Saturn is the showcase of the Solar System. It may not be the largest of the planets, nor the smallest, nor even the only planet with rings. But it is among the most stunningly beautiful objects in the sky, and is always breathtaking when seen in a telescope. This is a beautifully illustrated, authoritative overview of the entire history of humankind's fascination with the ringed planet, from the first low-resolution views of Galileo, Huygens and other early observers with telescopes to the most recent discoveries by the spacecraft Cassini, which studied the planet at close range between 2004 and 2017. The book describes the planet from inside out, details the complicated system of rings and their interaction with Saturn's bevy of satellites, and considers how Saturn formed and the role it played in the early history of the Solar System. Featuring the latest research and a spectacular array of images, it will appeal to the wide audience for astronomy and popular science.

About the Author
William Sheehan is a historian of astronomy, writer and amateur astronomer, based in Flagstaff, Arizona, USA. His most recent books include Jupiter with Thomas Hockey, Mercury (both Reaktion, 2018), Discovering Pluto (2018) with Dale Cruikshank, and Northern Arizona Space Training (2017) with Kevin Schindler. Asteroid Sheehan 16037 has been named in his honor.


Book Information
ISBN 9781789141535
Author William Sheehan
Format Hardback
Page Count 227
Imprint Reaktion Books
Publisher Reaktion Books