Starting from Mars outward this concise handbook provides thorough information on the satellites of the planets in the solar system.
Each chapter begins with a section on the discovery and the naming of the planet's satellites or rings. This is followed by a section presenting the historic sources of those names. The book contains tables with the orbital and physical parameters of all satellites. In a register the cyrillic transcriptions of the satellite names are given.
Readers interested in history of astronomy and its mythological background will enjoy this nice little volume.
Foreword.- Preface.- Index (with Russian spellings).- The Satellites of Mars.- The Satellites of Jupiter.- Ther Satellites of Saturn.- The Satelleites of Uranus.- The Satellites of Neptune.- The Satellites of the Dwarf Planets.- Plates: Orbital and Physical Parameters.- References.- Figures.
From the reviews: "This work primarily concerns itself with the discovery and subsequent naming of our current tally of planetary satellites; a tally incessantly growing. ! the book practically doubles as a literary study of myths and legends. ! This book immediately becomes an essential reference work on the Solar System and a fitting memorial to its author." (Steve Ringwood, Astronomy Now, April, 2010) "Book by historian Jurgen Blunck (1935-2008) beautifully sets essential facts about the discovery of Solar System moons and planetary rings in proper historical and mythological context. It is a worthy successor to such works as his highly accurate and comprehensive study of the history ! . There is much useful information, and Solar System Moons is a volume that can be dipped into at random or read in its entirety. ! I do urge librarians to obtain it given its accuracy and its comprehensive nature." (Richard McKim, The Observatory, Vol. 130 (1215), April, 2010)