This is the most comprehensive and modern book on the subject of planetary rings after written systems. The book is written in style and at the level of language accessible to non-expert interested. The authors cover the scientific importance of ring studies, the history of their discovery and characterization, and the observations of Pioneer 10 in Jupiter, Pioneer 11, Voyager 1 in Jupiter, Saturn and Voyager 2 in all four giant planets of the solar system, and Galileo in Jupiter.

Each chapter includes comprehensive notes, references, numbers and tables. A bibliography is included at the end of each chapter..