This book grew out of the need to provide students with a solid introduction to modern fluid dynamics. It offers a broad grounding in the underlying principles and techniques used, with some emphasis on applications in astrophysics and planetary science. The book comprehensively covers recent developments, methods and techniques, including, for example, new ideas on transitions to turbulence (via transiently growing stable linear modes), new approaches to turbulence (which remains the enigma of fluid dynamics), and the use of asymptotic approximation methods, which can give analytical or semi-analytical results and complement fully numerical treatments. The authors also briefly discuss some important considerations to be taken into account when developing a numerical code for computer simulation of fluid flows. Although the text is populated throughout with examples and problems from the field of astrophysics and planetary science, the text is eminently suitable as a general introduction to fluid dynamics. It is assumed that the readers are mathematically equipped with a reasonable knowledge in analysis, including basics of ordinary and partial differential equations and a good command of vector calculus and linear algebra. Each chapter concludes with bibliographical notes in which the authors briefly discuss the chapter's essential literature and give recommendations for further, deeper reading. Included in each chapter are a number of problems, some of them relevant to astrophysics and planetary science. The book is written for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, but will also prove a valuable source of reference for established researchers.

1. Introduction.- 2. Observational Data.- 3. Celestial Mechanics Minimum.- 4. Elementary Particle Dynamics. I Rigid Body Collisions.- 5. Elementary Particle Dynamics. II Ring Cosmogony.- 6. Elementary Particle Dynamics. III Wave, Photometric, and Other Effects.- 7. Collective Dynamics of Disc Particles. I Formalism.- 8. Collective Dynamics of Disc Particles. II Stability Analysis.- 9. Resonance Effects in Planetary Rings. I Spiral Waves.- 10. Resonance Effects in Planetary Rings. II Narrow Ringlets and Satellites.- 11. Formation and Stability of the Uranian Rings.- 12. Origin, Dynamics, and Stability of the Neptunian Rings.- 13. Self-organisation of the Solar System.- 14. Space Studies of the Outer Planets.- Conclusion.- Appendices I. The Possibility of Studying the Dynamics of Astrophysical Discs in a Two-Dimensional Approach.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Original Equations for the "Volume" Functions.- 2.1 Initial Dynamic Equations.- 2.2 Equation of State.- 3. Derivation of the Basic Equations for the "Plane" Functions.- 3.1 Order-of-Magnitude Estimates of the Terms in the Initial Equations.- 3.2 The Two Limiting Cases of Astrophysical Discs.- 3.3 Limitations of the Characteristic Times of Processes Studied in the Two-Dimensional Approximation.- 3.4 Closed System of Integro-differential Equations for a Barotropic Disc.- 4. Closed Set of Differential Equations for a Polytropic Disc in an External Gravitational Field.- 4.1 Derivation of the Two-Dimensional Equations.- 5. Closed Set of Differential Equations for a Polytropic Self-gravitating Disc.- 5.1 Derivation of the Two-Dimensional Equations.- 5.2 Why Does the Gradient of the Plane Pressure Not Have the Physical Meaning of a Force?.- 6. Conclusion.- 1. Derivation of a Closed Set of Integro-differential Equations.- 2. Derivation of the Dispersion Equation Describing the Three-Dimensional Perturbations.- 4. Dispersion Relation for Waves in the Plane of the Disc.- 5. The Role of Perturbations Along the Rotation Axis.- 5.1 Condition for Neglecting Mass Transfer Along the Rotation Axis.- 5.1.1 General Case.- 5.1.2 Isothermal Disc.- 6. Conclusion.- III. Derivation of the Linearised Equations for Oscillations of a Viscous Disc.- 1. Derivation of the Linearised Equations for Oscillations of a Viscous Uniformly Rotating Disc.- 2. Derivation of the Linearised Equations for Oscillations of a Viscous Differentially Rotating Disc of Inelastic Particles with Account of External Matter Fluxes.- 3. Derivation of the General Dispersion Equation.- IV. Evaluating the Gravitational Potential Inside and Outside a Triaxial Ellipsoid.- 1. Potential Inside the Ellipsoid.- 2. Potential Outside the Ellipsoid.- V. A Drift Mechanism for the Formation of the Cassini Division.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Statement of the Problem.- 3. Derivation of the Non-linear Momentum Conservation Equations.- 4. Time-Averaged Non-linear Momentum Conservation Equations.- 5. Absence of Averaged Radial Mass Flux in a Dissipationless Disc. Large-Scale Convection.- 6. Radial Mass Transfer in a Viscous Disc.- 7. Evolution of the Surface Density of a Disc.- 8. Conditions for the Formation of Different Types of Resonant Structures: Gaps or Wavetrains?.- 9. Estimate of the Maximum Width of a Gap Produced by a Density Wave.- 10. Some Additional Remarks.- VI. Resonance Structures in Saturn's C Ring.- References.

The publication of this book is extremely timely, for the next major advances in manned space flight after Project Apollo will most likely be made in earth orbital operations. Manned exploration of the moon will certainly continue after the initial landing, but it will be performed essentially with the Saturn V launch vehicles and Apollo spacecraft developed in Apollo, especially in the early phases. Modifications to this basic hardware will increase operating capabilities to permit extensive lunar explo ration during prolonged stay times by the astronauts on the moon's surface. Manned orbital space stations have been studied for years, and NASA is already well along in development of its first attempt to provide more spacious accommo dations for astronaut-scientists in its Saturn Workshop program. While the Workshop is certainly not the ultimate space station of which our technology is capable, it is a workable, poor man's approach to the immediate need for using and expanding our present manned space flight capability without a de trimentalloss of momentum. The approach of converting a Saturn rocket stage into a manned laboratory and observatory in space is an improvisation that matches the use of the jerry-built Jupiter C back in 1958 to launch Explorer I. Let's hope that it can get the job done just as effectively.