The Evolution of Worlds

audiobook

The Evolution of Worlds

by Percival Lowell

EN·~5 hours·11 chapters

Chapters

11 total

Transcriber’s Notes:

5:47

CHAPTER IBIRTH OF A SOLAR SYSTEM

35:04

CHAPTER IIEVIDENCE OF THE INITIAL CATASTROPHE IN OUR OWN CASE

32:22

CHAPTER IIITHE INNER PLANETS

43:52

CHAPTER IVTHE OUTER PLANETS

45:13

CHAPTER VFORMATION OF PLANETS

38:28

CHAPTER VIA PLANET’S HISTORY Self-sustained Stage

34:31

CHAPTER VIIA PLANET’S HISTORY Sun-sustained Stage

40:00

CHAPTER VIIIDEATH OF A WORLD

34:31

NOTES

14:18

Description

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.

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Details

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.

Subjects

About the author

Percival Lowell

Percival Lowell

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.

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