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The outer solar system
Author(s) -
Owen Tobias
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
reviews of geophysics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 8.087
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1944-9208
pISSN - 8755-1209
DOI - 10.1029/rg013i003p00416
Subject(s) - saturn , astrobiology , spacecraft , solar system , jupiter (rocket family) , astronomy , physics , remote sensing , planet , meteorology , environmental science , aerospace engineering , geology , engineering
During the last 5 years, our knowledge about the outer solar system has increased tremendously, owing largely to the application of increasingly sophisticated observational techniques with ground‐based and air borne telescopes. We have also witnessed the beginning of direct investigation with the successful Jupiter flybys of the U.S. spacecraft Pioneer 10 and 11. The first of these vehicles is on its way to solar system escape, while the second is targeted for Saturn. The next generation of missions will be twin Mariner‐class spacecraft to be launched in 1977 for further investigation of Jupiter (1979) and Saturn (1981) and their satellites. We may expect large gains in information from continued ground‐based studies during this same time period.