Jean J. Souchay – författare

Taking both a theoretical and observational perspective, this book is an introduction to recent developments in the field of celestial mechanics. It emphasizes the application to extended celestial bodies and devotes much attention to rotational aspects. In particular, it explains the state of art for accurate modelling of the rotation of celestial bodies such as the Earth, the Moon, and Mercury, which involves principles related to hydrodynamics and geodesy. Comparisons between the light curves of the asteroids and their rotational state are made and spatial techniques leading to the determination of the Earth's gravitational field are explained. Also, the book provides a general overview of the collisional processes in the solar system and of the dynamics of the rings. It is addressed to graduate students and researchers in space sciences and celestial dynamics.

This book on recent investigations of the dynamics of celestial bodies in the solar and extra-Solar System is based on the elaborated lecture notes of a thematic school on the topic, held as a result of cooperation between the SYRTE Department of Paris Observatory and the section of astronomy of the Vienna University. Each chapter corresponds to a lecture of several hours given by its author(s). The book therefore represents a necessary and very precious document for teachers, students, and researchers in the ?eld. The ?rst two chapters by A. Lemaˆ ?tre and H. Skokos deal with standard topics of celestial mechanics: the ?rst one explains the basic principles of resonances in mechanics and their studies in the case of the Solar System. The differences between the various cases of resonance (mean motion, secular, etc. ) are emphasized together with resonant effects on celestial bodies moving around the Sun. The second one deals with approximative methods of describing chaos. These methods, some of them being classical, as the Lyapounov exponents, other ones being developed in the very recent past, are explained in full detail. The second one explains the basic principles of resonances in mechanics and their studies in the case of the Solar System. The differences between the various cases of resonance (mean motion, s- ular, etc. ) are emphasized together with resonant effects on celestial bodies moving around the Sun. The following three chapters by A. Cellino, by P. Robutel and J.

Taking both a theoretical and observational perspective, this book is an introduction to recent developments in the field of celestial mechanics. It emphasizes the application to extended celestial bodies and devotes much attention to rotational aspects. In particular, it explains the state of art for accurate modelling of the rotation of celestial bodies such as the Earth, the Moon, and Mercury, which involves principles related to hydrodynamics and geodesy. Comparisons between the light curves of the asteroids and their rotational state are made and spatial techniques leading to the determination of the Earth's gravitational field are explained. Also, the book provides a general overview of the collisional processes in the solar system and of the dynamics of the rings. It is addressed to graduate students and researchers in space sciences and celestial dynamics.