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Beyond Pluto

In this book John Davies describes the search for Kuiper Belt Objects, from the early days when a few dedicated astronomers struggled to find these elusive objects, to the successes of 1990's when it became a hot topic. Davies also presents us with the model of how our solar system is presently understood to have been created, and why KBOs may represent the most pristine remnants from that event. The book is easy to follow and will appeal both for the human story, and for the science generated by the birth of this new area of study.

This is a new field of study, and many controversies and arguments are raised in the book, not the least of which is the thorny issue of naming. Should they be called Edgeworth-Kuiper Objects? Is Pluto a KBO (or EKO) rather than a planet? The book also goes into a great deal of fascinating detail about the orbital dynamics of KBOs; including how orbital resonances can propel them further into the solar system. Note that the book was written during 2000, and inevitably the pace of change is extremely rapid in this area, so for more up to date information you would need to consult the scientific literature

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Hardcover 246 pages
ISBN: 0521800196
Salesrank: 349018
Weight:1.2 lbs

Published: 2001 Cambridge University Press

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Amazon.co.uk info

Hardcover 246 pages
ISBN: 0521800196
Salesrank: 865806
Weight:1.2 lbs

Published: 2001 Cambridge University Press

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Hardcover 246 pages
ISBN: 0521800196
Salesrank: 914907
Weight:1.2 lbs

Published: 2001 Cambridge University Press

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Product Description
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.

Product Description

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.

Great Stories of the discoveries of Kuiper Belt Objects *****
How is the edge of the solar system look like? Before 1992, most people are not quite sure even the theoretical Kuiper Belt have been proposed, but it's still lack of observational evidence. This book is believed to be the only popular science book that is dedicated on the subject of the edge of solar system. However, reading this book would be a bit difficult for the people without solid astronomical background. This book address the story of the search of Kuiper Belt Objects(KBOs). Published in 2001, the content is not up to date, as the discovery is everchanging, including the finding of 2003UB313, Eris, that led to the great planetary debate. However, this book put detail discussion on the steps and searches of early attempts and discoveries. Since 1992, the first KBO is discovered, but the story of KBO is seldom appeared on books, thus this is a very important book on the subject. From Centaurs, work of astronomers, how astronomers search, analysis and follow-up, all these are outlined in the book. The orbital resonance with Neptune, color distribution of KBOs etc. are also included. This is a great valued book for those who want to know more about the life of a small group of astronomers.

Great Stories of the discoveries of Kuiper Belt Objects *****

How is the edge of the solar system look like? Before 1992, most people are not quite sure even the theoretical Kuiper Belt have been proposed, but it's still lack of observational evidence. This book is believed to be the only popular science book that is dedicated on the subject of the edge of solar system. However, reading this book would be a bit difficult for the people without solid astronomical background.

This book address the story of the search of Kuiper Belt Objects(KBOs). Published in 2001, the content is not up to date, as the discovery is everchanging, including the finding of 2003UB313, Eris, that led to the great planetary debate. However, this book put detail discussion on the steps and searches of early attempts and discoveries. Since 1992, the first KBO is discovered, but the story of KBO is seldom appeared on books, thus this is a very important book on the subject.

From Centaurs, work of astronomers, how astronomers search, analysis and follow-up, all these are outlined in the book. The orbital resonance with Neptune, color distribution of KBOs etc. are also included.

This is a great valued book for those who want to know more about the life of a small group of astronomers.

This is what astronomers actually do ****
Television documentaries about astronomers tend to romanticize their work, making it look like a parade of exciting discoveries. This book, about the search for objects beyond the traditional nine planets, gives the reader a much more realistic picture. Davies describes how individual astronomers and small groups work through the laborious processes of searching, analyzing results, and testing theories. There are many obstacles, including scientific rivalries and limited access to observatories. Yet patient work has gradually revealed an enormous, previously undetected realm of icy planetoids, some of which are perturbed into the inner solar system to become comets. Davies' writing is clear and straightforward, avoiding mathematics and explaining technical terms where necessary. Readers with a serious interest in astronomy will find this book fascinating. Readers whose interest is only marginal may find it too detailed and slow-moving. Though the black and white illustrations are useful, it would have helped to have diagrams showing the scale of this vast realm all the way out to the hypothetical Oort Cloud. Good examples can be found in the June 2004 issue of Sky and Telescope.

This is what astronomers actually do ****

Television documentaries about astronomers tend to romanticize their work, making it look like a parade of exciting discoveries. This book, about the search for objects beyond the traditional nine planets, gives the reader a much more realistic picture. Davies describes how individual astronomers and small groups work through the laborious processes of searching, analyzing results, and testing theories. There are many obstacles, including scientific rivalries and limited access to observatories. Yet patient work has gradually revealed an enormous, previously undetected realm of icy planetoids, some of which are perturbed into the inner solar system to become comets.

Davies' writing is clear and straightforward, avoiding mathematics and explaining technical terms where necessary. Readers with a serious interest in astronomy will find this book fascinating. Readers whose interest is only marginal may find it too detailed and slow-moving. Though the black and white illustrations are useful, it would have helped to have diagrams showing the scale of this vast realm all the way out to the hypothetical Oort Cloud. Good examples can be found in the June 2004 issue of Sky and Telescope.

This book should really be called "Beyond Neptune" ***
I bought this book to get information on the trans-Plutonian objects recently discovered. While there is some material on this (apparently little is actually known), most of the book is about the scientists who discovered these objects and how they did it. If you're looking for a book on how scientists work, this is quite good, but if like me you're looking for a book on the results of that work, you may be disappointed. I feel the title is a misnomer (though probably attention getting), because Pluto and its moon are among the objects discussed! Also, most of the objects orbit between Neptune and Pluto (at least when Pluto is at its average distance), so are really better described as trans-Neptunian than trans-Plutonian. I don't mean to be so negative about the book; it wasn't what I expected, based on the title, but it could be just what you're looking for.

This book should really be called "Beyond Neptune" ***

I bought this book to get information on the trans-Plutonian objects recently discovered. While there is some material on this (apparently little is actually known), most of the book is about the scientists who discovered these objects and how they did it. If you're looking for a book on how scientists work, this is quite good, but if like me you're looking for a book on the results of that work, you may be disappointed. I feel the title is a misnomer (though probably attention getting), because Pluto and its moon are among the objects discussed! Also, most of the objects orbit between Neptune and Pluto (at least when Pluto is at its average distance), so are really better described as trans-Neptunian than trans-Plutonian. I don't mean to be so negative about the book; it wasn't what I expected, based on the title, but it could be just what you're looking for.

Clear and concise *****
This book is a summary of the (few) things we (think we) know about the objects that orbit beyond Neptune. The author gradually guides the reader through the science of these small icy objects, which existence was suspected almost 50 years before their actual discovery. Introductory historical and theoretical chapters, covering the period from the discovery of Pluto and the next decades, are followed by more and more discoveries and scientific results, most of them not older than 10 years. From the first Centaurs to the extrasolar dust disks observations, every aspect is clearly explained, and ultimately provides a complete picture of this region of the solar system. Throughout this chronology, the author explains the science as well as the way this science is actually done, up in the observatories in Hawaii, or in an university office, in front of a computer screen. It is a very honest tribute to the people (the author being one of them) that spend most of their time trying to set-up complex experiments, understand the cryptic data sent back by their high-tech instruments, and then write articles about things they are usually the first to analyze. This book is short because not much is known yet. But it is fascinating because almost everything we know has been discovered in the last 10 years, and you can expect more in the very near future. In order to get the most of what we be published, this book is the place to start. And for those, like me, who are interested in the far regions of the solar system, I would recommend this other book about the "King of the Kuiper Belt", Pluto, written by another specialist (Alan Stern): "Pluto and Charon". It's a good complement to this one.

Clear and concise *****

This book is a summary of the (few) things we (think we) know about the objects that orbit beyond Neptune. The author gradually guides the reader through the science of these small icy objects, which existence was suspected almost 50 years before their actual discovery.

Introductory historical and theoretical chapters, covering the period from the discovery of Pluto and the next decades, are followed by more and more discoveries and scientific results, most of them not older than 10 years. From the first Centaurs to the extrasolar dust disks observations, every aspect is clearly explained, and ultimately provides a complete picture of this region of the solar system.

Throughout this chronology, the author explains the science as well as the way this science is actually done, up in the observatories in Hawaii, or in an university office, in front of a computer screen. It is a very honest tribute to the people (the author being one of them) that spend most of their time trying to set-up complex experiments, understand the cryptic data sent back by their high-tech instruments, and then write articles about things they are usually the first to analyze.

This book is short because not much is known yet. But it is fascinating because almost everything we know has been discovered in the last 10 years, and you can expect more in the very near future. In order to get the most of what we be published, this book is the place to start.

And for those, like me, who are interested in the far regions of the solar system, I would recommend this other book about the "King of the Kuiper Belt", Pluto, written by another specialist (Alan Stern): "Pluto and Charon". It's a good complement to this one.

Summary the Latest Findings of the Kuiper Belt Objects ****
In school most of us were taught that the last planet in the solar system is Pluto and there is nothing beyond but the vast emptiness of space. That is, at least until we reach the next star system. However, as the author points out in his book, the latest astronomical findings of the past ten years clearly show that there are many small objects (minor planets) that orbit beyond Pluto, which are also part of our solar system. The book opens with a chapter devoted to the initial theoretical studies, which attempted to prove the existence of these distant objects years before they could be observed. The next two chapters examine two edge-of-the-solar-system objects, the short-period comets and the Centaurs (small bodies which orbit near Uranus and Neptune). The book then moves on to the long years spend by many astronomers trying to observe one of these objects and then characterize its orbit. Of course, once one was found many others where then discovered. After these sections, the book covers the effort to characterize the physical parameters, such as diameter, albedo, chemical composition, etc., of these objects and how they are formed and reformed (due to collisions with neighboring bodies). The book concludes which a section on future exploration of these objects and a subtle plea from the author to rename the Kuiper Belt after the man who first postulated its existence. In general, I found this book to be quite interesting, especially the sections on the astronomers who devoted years of their life trying to find these objects. I do feel that some non-technical people may find this book a little overwhelming due to several graphs and the use many technical terms.

Summary the Latest Findings of the Kuiper Belt Objects ****

In school most of us were taught that the last planet in the solar system is Pluto and there is nothing beyond but the vast emptiness of space. That is, at least until we reach the next star system. However, as the author points out in his book, the latest astronomical findings of the past ten years clearly show that there are many small objects (minor planets) that orbit beyond Pluto, which are also part of our solar system.

The book opens with a chapter devoted to the initial theoretical studies, which attempted to prove the existence of these distant objects years before they could be observed. The next two chapters examine two edge-of-the-solar-system objects, the short-period comets and the Centaurs (small bodies which orbit near Uranus and Neptune). The book then moves on to the long years spend by many astronomers trying to observe one of these objects and then characterize its orbit. Of course, once one was found many others where then discovered. After these sections, the book covers the effort to characterize the physical parameters, such as diameter, albedo, chemical composition, etc., of these objects and how they are formed and reformed (due to collisions with neighboring bodies). The book concludes which a section on future exploration of these objects and a subtle plea from the author to rename the Kuiper Belt after the man who first postulated its existence.

In general, I found this book to be quite interesting, especially the sections on the astronomers who devoted years of their life trying to find these objects. I do feel that some non-technical people may find this book a little overwhelming due to several graphs and the use many technical terms.

Beyond Pluto *****
Davies, a scientist with the UK Infrared Telescope on Mauna Kea in Hawaii, tells the story of the discovery and investigation of the Kuiper Belt. Rarely discussed in most astronomy courses, this structure exists outside Pluto's orbit and explains the odd behavior and nature of Pluto. The book details the work of the large number of investigators that finally characterized the belt and gives details as to the belt's structure and the constitution of belt components. Though not a technical treatise, this book is not for the uninitiated. A basic understanding of the solar system and a basic scientific vocabulary are needed to get the most benefit from the book. Davies tells a good story by first introducing the objects of the Kuiper Belt and going through the history of the belt's discovery. He then gives a fairly detailed description of belt composition and ends with a very interesting discussion on the consequences of these discoveries for models of the solar system's evolution. It seems that most of the news one is offered in astronomy is either about cosmology or black holes. Davies shows that interesting and revealing astronomical studies are still being carried out on our system. General readers.

Beyond Pluto *****

Davies, a scientist with the UK Infrared Telescope on Mauna Kea in Hawaii, tells the story of the discovery and investigation of the Kuiper Belt. Rarely discussed in most astronomy courses, this structure exists outside Pluto's orbit and explains the odd behavior and nature of Pluto. The book details the work of the large number of investigators that finally characterized the belt and gives details as to the belt's structure and the constitution of belt components. Though not a technical treatise, this book is not for the uninitiated. A basic understanding of the solar system and a basic scientific vocabulary are needed to get the most benefit from the book. Davies tells a good story by first introducing the objects of the Kuiper Belt and going through the history of the belt's discovery. He then gives a fairly detailed description of belt composition and ends with a very interesting discussion on the consequences of these discoveries for models of the solar system's evolution. It seems that most of the news one is offered in astronomy is either about cosmology or black holes. Davies shows that interesting and revealing astronomical studies are still being carried out on our system. General readers.