Probing the New Solar System

In the past decade astronomers have discovered many planet-like bodies beyond the orbit of Neptune, in far out regions of the Solar System called the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud. These newly discovered objects have made astronomers re-examine their understanding of the Solar System.

Probing the New Solar System explores the recent data and discoveries that have contributed to a changed understanding of the Solar System, in particular the effect that the revised definition of a planet in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union had on this understanding.

There are chapters covering every planet. Each begins with a description of the celestial body, the story of its discovery and traces how it has been understood through history and what we know about it today.

This up-to-date record of the many recent discoveries made about our Solar System and other planetary systems has been written for people interested in astronomy, both professional and amateur, as well as for students and educators.