of the solar system, she explains how the water molecule played a major part, with the so-called ice frontier determining the natures of the terrestrial and giant planets. The book explores the presence of water in the various bodies of the Solar System: in the giant planets, with their rings and systems of satellites, in comets, asteroids and in the terrestrial planets. By tracing the history of water in the atmospheres of Mars, Venus and the Earth, the author explains how small differences in temperatures, causing water to exist in different states on different planets vapour on Venus, liquid on Earth and solid ice on Mars have led to a great divergence in the evolutions of the three planets. The story of water on Mars, an aspect of great topical interest, offers an insight into the possibility (still only a theory) that there was once life on that planet. The book concludes by looking at the important role played by water in studies of habitable exoplanets.