History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

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I had no problems reading this book.
On Time
Excellent focus from basic to advanced Astronautics
Relating Space for the Masses!!
A Must-Have for Undergrad Aerospace Students

Understanding Space
Jerry Jon Sellers , William J. Astore , Robert B. Giffen , and Wiley J Larson
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Primis Custom Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0073407755

Book Description

This is an introductory text in astronautics. It contains historical background and a discussion of space missions, space environment, orbits, atmospheric entry, spacecraft design, spacecraft subsystems, and space operations. It features section reviews summarizing key concepts, terms, and equations, and is extensively illustrated with many photos, figures, and examples Space law, politics,and economics This is a truly user-friendly, full-color text focused on understanding concepts and practical applications but written in a down-to-earth, engaging manner that painlessly helps you understand complex topics. It is laid out with multi-color highlights for key terms and ideas, reinforced with detailed example problems, and supported by detailed section reviews summarizing key concepts, terms, and equations.

Customer Reviews:

I had no problems reading this book........2007-07-26

This textbook was required for 2 of my Aeronautical Science courses in my pursuit for my Masters and I was more than happy to read it again. There is so much useful information in this text.

The author reveals the intricacies of the space environment as well as the hazards of going into space with great depth. If you are required to purchase this book; it's a keeper for reference purposes as well.

Happy reading.

Sam

On Time.......2007-06-02

It's a text book. I ordered it and it got here on time...what more could I ask for?

Excellent focus from basic to advanced Astronautics.......2007-05-10

For the course I'm taking, this text is an excellent resource.

Relating Space for the Masses!!.......2006-03-26

Mr. Jerry Jon Seller's book, "Understanding Space" is an amazing textbook about the technical aspects of space. The text is well written, the diagrams are easily understood, and the "tech-factor" for space geeks is acceptably high. It is no wonder that the United States Air Force has recommended "Understanding Space" as its baseline text concerning Technical aspects of space flight.

For those afraid of "rocket-science" level math, the book is written at a very easy level, using algebra, trigonometry, and bits of calculus covered with a whole BUNCH of physics. It is an excellent text for technical classes, and also easily readable for non-technical space classes. I've personally referenced this book in *EVERY* space-related class I've taken (4 undergrad and a *whole* bunch of graduate classes) - if you buy it, you will use it, I guarantee.

The only downside to this text lies in the fault of its users, not the author or publisher. This book was written to be the introduction to the Space Technology Library, a list covering more advanced topics in space. That said, the text is written at a high-school/undergraduate level for math and physics; yet the USAF has committed its "Certified Space Professionals" to using the text at their advanced level "Space 200" course. If you're taking (or teaching) space-related classes, understand the level of information you're needing - there *are* other space technical books (some by the same publisher) that will cover these topics in more depth (i.e. harder math and physics).

A Must-Have for Undergrad Aerospace Students.......2006-03-25

The Air Force Academy has hit a grand slam with this book, and Embry-Riddle was wise to include it in its curriculum. This book is the equivalent of my coursework in 3rd Class Physics at West Point, but it has a decidedly aerospace slant to it that makes it an important piece for any person with a need to understand space. The illustrations are of superb quality and add to the learning experience of more visual learners unlike the Introduction to Astrodynamics book done by the Air Force Academy years earlier.

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An excellent review of galactic structure and dynamics

Dynamics of Galaxies
Giuseppe Bertin
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0521472628

Book Description

Our understanding of galaxies has advanced significantly in recent years. Powerful computer simulations and detailed observations from ground- and space-based telescopes have been instrumental in this. This graduate textbook provides students with a complete, accessible introduction to modern galactic dynamics. The first two parts of the book define the astrophysical problems and the methods for building sound physical models. Next, coverage examines the observational properties and models of spiral then elliptical galaxies. A selection of exciting topics from contemporary research are also reviewed, including the formation and evolution of galaxies, cooling flows, accretion disks, and galaxies at high redshift. Throughout, the volume helps students develop a clear understanding and good physical intuition of the processes involved. Full derivations are provided for key results and helpful problems are included.

Customer Reviews:

An excellent review of galactic structure and dynamics.......2000-10-05

It is a difficult but inspiring book written by one of the leading world experts who, in spite of the relatively young age, has obtained an impressive record of new results in the field of galaxy dynamics. If compared to the standard reference in the field (Galactic Dynamics by Binney and Tremaine), the book stands out for conciseness, clarity and homogeneity of treatment. Bertin, in fact, puts emphasis on physics rather than phenomenology and succeeds in compressing the huge field of galaxy dynamics in a relatively short book structured in few chapters. Each chapter is focused on a different physical mechanisms which is then used to gain deeper and deeper insights into the structure of the stellar systems.The book is up to date and provides the reader with an exhaustive list of references. An excellent book to be recommended to graduate students as well as to researchers active in the field

Galactic Dynamics (Princeton Series in Astrophysics)

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Galactic Dynamics
THE Definitive Work on Galaxies
Please create an audio adaptation ...
The "Bible" of Galactic Dynamics

Galactic Dynamics (Princeton Series in Astrophysics)
James Binney , and Scott Tremaine
Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0691084459

Book Description

Two of the world's leading astrophysicists, James Binney and Scott Tremaine, here present a comprehensive review of the theory of galactic dynamics at a level suitable for both graduate students and researchers. Their work in this volume describes our present understanding of the structure and dynamics of stellar systems such as galaxies and star clusters.

Nicknamed "the Bible of galactic dynamics," this book has become a classic treatise, well known and widely used by researchers and students of galactic astrophysics and stellar dynamics. Praised for its modern approach, as well as for the rigor and exemplary clarity with which the authors handle the material in this book, Galactic Dynamics includes classic results and data while also reflecting the many recent developments in the field. The authors maintain an effective style of exposition throughout, keeping clear what is present knowledge and what is still speculation, while allowing the reader to grasp an overview of the subject before following through (where needed) with the mathematical detail. Most of the astronomical community since the late 1980s was introduced to galactic dynamics through Galactic Dynamics, and it remains the most widely used graduate textbook in galactic astrophysics today. No other book gathers together and presents our current understanding of the field in such a clear and concise way. Through this approach, Binney and Tremaine succeeded in creating a classic reference of enormous pedagogic value.

Customer Reviews:

Galactic Dynamics.......2007-01-11

Not for the faint of heart. Well written, but very technical. Needs good math and physics background.

THE Definitive Work on Galaxies.......2006-12-28

Binney has cleary established Galactic Dynamics and its companion volume Galactic Astronomy as the definitive works on the subject. The NASA Astronomy Abstract Service lists 3411 citations for this book as of 12/2006 so it is clearly an important part of the literature of astrophysics.

This book is written at the graduate or researcher level. As it deals with the behavior of galaxies, potential theory, energy distribution, angular momentium and dark matter so the mathematics employed are quite powerful.

Please create an audio adaptation ..........1999-06-02

To the publisher I would appreciate it if the publisher could produce an audio adaptation of this book. I would love to listen to this while I drive to work and to let my 16 month old son listen to it as a bedtime story. Arnold D Veness

The "Bible" of Galactic Dynamics.......1998-04-18

This book is a very well-known and widely used reference for students in extragalactic astrophysics and stellar dynamics. A solution manual for the problems would be highly welcomed.

Fundamentals of Computational Fluid Dynamics (Scientific Computation)

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An easy presentation to not so easy concepts!
Fundamentals of Computational Fluid Dynamics

Fundamentals of Computational Fluid Dynamics (Scientific Computation)
H. Lomax , Thomas H. Pulliam , and David W. Zingg
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 3540416072

Book Description

This book is intended as a textbook for a first course in computational fluid dynamics and will be of interest to researchers and practitioners as well. It emphasizes fundamental concepts in developing, analyzing, and understanding numerical methods for the partial differential equations governing the physics of fluid flow. The linear convection and diffusion equations are used to illustrate concepts throughout. The chosen approach, in which the partial differential equations are reduced to ordinary differential equations, and finally to difference equations, gives the book its distinctiveness and provides a sound basis for a deep understanding of the fundamental concepts in computational fluid dynamics.

Customer Reviews:

An easy presentation to not so easy concepts!.......2007-08-23

This book presents some fundamentals of CFD based on straightforward mathematical tools giving fast access to very interesting general behaviours of PDE families. Apart from the introduction of basic concepts, finite differences and finite volume discretizations, the heart of the book lies in chapters 4,6,7 where a clear and systematic methodology to go from PDE to ODE to O(delta)E is presented. The classical stabilities associated to the most famous time steppings are presented. Some other features such as multigrid, splitting, and upwind dissipations are presented in the same clear setting. The book is very well written, clear and straightforward. I hope more advanced topics will be also included in further editions!

Fundamentals of Computational Fluid Dynamics.......2001-07-09

Fundamentals of Computational Fluid Dynamics is one of several technically useful books on the subject. What sets it apart, however, is its ability to attract and maintain the reader's interest in what could otherwise be a dry topic.

Book Description

The idea of chaos figures prominently in mathematics today. It arose in the work of one of the greatest mathematicians of the late 19th century, Henri Poincaré, on a problem in celestial mechanics: the three body problem. This ancient problem--to describe the paths of three bodies in mutual gravitational interaction--is one of those which is simple to pose but impossible to solve precisely.

Poincaré's famous memoir on the three body problem arose from his entry in the competition celebrating the 60th birthday of King Oscar of Sweden and Norway. His essay won the prize and was set up in print as a paper in Acta Mathematica when it was found to contain a deep and critical error. In correcting this error Poincaré discovered mathematical chaos, as is now clear from Barrow-Green's pioneering study of a copy of the original memoir annotated by Poincaré himself, recently discovered in the Institut Mittag-Leffler in Stockholm.

Poincaré and the Three Body Problem opens with a discussion of the development of the three body problem itself and Poincaré's related earlier work. The book also contains intriguing insights into the contemporary European mathematical community revealed by the workings of the competition. After an account of the discovery of the error and a detailed comparative study of both the original memoir and its rewritten version, the book concludes with an account of the final memoir's reception, influence and impact, and an examination of Poincaré's subsequent highly influential work in celestial mechanics.

Customer Reviews:

Stiff reading.......2007-01-06

This book is somewhere between an historical essay and a blow-by-blow analysis of one of Poincare's most important papers, which gave rise to many significant developments in 20th-century mathematics. You have to really like the subject of differential equations to get into this.

Island Universes (Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings)

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Island Universes (Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings)
R.S. de Jong
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Product Description

This book contains an up-to-date review of the structure and evolution of disk galaxies from both the observational and theoretical point of view. The book is the proceedings of the ""Island Universes"" conference held at the island of Terschelling, The Netherlands in July 2005, which attracted about 130 experts and students in the field. The conference was organized as a tribute to Dr. Piet C. van der Kruit for receiving the honorary Jacobus C. Kapteyn Professorship in Astronomy. The eight topical themes discussed at the meeting are reflected in these proceedings: 1) Properties of Stellar Disks, 2) Kinematics and Dynamics of Disk Galaxies, 3) Bars, Spiral Structure, and Secular Evolution in Disk Galaxies, 4) The Outskirts and Environment of Disk Galaxies, 5) Interstellar Matter, 6) (Evolution of) Star Formation in Galactic Disks, 7) Disk Galaxies through Cosmic Time, and 8) Formation Models of Disk Galaxies. These proceedings are concluded with a conference summary reflecting on the most significant recent progress and outstanding problems. This volume is unique in that it brings together such a broad range of aspects of disk galaxies: structure and dynamics, the latest multi-wavelength surveys, low- and high redshift observations, theory and observations. This book is addressed to professional astronomers and their students.

Solar Sailing: Technology, Dynamics and Mission Applications (Springer Praxis Books / Astronomy and Planetary Sciences)

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Ready about!
The most comprehensive source on solar sailing

Solar Sailing: Technology, Dynamics and Mission Applications (Springer Praxis Books / Astronomy and Planetary Sciences)
Colin R. McInnes
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 3540210628

Book Description

Solar sailing offers the possibility of low-cost long-distance missions, impossible for any other type of conventional spacecraft. The book provides a detailed account of solar sailing, at a high technical level but in a way accessible to the scientifically informed layman. Solar sail orbital dynamics and solar radiation pressure form the foundations of the book, but the engineering design of solar sails is also considered, along with potential mission applications. This book introduces the subject and at the same time provides a technical reference source.

Customer Reviews:

Ready about! .......2004-12-28

This is an excellent book on solar sailing. What I like best about it is that it gives not only useful results for several mission application case studies but the means to derive those results for oneself.

The book begins with a history of the topic and some possible applications, as well as some brief comparisons with other forms of propulsion and a couple of important performance metrics (in particular, the characteristic acceleration). Next is a discussion of radiation pressure, where we start by being carefully walked through the calculation of the force on a perfectly reflecting sail. That gets us in the right mood to examine radiative transfer methods, effects of a non-zero area for the solar disc, and solar sail force models for realistic sails.

After that, McInnes discusses solar sail design parameters, sail materials, sail structures, and sail configurations. That includes an excellent introduction to packing, deployment, and control issues.

Now we get to my favorite chapters: solar sail orbital dynamics, for both Keplerian and non-Keplerian orbits (both Sun-centered and planet-centered). The whole point of using solar sails is to make good use of a small but constant thrust, so a main application is to "levitate" the orbit above the Sun or above a planet. McInnes examines the characteristics, controllabilty, and stability of some of these orbits. And he then obtains results for orbits near Lagrange points (both planetary and lunar).

Few books in any field do as good a job at getting the reader up to speed on a topic. A person who has completed this book ought to be able to delve into any of the most recent literature in the field without fear.

The most comprehensive source on solar sailing.......1999-11-11

"Solar Sailing" is the most comprehensive book yet written on solar sailing. This is suggested by the introduction, which gives the history of solar sailing, discusses the basic principles, summarizes the topics of the rest of the book, and concludes with a rich list of references to further material. What follows are six more chapters that delve into the topics of solar sailing: solar radiation pressure, design, orbital mechanics, non-Keplerian orbits, mission applications, and laser sailing. In addition to being an excellent resource on both basic and advanced solar sailing principles, "Solar Sailing" also provides the very latest information on mission applications which are under study right now in chapter 6, like the Geostorm mission for early detection of geomagnetic storms and the sun-synchronous Mercury orbiter. Chapter 3, in addition to discussing solar sail design, describes several historical solar sail designs, mostly from the race to the moon and Mars proposed for the early 1990's.

Each chapter begins with an introduction to the concepts, then discusses them in increasing detail, starting with basic concepts that a beginner or enthusiast can use, and ending with topics that are useful for a detailed engineering analysis. A Equations are provided at every level, so a reader can immediately begin using the material in the book to study solar sailing for themselves. For example, the chapter on radiation pressure begins with a the history of the topic and quantum and electromagnetic explanations for light pressure. Following this are increasingly detailed discussions of the force acting on a solar sail, ranging from perfectly flat and reflective sails and treating the sun as a point, to radiative transfer methods for treating the sun as a disk-shaped light source and curved sails with imperfect reflection.

Book Description

The force of gravity acting over eons has provided the solar system with an intricate dynamical structure, much of it revealed by recent space missions. This comprehensive introduction to the dynamical features of the solar system also provides all the mathematical tools and physical models needed for a complete understanding of the subject. Clearly written and well illustrated coverage shows how a basic knowledge of the two- and three-body problems and perturbation theory can be combined to understand features as diverse as the tidal heating of Jupiter's moon Io, the origin of the Kirkwood gaps in the asteroid belt, and the radial structure of Saturn's rings. Problems at the end of each chapter and a free Internet Mathematica® software package help students to fully develop their understanding of the subject. This volume provides an authoritative textbook for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses on planetary dynamics and celestial mechanics. It also equips students with the mathematical tools to tackle broader courses on dynamics, dynamical systems, applications of chaos theory and nonlinear dynamics. Written by two leading figures in planetary dynamics, it is a benchmark publication in the field and destined to become a classic.

Customer Reviews:

A Classic of the Field.......2007-01-09

We all know that the solar system is a system centered on the sun (we know that now, needless to say that in Galileo's time you went to jail for saying that). What few of us realize is just how dynamic the solar system really is.

The rings of Saturn were first discovered by Galileo in 1610, but not really understood to be a thin disk of indivudial items until Maxwell in 1859. The rings of Uranus, Neptune and Jupiter weren't really discovered until very recently. Why rings? Why are they spaced the way they are? Why are some of them twisted. And what about comets, some of which have moons of their own?

This is the classic book on how things move in the solar system. It is the world of Newtonian mechanics, but brought forward by 350 years of observatiosn.

This book does not shy away from the mathematics that really describe what's happening. A bit of calculus, including integral calculus, will be needed to get the full impact of what the authors are saying.

Richly detailed, with dense mathematics and many typos.......2007-01-04

I bought this book hoping to learn about subtleties in the solar system such as horseshoe orbits, shepherding satellites in ring systems, etc. I was richly rewarded. The book goes into deep detail on a large variety of secular and resonant phenomena. But a couple of warnings are appropriate.

First, the book has a very high density of equations, and having studied physics I've seen my share. The math is not too difficult, really (mostly expansions, transformations, etc.), but the authors do not shy away from showing all the details of a calculation. In several chapters expansion follows expansion until the reader is lost in a sea of similar variables. Without spending much more time deriving the results myself, there was no hope of following portions of their development. The book might well have benefitted from tighter editing in this regard; perhaps more of this detail could have been relegated to appendices so that the physical conclusions would stand out more clearly.

Second, there are a lot of errors in the book, both typos in equations and in surrounding text. I easily spotted a number of errors which were obvious even to a neophyte in orbital mechanics like myself. They should not have escaped good proofreading. A Google search for "solar system dynamics errata" (without the quotes) will bring you to a pdf file containing detailed corrections. Kudos to the authors for maintaining such a file! I strongly recommend readers download it and keep it handy while using the book.

Bottom line: tough going but rewarding.

Authoritative, Fascinating, Challenging.......2000-07-05

Three books on our solar system appeared in the past year or so. Each has its own "flavor." I will review them in turn, but browsers should be aware of the others, so they are listed here: See also, "The New Solar System," J. Kelly Beatty, Carolyn Collins Petersen, Andrew Chalkin, and "The Planetary Scientist's Companion," Katharine Lodders and Bruce Fegley, Jr.

If one of the other books, "The New Solar System" is lacking in mathematics, this volume more than makes up for it. Although my current interest, the Titius/Bode Law, is given only one page of description, it is a full and fair assessment of this astronomical curiosity. The authors immediately follow this on p. 9 by a statement that sums up the flavor of the rest of the book: "...It is Newton's laws that are at work and the subtle gravitational effect that determines the dynamical structure of our solar system is the phenomenon of 'resonance'." Planets do not circle the sun independently, they influence each other's orbits in fascinating and subtle ways, some of which may take billions of years to evolve.

The manifold aspects of "resonance" can be seen in the Chapter headings: The Two-Body Problem, The Restricted Three-Body Problem, Tides, Rotation, and Shape, Spin-Orbit Coupling, The Disturbing Function, Secular Perturbations, Resonant Perturbations, Chaos and Long-Term Evolution, and Planetary Rings.

The mathematics appears to be straightforward, but like most perturbation theory, it is not simple. Calculus is essential, of course. However, I welcome it. It will challenge my curiosity and ability for many years to come.

Book Description

Graduate students who want to become familiar with advanced computational strategies in classical and quantum dynamics will find here both the fundamentals of a standard course and a detailed treatment of the time-dependent oscillator, Chern-Simons mechanics, the Maslov anomaly and the Berry phase, together with many worked examples throughout the text.
This new edition has been revised and enlarged with chapters on the action principle in classical electrodynamics, on the functional derivative approach, and on computing traces.

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