John Davies9780521800198, 0521800196
Exactly what is beyond Pluto? Why, in the last ten years, has the Solar System more than doubled in size? For the first time, in almost two centuries, an entirely new population of planetary objects has been found that may well explain these two questions. This newly discovered realm of minor planets, now known as the “Kuiper Belt,” has reconceptualized our understanding of how the Solar System was formed and has finally given ontological explanations for the enigmatic outer planet Pluto. Beyond Pluto is the fascinating story of how a group of theoretical physicists decided that there must be a population of unknown bodies beyond Pluto and how a small band of astronomers set out to find them. Acclaimed scientist John K. Davies recounts how they predicted the existence of these planetary bodies, how they were eventually discovered, and how Pluto was named. In addition, Davies provides biographies of the astronomers who discovered these new worlds and information on the telescopes they used. John K. Davies is a support scientist for the UK Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) atop the dormant volcano Mauna Kea in Hawaii. He holds PhDs in chemistry and astronomy, discovered six comets while teaching at Leicester University in the UK, and was a member of the ISO-CAM team at the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh, Scotland. He has contributed to magazines such as Astronomy, New Scientist, Sky & Telescope, and Space. In 2000, a small main asteroid belt was named Johndavies in recognition of his numerous contributions to astronomy. |
Table of contents :
Cover……Page 1
Half-title……Page 3
Title……Page 5
Copyright……Page 6
Dedication……Page 7
Contents……Page 9
Preface……Page 11
Acknowledgements……Page 12
Prologue……Page 14
CHAPTER 1 The edge of the solar system……Page 15
CHAPTER 2 The Centaurs……Page 35
CHAPTER 3 The mystery of the short-period comets……Page 53
CHAPTER 4 Shooting in the dark……Page 61
CHAPTER 5 Deeper and deeper……Page 85
CHAPTER 6 Sorting out the dynamics……Page 107
CHAPTER 7 What are little planets made of?……Page 129
CHAPTER 8 Numbers and sizes……Page 153
CHAPTER 9 Things that go bump in the dark……Page 165
CHAPTER 10 Dust and discs……Page 181
CHAPTER 11 Where do we go from here?……Page 193
CHAPTER 12 Will we ever get our names right?……Page 205
(4050) Mebailey……Page 225
4551) Cochran……Page 226
(3638) Davis……Page 227
(2664) Everhart……Page 228
(4985) Fitzsimmons……Page 229
(2068) Dangreen……Page 230
(4205) David Hughes……Page 231
(6909) Levison……Page 232
(4367) Meech……Page 233
(4446) Carolyn……Page 234
(2309) Mr Spock……Page 235
(3255) Tholen……Page 236
(1940) Whipple……Page 237
Montreal, 1979 From Proceedings of the General Assembly XVIIA……Page 239
Summary of guidelines……Page 240
Index……Page 243 |
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