The Solar System

William Sheehan, Clifford J Cunningham

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Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

Reaktion Books
01 October 2025

Astronomy, space & time; Solar system: the Sun & planets

Series: Kosmos

As recently as the dawn of the Space Age, the solar system was still largely unknown. The first probes to the Moon, Venus and Mars ushered in a golden age of planetary science, transforming planets from distant mysteries into vividly realised worlds. This book provides a comprehensive, accessible survey of the entire

solar system, covering all major planets from Mercury to Saturn, the outer solar system and asteroids. It includes insights from leading scientists through in-person interviews, oering an engaging overview for general readers and amateur astronomers. Noting Earth's small, beautiful and precarious nature, this book fills a unique niche, presenting the latest discoveries without losing sight of the broader picture, making it essential for anyone interested in our celestial neighbourhood.

By: William Sheehan, Clifford J Cunningham
Imprint: Reaktion Books
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 220mm, Width: 171mm,
ISBN: 9781836390640
ISBN 10: 1836390645
Series: Kosmos
Pages: 248
Publication Date: 01 October 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Preface 1 A Solar System Forms 2 The Sun 3 Earth’s Moon 4 Mercury 5 Venus 6 Mars 7 Asteroids 8 Jupiter 9 Saturn 10 The Outer Solar System Appendix: Planetary Data References Further Reading Acknowledgements Photo Acknowledgements Index

William Sheehan is a noted historian of astronomy, writer and retired psychiatrist. His books include Mercury (2018), Saturn (2019) and Venus (2022) in Reaktion's Kosmos series. He lives in Arizona, and asteroid 16037 is named Sheehan in his honour. Clifford J. Cunningham is a Research Fellow at the University of Southern Queensland and Associate Editor of the Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage. His books include Asteroids (2021) in Reaktion's Kosmos series. Asteroid 4276 (Clifford) is named in his honour.