Neptune and Triton /

Twenty-sixth in the series of Space Science volumes originating in 1974, this set of invited papers by 78 authors presents the results of a conference on Neptune and its major moon held in Tucson in January 1992. The flyby of Voyager 2 three years earlier stimulated research on the Neptune system that revealed Neptune's rings, discovered over five other moons, and showed that its major moon, Triton, is still geologically active. It added a wealth of knowledge about Neptune that leads to the excellent comparisons with the other large outer planets--Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus--that appear in the book. After a very readable introduction, other parts of the book deal with Neptune's magnetic field and plasma environment; its atmosphere, small satellite system, and ring system; Triton; and future missions. Black-and-white photographs; adequate figures and tables, though the figures tend to be small. Contains an excellent 30-page glossary, 15 color plates, and a superb 33-page index. Recommended for moderately large libraries with a technical readership. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals. W. E. Howard III Universities Space Research Association