Lifting Titan's Veil
Exploring the Giant Moon of Saturn

Lifting Titan's Veil is a revealing account of the second largest moon in our solar system. This world in orbit around Saturn is the only body in the solar system with an atmosphere strikingly similar to Earth's. Titan is like a giant frozen laboratory that may help scientists understand the first chemical steps towards the origin of life. Beginning with its discovery in 1655, the authors describe our current knowledge of Titan, including observations made before the space age, results from the Voyager missions of the 1980s, and recent revelations from the world's most advanced telescopes. Ralph Lorenz includes his personal experiences in preparing for the Cassini mission, which will reach Saturn in 2004 and release the Huygens probe into Titan's atmosphere in 2005. This book is a splendid introduction to Titan, and will appeal to anyone interested in astronomical discovery and space exploration.

Reviews & endorsements

'On 14 January, 2005, the Huygens probe will touch down, making titan the most distant place so far visited by a soft-lander from Earth. In Lifting Titan's Veil the challenges and pitfalls of a mammoth space mission are balanced by a thorough review of the painstaking scientific quest to understand this amazing mist-shrouded moon … This excellent book skilfully blends what is known with what we hope to discover.' David W. Hughes, New Scientist

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Product details

• Date Published: May 2002
• format: Hardback
• isbn: 9780521793483
• length: 268 pages

• dimensions: 236 x 162 x 21 mm
• weight: 0.62kg
• contains: 69 b/w illus. 19 colour illus. 1 table
• availability: Available