The Earth as a distant planet
Subtitle: a Rosetta Stone for the search of Earth-like worlds
By: M. Vázquez, E. Pallé, P. Montañés Rodríguez
Contributors: Pallé, E.; Montañés Rodríguez, P.
Series: Astronomy and astrophysics library; Astronomy and astrophysics library
Publisher: Springer
Published: 2010
Place of publication: New York; London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 422
ISBN-13: 9781441916839
Subjects: Extrasolar planets
Description: In The Earth as a Distant Planet, the authors become external observers of our solar system from a distance and try to determine how one can understand how Earth, the third in distance to the central star, is essentially unique and capable of sustaining life. The knowledge gained from this original perspective is then applied to the search for other planets outside the solar system, or exoplanets. Since the discovery in 1992 of the first exoplanet, the number of planet detections has increased exponentially and ambitious missions are already being planned for the future. The exploration of Earth and the rest of the rocky planets are Rosetta stones in classifying and understanding the multiplicity of planetary systems that exist in our galaxy. In time, statistics on the formation and evolution of exoplanets will be available and will provide vital information for solving some of the unanswered questions about the formation, as well as evolution of our own world and solar system. Special attention is paid to the biosignatures (signs of life) detectable in the Earth's reflected spectra and the search for life in the universe. The authors are experts on the subject of extrasolar planets. They provide an introductory but also very much up-to-date text, making this book suitable for researchers and for advanced students in astronomy and astrophysics.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: 1. Observing the Earth; title: 2. The Earth in time; title: 3. The pale blue dot; title: 4. The outer layers of the Earth; title: 5. Biosignatures and the search for life on Earth; title: 6. Detecting extrasolar Earth-like planets; title: 7. The worlds out there; title: 8. Extrasolar planetary systems; title: 9. Is our environment special?