Remote and Robotic Investigations of the Solar System

"The purpose of this book is to explain how our present knowledge of solar system objects, other than the Sun, has been obtained. Detailed and comprehensive descriptions of the scientific methods used to obtain that knowledge are generally difficult to find, especially gathered together in one place. Its intended readership would include university students undertaking physical science subjects, amateur astronomers and anyone else interested in our local 'bit' of space as well as to professionals workingin the area, particularly with regard to subjects away from their specialisms. The book is written in an accessible manner with much of the material being developed from first principles. Most of the discussions may be followed without working through the equations in detail the first time round and some school level physics background will be needed at times. Knowledge of solar system objects themselves is also assumed. - Explains how we have arrived at our present knowledge of the solar system - Details the instrumentation, apparatus, analytical methods, sampling tools, detectors and other equipment used to study the solar system - Presents the physical principles and background theory underlying the operation of that equipment - Illustrates the discussions with case studies of actual examples - Covers all aspects of solar system investigation whether via electromagnetic radiation, atomic and sub-atomic particle detection or direct sampling - Provides in one place a compendium of all aspects of investigation allowing easy comparison and evaluation of differing approaches to the study of solar system objects - Looks ahead to future developments whilst also providing a historical perspective on the development of the subject"--