The formation of the solar system : theories old and new /

Woolfson (emer., Univ. of York, UK) does an excellent job recounting historic theories and discussing why they were not satisfactory in explaining observed details of the solar system. Examples from ancient Greeks through Newton, Descartes, Kant, Laplace, Jeans, and Hoyle provide opportunities to define concepts such as angular momentum, orbital planes, planets and satellites, condensation, and magnetic fields, all with excellent illustrations. The author also treats extrasolar planets and disks before producing a list of what elements a modern theory should explain. The mathematics level is low and easy to follow. The final 40 percent of the book concerns Woolfson's own capture theory. He ignores much of the current theoretical work of the last decade, which followed the discovery of many (270+) extrasolar planets. The formation of the solar system from the sun capturing a protostar is possible, but most experts would argue that it is not probable. The book may be an attempt to bring sections of Woolfson's graduate-level work, The Origin and Evolution of the Solar System (CH, Apr'01, 38-4444), to a broader audience. This is not a good "first book" in solar system theory, but it is recommended to readers who want to explore a controversial theory. Summing Up: Optional. General readers; all undergraduates. M.-K. Hemenway University of Texas at Austin