We are nearing a turning point in our quest for life in the universe-we now have the capacity to detect Earth-like planets around other stars. But will we find any? In The Crowded Universe, renowned
Richly illustrated with full-colour images, this is a comprehensive, up-to-date description of the planets, their moons, and recent space discoveries. The book is enhanced by hundreds of strikin
This discovery of several Earth-like planets within the habitable zones of their host stars has triggered extensive research on the formation, dynamical evolution, interior dynamics, and atmospheric characteristics of extrasolar habitable planets. IAU Symposium 293 presents a collection of articles on the state-of-the-art research on these topics, including new discoveries of habitable exoplanets. The volume starts by reviewing the current state of the detection of habitable planets, and after guiding the reader through the most recent theoretical and observational achievements on the discovery and understanding of potential life-harboring bodies, concludes by presenting the reader with a review of the upcoming missions that search for Earth-like planets around other stars, and the likely signatures of extraterrestrial life. This comprehensive, up-to-date and technical volume targets those seeking to understand the origin of life and the possibility and detection of life elsewhere in t
In the past two decades, astronomers have discovered an abundance of young stars within ～100 parsecs of the Sun. Thanks to their proximity, these stars provide unique opportunities to investigate early stellar evolution, and they offer readily accessible targets for direct imaging and other measurements of dusty circumstellar disks, newly-formed brown dwarfs and, especially, young exoplanets. This volume highlights major advances in our understanding of the early evolution of stars and planetary systems flowing from investigations of nearby young stars. It features contributions that approach such studies from a wide variety of directions: the identification, ages, and origins of local young moving groups; early stellar evolution from theoretical and observational perspectives; and aspects of nascent or recently formed exoplanet systems. This up-to-date reference on local groups of young stars and their ability to aid the widening search for exoplanets addresses advanced students and r
What is a planet? The answer seems obvious, but nonetheless the definition of a planet has continuously evolved over the centuries, and their number has changed following successive discoveries. The d
How can you distinguish between planets and stars in the night sky? Is that bright, sparkling object a star or is Venus winking? Is that red object really Mars? This new book from the author of Dot t
"The sky was our original calendar, our original storybook, the first illustrated edition, the prototype GPS. Beyond its pragmatic usefulness, the sky was the domain of spirit, traversed by deities an
Valerian and Laureline are exploring Syrte, capital planet of a system of 1,000 worlds. Their mission is to discover whether the Syrtians could present a danger to Earth. What they find is a decaying
National Geographic proudly presents the essential reference book for what is now officially a NEW AGE in space. In August 2006, the International Astronomical Union redefined the word "planet" and r
National Geographic proudly presents the essential reference book for what is now officially a NEW AGE in space. In August 2006, the International Astronomical Union redefined the word "planet" and r
