
Transcriber’s Notes:
CHAPTER IBIRTH OF A SOLAR SYSTEM
CHAPTER IIEVIDENCE OF THE INITIAL CATASTROPHE IN OUR OWN CASE
CHAPTER IIITHE INNER PLANETS
CHAPTER IVTHE OUTER PLANETS
CHAPTER VFORMATION OF PLANETS
CHAPTER VIA PLANET’S HISTORY Self-sustained Stage
CHAPTER VIIA PLANET’S HISTORY Sun-sustained Stage
CHAPTER VIIIDEATH OF A WORLD
NOTES
A set of university lectures transformed into a concise volume, this work brings the excitement of early 20th‑century astronomy to a modern ear. Its author, a celebrated observer of Mars, guides listeners through the grand questions of how planetary systems begin and evolve. The language balances rigorous science with the wonder of looking up at the night sky.
The book walks through the birth of a solar system, examining clues that point to a violent origin and then tracing the distinct paths of inner and outer planets. It explains the mechanisms by which planets form, mature under their own heat, and later become dominated by their star’s influence. Rich illustrations and spectroscopic data make abstract concepts tangible, from Saturn’s rings to the shifting spectra of distant worlds.
Designed for curious minds, the narration invites listeners to follow the logical progression of planetary history without requiring prior expertise. It offers a snapshot of scientific thought at a pivotal moment, showing how observations and theory together illuminate the life cycles of worlds. Whether you’re an amateur stargazer or a seasoned enthusiast, the journey promises both clarity and awe.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (333K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Paul Marshall, Tim Lindell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2020-08-21
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1855–1916
Best remembered for stirring public fascination with life on Mars, this wealthy Boston-born astronomer also founded the observatory that kept searching the outer solar system after his death. His bold ideas were often controversial, but they helped make astronomy vivid and exciting for a wide audience.
View all books
by Percival Lowell

by Percival Lowell

by Percival Lowell

by Bertrand Russell

by William Whewell

by Benjamin Franklin

by Sir Arthur Stanley Eddington

by Isaac Newton