The purpose of the book is to provide factual information and to explain the physical world in which we live by first setting the Earth within the context of the planetary system which orbits the Sun. Inevitably, because Earth is part of a bi-planetary system, the book explains how the Moon was formed from the Earth at a time very close to the beginning of the solar system, and how it has influenced the evolution of the Earth.

Author Biography

Dr David Baker worked with NASA on the Gemini, Apollo and Shuttle programmes between 1965 and 1990 and has written more than 80 books on spaceflight technology. His previous titles for Haynes include NASA Mars Rovers Manual (H5370), International Space Station Manual (H5218) and NASA Space Shuttle Manual (H4866). His science was Earth & Planetary Physics and the evolution of the Earth-Moon system was his PhD thesis before he moved laterally into the science and engineering of the space programme. The subject of earth has been close all the way through and his Mars Rovers book really came out of his close connection to this research.