Book Description

David Levy has held a lifelong passion for comets, and is one of the most successful comet discoverers in history.In this book he describes the observing techniques that have been developed over the years--from visual observations and searching, to photography, through to electronic charge-coupled devices (CCDs). He combines the history of comet hunting with the latest techniques, showing how our understanding of comets has evolved over time. This practical handbook is suitable for amateur astronomers, from those who are casually interested in comets and how to observe them, to those who want to begin and expand an observing program of their own. Drawing widely from his own extensive experience, Levy describes how enthusiastic amateurs can observe comets and try to make new discoveries themselves.David H. Levy is one of the word's foremost amateur astronomers. He has discovered seventeen comets, seven using a telescope in his own backyard, and had a minor planet, Asteroid 3673 Levy named in his honor.He is best known as the co-discoverer of the famous 1994 Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet.Levy is frequently interviewed in the media and succeeded Carl Sagan as science columnist for Parade magazine.He has written and contributed to a number of books, most recently David Levy's Guide to the Night Sky (Cambridge, 2001). ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Interesting but not a practical guide for the amateur
I bought this book by noted comet discover David Levy hoping that it would serve as a practical guide for amateur astronomers interested in observing and studying comets. Instead, this book is mostly about how Mr. Levy and his dedicated search team discover comets. If you're looking for advice on what type of telescope is best for observing comets (or maybe large binoculars are better?) you won't find it here. While Levy briefly mentions the telescopes he uses, there was no discussion of the equipment options available to the typical amateur astronomer on a budget (wide field refractors and reflectors, binoculars, etc.). The book also lacks advice regarding the weather conditions and locations that are best for observing comets - except to note that at one point Levy and his family moved to Arizona. That's great for them, but what about the rest of us who can't pack up our lives and move to the desert? The book is light on text and heavy on black and white images, many of which are grainy and provide little useful information. One of the more informative sections of the book is the explanation of the arcane new naming system for comets that was developed by the International Astronomical Union in the mid 1990s. There is also a brief discussion of the morphology of comets and the terminology used to describe the various components that can be seen visually. I would have liked this discussion to have been more detailed, perhaps citing various examples based on visual observations using amateur instruments. Levy devotes a large section of the book to his discovery of Comet Shoemaker-Levy, which collided with Jupiter in 1994. Although this is a significant achievement worthy of mention, its important to note that this comet was discovered using a large professional telescope the likes of which most amateurs will never be able to use. Levy also devotes considerable space to describing his experience searching for comets photographically, on old plates, and with CCDs, yet he gives short shrift to visual observation, which is relegated to the back of the book. As Levy correctly notes, the advent of inexpensive CCD cameras and remote telescope operation, combined with wide-field astrograph telescopes, has largely replacedvisual sweeping as the main method of comet discovery. However, most readers of this book will probably not be engaged in comet discovery efforts, but will be using their eyes to search for known comets. It is this type of casual visual observer that the book largely lets down.Based on Mr. Levy's reputation as a dedicated and accomplished amateur observer, I was expecting a more comprehensive treatment of the subject that could serve both as a reference and as a practical guide at the eyepiece. Instead, I found this book to be mainly a recap of the notable achievements of the Levies and a few of their colleagues. Interesting, but not exactly a practical guide for the amateur. ... Read more

Book Description

From 1985 to 2000 Joseph Boyce provided scientific leadership to NASA as its Mars exploration program scientist. He has lived much of the history of the planet's exploration, and his findings have helped to determine what we know about Mars today. The Smithsonian Book of Mars is truly a firsthand account.

Boyce draws his clear explanations of Mars's atmosphere, climate, surface, and interior from the monumental findings of the different NASA missions. Beginning with Mariner 4 in 1965 and continuing through the 2001 Mars Odyssey probe, each spacecraft sent to Mars yielded fascinating new discoveries (how did those "canals" come to be?) and occasionally overturned earlier findings--especially when trying to answer NASA's ultimate question, "Are we alone?" The search for life on Mars seemed to be over after the 1976 Viking mission, but in 1997 scientists announced that they had found possible traces of ancient life in the ALH84001 Martian Meteorite, sparking furious debates in scientific journals. That controversy is precisely why Boyce finds Mars so endlessly fascinating--you just never know.

Boyce closes the book with a look at the bright future for additional Mars exploration and outlines the requirements for a manned mission. He spent many hours scouring the NASA archives and has included only the best pictures. ... Read more

Book Description

Volume 2 of the four-volume catalog of comets observed throughout history provides a complete summary of every comet seen during the nineteenth century.It includes details of discovery, closest approaches to the Sun and Earth, path across the sky, physical descriptions, orbital information, and final observations. The catalog provides amateur and professional astronomers, and historians of science, with a definitive reference on comets through the ages. Also available:Volume 1: Ancient-1799 1999 0-521-58504-X $95.00 C ... Read more

Book Description

Meteorite research is fundamental to our understanding of the origin and early history of the Solar System. This book considers the mechanism and timing of core formation and basaltic volcanism on asteroids, and the effects of heating water-rich bodies. Results from meteorite research are placed in a galactic setting, and a theory is proposed for the origin of the planets of our Solar System. This advanced yet succinct introduction classifies meteorites in the context of their ages and origin. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

One of the only professional comprehensive meteorite books
This book is an invaluable source of information for the professional, and is also useful for those who have some background in geology. I've had this book checked out of the library for 2 years! It's time to get my own copy!

recommended by NASA for meteorite thin section analysis
If the person from Canada thought "it bit", perhaps they he would like to sell it to someone that finds the information invaluable. No other book published before or since focuses on the subject better!

It Bites!
I learned nothing form this book ... Read more

Book Description

Meteorites, the fragments of space debris that survive their fall to Earth, have much to tell us. They hold the answers to the complexities of star formation and can explain the earliest events in the birth of the solar system. They also may have brought to Earth the water in the oceans, gases of the atmosphere, and other essential ingredients for the evolution of life. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Meteorites: A Journey Through Space and Time
I once thought that meteorites were hunks of rock from outer space. Not any more! This fascinating book opened a whole new world for me. The easy-to-understand text and accompanying artwork and photographs gave me a new understanding of these messengers from beyond time and space. Who knew they held secrets to the birth of our solar system and to how planets formed? A terrific, well-done book. Meteorites rock!

Meteorites: A Journey Through Space and Time
For Middle and High school students this is an excellent and interesting basic source on meteorites. It is not only informative but visually appealing. Visual learners, like many of our regular students and English as a Second Language young adults will discover learning science content to be an easy task with this title. ... Read more

Book Description

Meteor succeeded meteor in such rapid succession that it was impossible to count them; at times the sky seemed full of them, and the earth was illuminated as with a morning light. Eye-witness accounts such as this, and every spectacular detail of the Leonids, the greatest meteor showers of all, can be found in the acclaimed The Heavens on Fire.In this volume, author Mark Littmann vividly tells the history of meteors, and especially the Leonids, whose terrifying beauty established meteor science. He traces the history and mythology of meteors, profiles the fascinating figures whose discoveries advanced the field, and explores how meteors have changed the course of life on Earth. Crisp illustrations capture the excitement of past meteor showers and help elucidate important concepts. The returning Leonids are now reaching their peak with great activity expected in 1999 and 2000. For all those who wish to take part in this rare experience, Littmann offers advice on how and where to find the best view. Filled with practical tips, clear explanations, and descriptions of a sight that more than one observer has called "brilliant beyond conception," The Heavens on Fire will delight every reader.Mark Littmann teaches astronomy at the University of Tennessee.His previous books include Comet Halley: Once in a Lifetime and Planets Beyond: Discovering the Outer Solar System. Both books were chosen by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific as Astronomy Books of the Year. ... Read more

Book Description

Could an alien organism really survive a centuries-long trip on a meteor and remain virulent enough to attack a human being? How would a scientist know she was peering at a microbe from another planet? What's the possibility of a genetically mutated monster actually developing?

In a gripping exploration of the facts behind the science fiction that has enthralled millions of X-philes, Anne Simon -- the respected virologist who comes up with the science for many intriguing episodes -- discusses telomeres, cloning, the Hayflick limit, nanotechnology, endosymbionts, lentiviruses, and other strange phenomena that have challenged the intellect and threatened the lives and sanity of America's favorite FBI agents. With Simon's extraordinary gift for explaining complicated, cutting-edge science in a light, accessible style, and her behind-the-scenes commentary on the development of various plot lines, The Real Science Behind the X-Files will appeal to science buffs and X-Files aficionados alike. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

The Real Science Behind the X-Files
This is a great book for X-Files fans, but also for anyone who has even a passing interest in science. If you think science is dull, boring, difficult, only for nerds or without a shred of imagination - read this book. It is filled with lots of scientific facts and anecdotes that are, sorry Chris Carter, better than the X-Files. It turns out real science is more interesting than science fiction. The book is written so people of all levels can understand the concepts behind the X-Files, and some other ideas that are at the forefront of scientific research in the world today. I wanted to share this with a lot of my friends, and not only my science friends. I never new science could be so exciting. It turns out, that, science, like everything else, needs a little bit of luck, hard work, and a lot of imagination to discover the "microbes, meterorites, & mutants" that make this planet go around. A great gift, and get one for yourself.

Fascinating Reading
This book makes fascinating reading, even for the non-scientist and non X-File fan. Personally, my last forays into science were sometime in the tenth grade, and I've only seen the X-Files show sporadically. But Professor Simon explains the scientific rationale behind the episodes in such an entertaining and illuminating manner, I never missed a beat. She is a thoroughly competent scientist, but I think it's her excellent storytelling ability that sets this work apart. As someone who's tried to struggle through a number of "science for laypeople" books and put them down unfinished, I would recommend this book as a very entertaining read.

For the Scientist and Non-Scientist
I came upon this book at the house of a friend and couldn't put it down.

It is a wonderful read and, to a non-scientist, an entertaining and clear look at some of the scientific mysteries of the universe.

This is a perfect book for a graduation present and for anyone with an interest in brain-sucking worms, aliens and mutating organisms. I recommend it highly.

Way More Entertaining than a normal biology textbook...
Sexual tension aside, the coolest thing about this show seems to be the questions it poses about nature and science as we know it. And being a molecular biology student, I always get a kick out of shooting down the supposed theories that the show's characters spout out. It's hard sometimes to figure out if Chris Carter and the powers that be are really serious about certain phenomenons/ideas. This book clears it up nicely. Dr. Simon is completely knowledgeable about these topics and presents the information with much more gusto than your typical molecular biology textbook. I'd rather be tested on her book come final exams, but such is life! :)

Great science book!
Not being a fan of the fantastically popular Fox series, I picked up this book as a curiosity, and was pleasantly surprised by the depth to which Simon, the "science advisor" to the show, goes to elaborate on some of the plots to the TV show. Simon is a molecular biologist, and her discussion tend toward cell biology, but are written with such clarity that even those largely ignorant of life sciences (like me) won't be put off. For instance, her discussion of the the mystery of aging goes on for a fairly dense 20 pages, having been introduced by the episode plot "Turning Back Time" where Mulder and Scully search for the missing Dr. Ridley, who was conducting illegal research aimed at modifying the process by which cells age and eventually die. Anyone who enjoys a good scientific detective story will enjoy this book. Simon presents countless real-life mysteries from the recent research of biologists and geneticists. My only real complaint was arriving at the end of the book and NOT finding a "recommended reading" list. Reading this book really piqued my interest in some of these scientific hunts. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Science certified catastrophe
Trevor Palmer's study is a thoroughly researched, well written addition to what is now a small library documenting catastrophes in Earth history and in the history of civilization. Catastrophes may come from three sources: asteroids and comets, climatic adversities, and geophysical convulsions. All enjoy high public visibility today, but this awareness is quite recent-basically since about 1980. Prior to that, belief in catastrophes was dismissed by progressive thought as a remnant of religious delusions, which thrive on the frisson of sudden interventions by the gods. The possibility that these delusions might be the mythopoetic expression of the experience of naturally-caused events was dismissed because, it was said, nature operates by regular natural laws, not by unpredictable fits and starts. When it was pointed out that volcanoes, tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes, forest fires, and such like meet this description, the response was that they are purely local events lacking the muscle to threaten civilization. The received wisdom was especially hostile to the idea that rocks from space could threaten life on Earth. All that's now changed. Global warming and the destruction of biodiversity are accepted by the international community to place civilization at risk. Astronomy, inundated with data gathered by space exploration, learned that there are billions of loose rocks in the asteroid belt situated between Mars and Jupiter, and that they have struck the inner planets, including Earth, many times. The inner planets, they say, are a 'cosmic shooting gallery' so active that asteroids even strike asteroids! Two of the five mass extinctions are confirmed as resulting from asteroid strikes plus volcanoes, and the other three may be due to the same causes. By an ironic twist in the progress of knowledge, the denial of catastrophes is now the delusion. Palmer's study is the best available guide to this momentous change in the view of our place in nature.

smooth and flawed
Perilous Planet Earth (2003) is a useful general textbook on catastrophic quantavolution from the standpoint of an academic biologist. So handsomely produced is the book and by so respectable a publisher that one suspects there must be something wrong with it, and there is. It is one more attempt, and a good show, to sneak the overwhelming new paradigm of quantavolution into Victorian England. I cannot recommend it as a record of the history of the scientific movement of the fringe in its valiant and often mad efforts to crack the barriers of uniformitarianism -- it is too incomplete and strenuously current for that. The author came late upon the battleground, whence most of the corpses had been carried off.
It ignores most rough passages of the stresses in science, that are still occurring, without the full climax in sight, thus serving as a kind of Sunday School version of neo-catastrophism, and often doing this job well. For example, he donates more than his share of apologetics to the frequent efforts of scientists, ordinary and distinguished, to frustrate new theories and experiments. Yet, at the same time he does not take up the many little internecine struggles within science, whose innovators would sell their children to get back at each other for real and fancied intellectual injuriousness.
A favorite device of the author to hold his place in the mainstream of academia, while appearing to be a bold innovator, is to commit ambiguous statements of the following ilk: after some blah-blah,..."very occasionally, an outsider can introduce an important piece of evidence, or a way of looking at a situation that would never occur to a specialist schooled in a particular way of thinking. Even then, intruders should be wary of thinking that they have found a simple solution to a complex, long-standing problem, just as insiders should avoid the trap of believing that no-one without their specialist knowledge can...".. blah-blah. Much space that could be otherwise employed usefully is given over to such boring fence-straddling.
The author's 128 closely packed pages of citations of hundreds of primary and secondary sources without a single internet citation are a scandal when most of the newest science plus the old can be found cited on the Web. Apropos; I recently heard a leading physicist deliver a paper, whose contents, when printed, cited only www sources. It is possible to perceive here a policy of the publisher in cahoots with the author to ignore the web; which is like passing over your daily bread. I find no mention of Ian Tresman, whose yeoman work at building a wonderful world of internet consciousness is unique, and done on behalf of the very society that Trevor Palmer entered as a Johnny-come-lately and whose membership was so flattered by the attentions of an academic biologist that it elected him President for a time. Nor of Jill Abery or William Corliss, industrious bibliographers of the new paradigm. Incidentally this same Society's Constitution gives a vote in its elections solely to Englishmen, although most of its members are Americans and other foreigners; an understandable precaution.)
His huge set of references aside, the author does not treat significantly the spheres of astronomy, astrophysics, anthropology, art history, geochronology, historical chronology, psychology and psychiatry, linguistics, atmosphere, geology (except for lyallism), and non-English language sources (even in his monster listings). The book is unsystematic. It should not be confused with a general or special theory of catastrophism or anything else. Nor is it a disciplined or orderly history or categorization of the sciences involved.
Lest I be thought prejudiced, I should acknowledge that he mentions chapters of one of my twelve books in the field (not the major ones), and, of course, not my web site (nor his dedicated Society's web site nor any other) from which my readers download in a month more text on his subjects than will have been read by readers of his book in a year. (His book is 1,588,093th of the books on the Amazon .com sales list; files of the present author's quantavolution series were browsed or read on well over 27,000 occasions in the single month of March, 2004.) He does give considerable place, however, to Charles Berlitz (The Bermuda Triangle writer), Edgar Cayce, (the seer), Plato and a raft of Atlantis authors, and he duly earns Brownie points for obeisances to the Alvarez articles on the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary.
His treatment of the giant influence in the field, that of Immanuel Velikovsky, who inspired the formation of the Society for Interdisciplinary Studies, is paltry, patronizing, partial, and unfair. A few paragraphs about the adventures of Venus and Mars suffice. He practically dismisses the great work on Earth in Upheaval in two sentences. On the other hand, he does not even mention the bete noire of Velikovskians, Leroy Ellenberg, whose many hundreds of pages of letters, articles, and web essays on scientific theories, scientific struggles, and diatribes against Velikovky and his supporters are better informed than Professor Palmer's work -- something that I must admit with considerable regret. I should, it goes without saying, recommend Palmer's coffee-table textbook over Ellenberg's unbound works, in a first course on quantavolution.

Alfred de Grazia
Center for Studies in Quantavolution
9 April 2004 ... Read more

Book Description

In Impact, Gerrit L. Verschuur offers an eye-opening look at the catastrophic collisions of comets and asteroids with our planet. Perhaps more important, he paints an unsettling portrait of the possibility of new collisions with earth, exploring potential threats to our planet and describing what scientists are doing right now to prepare for this frightening possibility.

Every day something from space hits our planet, Verschuur reveals. In fact, about 10,000 tons of space debris fall to earth every year, mostly in meteoric form. But meteors are not the greatest threat to life on earth, the author points out. The major threats are asteroids and comets. The reader discovers that astronomers have located some 350 NEAs ("Near Earth Asteroids"), objects whose orbits cross the orbit of the earth. Comets, of course, are even more deadly. He discusses Comet Swift-Tuttle--"the most dangerous object in the solar system"--a comet far larger than the one that many scientists believe killed off the dinosaurs, due to pass through earth's orbit in the year 2126. In addition, the author describes the efforts of Spacewatch and other groups to locate NEAs, and evaluates the idea that comet and asteroid impacts have been an underrated factor in the evolution of life on earth.

Whether discussing monumental tsunamis or the innumerable comets in the solar system, Impact will enthrall anyone curious about outer space, remarkable natural phenomenon, or the future of the planet earth. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The definitive book on impact hazards
The chance of Earth being struck by a large asteroid or comet is neither more nor less now than it has ever been. If nothing else, this book will bring out that fact. So for all the folks who want to believe in the magical or the preposterous, such as Nostradamus, Velikovsky, and other fantasy spinners, go elsewhere

If, however, you are a person who accepts things scientific, this is your book. Professsor Verschuur is an excellent, lucid, organized writer who does not waste the reader's time with forays into the specculative or ludicrous. Instead he forthrightly presents the overview of, and the detail behind, the genuine, if remote, danger that human society will receive heavy damage, if not outright destruction, from a large impact event. He accurately points out that the remoteness of this eventuality is offset by the magnitude of destruction that will occur if a large impact happens.

I have studied impact phenomena for some years, and this book is the most-fact-filled, well organized book of its genre. It is not only an excellent starting volume for a study of this branch of science, but is a good wake-up call for organizing attempts to meet the danger. The Professor does not patronize his reader, but neither does he presume a level of knowledge beyond the ken of the average well-informed adult.

I recommend the book very highly and would urge anyone interested in this topic to make it a priority purchase. It is the book by which all similar texts should be measured.

A thoughtful, useful compilation of known facts
This book really helps make a lot of things clear about comets and asteroids. I think some people might be turned off, or made suspicious, by the somewhat lurid cover, but please don't be among those people. The book is highly lucid, extremely intelligent, and absolutely terrifying.

Dr. Verschuur is a well-respected astronomer, and clearly one of the reasons that he is so highly respected, is his facility for communicating complex information in an understandable way. In this book, he carefully walks the reader through logically presented discussions of the dinosaur-killing asteroid; the tsunamis (huge ocean waves) that would result from an asteroid landing in the sea; the history of the way scientists have thought about the threat of asteroids; and the statistical likelihood that you or I will be slain by an errant asteroid (about 1 in 20,000, which is approximately the same as the chance of dying in a plane crash). While, admittedly, current efforts to prevent plane crashes are stepped up from the norm, doesn't it seem as though we should be taking vastly greater precautions to detect near-Earth asteroids which could destroy civilization???

Dr. Vershuur's account of this threat is very level-headed, and perceptively written. He asks why so many of us have trouble psychologically, conceptualizing the reality of this threat. He also deals, cautiously, with the possibility that ancient legends from around the world may actually tell of asteroid strikes in pre-historic times. This is brave of him to even mention this kind of thing, because it verges on speculation. Scientists are not in the business of irresponsible speculation, after all -- their business is science! They risk grave professional consequences, if they even attempt to discuss such issues. But Dr. Verschuur is very good about alerting the reader to the controversial nature of efforts to extract scientific meaning from the ore of myth. Anyway, he touches on the topic, and it is sometimes interestingly plausible, to my mind at least.

Probably the best thing about this book, is that it helps to alleviate the almost religious terror that the prospect of such collisions produce in most of us. Think of the movie "Armageddon." What a calm, objective, dispassionately conceived title for a movie -- NOT! That movie makes us think about asteroid strikes as a highly infrequent, totally overwhelming event that only Bruce Willis would be able to handle (ha ha). Dr. Verschuur's book, on the other hand, helps us to see that the Earth gets hit CONSTANTLY by asteroids, and it's just a question of understanding the frequency with which we get nailed by the bigger ones.

We learn here that, for example, the Earth gets hit by an asteroid large enough to disrupt a global civilization approximately once every 5,000 years. That's APPROXIMATELY. It can vary by thousands of years. This is just the statistical likelihood, averaged out over millions of years by analyzing the age of craters on Earth, nearby planets, and the moon. We learn that an asteroid with a diameter of 500 meters would probably destroy civilization, and that one that was over 1,000 meters would result in the death of virtually the entire world population of humans. For perspective, the one that finally killed the dinosaurs was about 10,000 meters across. Asteroids that big are rare -- but some are even bigger.

Most asteroids are not quite this threatening, but none are benign. Dr. Vershuur's book really helps us to understand things that more people should be thinking about. My only problem with this book is that I wish it included an appendix of ideas that people should try to implement, as precautionary measures. One example that IS included is the importance of giving money to the (very few) institutions that watch the skies. However, I would like to see a book like this also mention promoting educational initiatives that encourage highly localized electrical power generation options, such as wind energy, in case our global economy is suddenly obliterated. Most importantly, I wish there were a section stressing the importance of learning to grow FOOD in hydroponic, protected, indoor environments, so people would have renewable food supplies if a sudden winter, lasting for years, were brought on by all the dust an asteroid strike would throw up into the sky. No country on Earth has more than a few months of food stored up at any given time. If a major asteroid strike provoked a "nuclear winter" type of scenario, virtually everyone who survived would starve, without precautionary measures.

Still, basically this book is simply fantastic. Definitely two thumbs up.

Excellent review of the very real threat of impact
No writer out there does a better job of explaining science to the interested non-scientist than Verschuur. Impact! is a well-researched and beautifully-written book. It came out before all the Hollywood hype so it never made it to the best-seller list, but if you're interested in this subject, don't miss this one! Learn the truth behind the "Armageddon" and "Deep Impact" movies from a world-renowned expert. Astronomy has recently lost two of its most eloquent ambassadors to the non-scientific world - Carl Sagan and Gene Shoemaker. Verschuur could easily fill their shoes. If you like Impact!, try Verschuur's other books - "Hidden Attraction" and "The Invisible Universe Revealed." They're great!

Stolen works of Immanuel Velikovsky and then trashes him
This author has stolen the foundational idea of this book from the great scientist Dr. Immanuel Velikovsky who wrote the best seller "Worlds in Collision" in 1950. Then this author, Verschuur, trashes Velikovsky. Verschuur states hackneyed cliches about Velikovsky that were part of the most disgusting scientific blackballing in history. Verschuur does not address all of the overwhelming evidence that NASA has devoped over the last 40 years which were all anticipated by Velikovsky. What about the 900 degree surface temperature of Venus, or radio signals from Jupiter, or thick dust on the moon (remember the footprints of our astronauts?), or the scores of other discoveries all of which Velikovsky clearly anticipated and Verschuur ignores while promoting his own daffy theory. As an objective writer, Verschuur is a failure, and as an observer of alternative science he is lame. ... Read more

Book Description

In a lively investigation into the boundaries between popular culture and early-modern science, Sara Schechner presents a case study that challenges the view that rationalism was at odds with popular belief in the development of scientific theories. Schechner Genuth delineates the evolution of people's understanding of comets, showing that until the seventeenth century, all members of society dreaded comets as heaven-sent portents of plague, flood, civil disorder, and other calamities. Although these beliefs became spurned as "vulgar superstitions" by the elite before the end of the century, she shows that they were nonetheless absorbed into the science of Newton and Halley, contributing to their theories in subtle yet profound ways.

Schechner weaves together many strands of thought: views of comets as signs and causes of social and physical changes; vigilance toward monsters and prodigies as indicators of God's will; Christian eschatology; scientific interpretations of Scripture; astrological prognostication and political propaganda; and celestial mechanics and astrophysics. This exploration of the interplay between high and low beliefs about nature leads to the conclusion that popular and long-held views of comets as divine signs were not overturned by astronomical discoveries.Indeed, they became part of the foundation on which modern cosmology was built. ... Read more

Book Description

`his fifth edition of Catalogue of Meteorites will, like previous editions, be the essential reference volume for all those with an informed interest in meteorites.It is the definitive descriptive list of the British Natural History Museum, which maintains the offical world database of all known meteorite falls and finds.Coverage includes the 10,000 new specimens recovered since the publication of the fourth edition, including those from Antarctica.Plus, for the first time, a CD-ROM accompanies the book, which includes greatly expanded information and an important search facility. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Catalogue of Meteorites, Edited by Monica Grady
The Big Blue Book is back. This time around the cover has a close-up photo of olivine laths in a barred olivine chondrule, and at 689 pages, is bigger and better than ever. There is a listing of 22,507 authenticated meteorites up to December 1999 which also come on a CD-ROM.

The origins of the Catalogue go back to 1847 with a listing of the 62 meteorites of the British Museum. Subsequent periodic updates were issued and in 1923, George Prior, the Keeper of Minerals of the British Museum, issued the first worldwide Catalogue of Meteorites. The well-known 4th edition, edited by Graham, Bevan, and Hutchison was published in 1985.

The 5th edition not only has ten thousand more meteorites (including such recent discoveries as the Martian Los Angeles meteorite or a Saharan EL4-5 called Grein 002), but it also reflects the multitude of changes that have taken place in the field of meteoritics in the past 15 years. Type 3 chondrites now have petrologic subtypes (3.0 to 3.9), enstatite chondrites are now distinguished as EH or EL, there are new carbonaceous chondrite groups, CH, CK, and CR, as well as the new groupings of acapulcoites, brachinites, rumurutiites and winonaites. The SNCs are now described, perhaps with a bit of British understatement, "probably from Mars". There are also various stylistic changes like dropping the ordinary chondrite terms "bronzite", "hypersthene", and "amphoterite", replacing them simply with H, L, and LL. However, the overall format is the same as the 1985 edition and readers of the latter will be right at home with this one.

Another new feature to the 2000 edition is the listing of tables of Antarctic meteorites, meteorites from the Nullarbor region, Australia, meteorites from Roosevelt County, New Mexico, and over 1500 meteorites recovered from the Sahara Desert.

Even some of the citations have changed. For example, the TKW of Nakhla is now 10 kg, due to the research of Kevin Kichinka (Meteorite! Aug. '98) down from the original 40 kg and the infamous phrase, "one of the stones killed a dog", now reads, "one of the stones reputedly killed a dog". Divnoe has been upgraded to an "ungrouped achondrite", and although this reviewer thought it was actually a brachinite, Alan Rubin informs me that Monica is correct. Gao and Guenie have now been amalgamated into the one fall denoted Gao-Guenie. The recently found Nadiabondi individuals have maintained their status under that name even though there was some speculation they might be associated with the Gao-Guenie fall. Apparently not.

The inclusion of a CD-ROM makes this edition of the CM so much more useful than previous editions and more in keeping with modern databases. Once it is installed on your computer you do not have to put the disk in again as it resident on your harddrive ready to use. You can search for a single entry, or use the data fields to do more complex searches, like finding all CM2 carbonaceous chondrites from Australia (Adelaide, Lookout Hill, Murchison). Filling in the search form is easy and you do not need a manual to run it. You do have to remember to select "valid" from one of the drop down lists as otherwise you get doubtful returns as well. The search speed probably depends on the speed of your computer: my 600 MHz Gateway took about 10 seconds for multiple searches, but was virtually instantaneous if searching for a particular meteorite. The CD-ROM also has more analytical data and more complete reference citations for the researcher than the book itself.

Of course in any work of this great magnitude, there are a few misprints/glitches, but I won't dwell on these. There are some people who would go to a concert by Heifetz and listen only for the wrong notes (if any!)

It is entirely fitting that there are meteorites named Grady (p.220). This book represents a prodigious amount of human endeavor, and the meteorite community owes Monica Grady an enormous debt of gratitude. If you are a serious amateur or a professional, you will want to have this book.

New fifth edition
The enclosed CD-ROM is for PC only. With a MAC version, my rating would be five stars. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Alan Boss is a theoretical planetologist: he imagines how and where planets might form. Looking for Earths is his account of the first discoveries of planets around other stars, which he rightly calls "a step as significant as Neil Armstrong's first step onto the Moon."Because Boss is a leading theoretician and a member of various committees and advisory bodies, he had a trackside seat for the race but is free from the bias that comes from actually running. He is better (and much more honest) than most astronomers at describing the infighting, boredom, professional feuds, bad donuts, and hard work that go into doing Big (i.e. astronomically expensive) Science. Boss includes an acronym glossary, so you can wrap your brain around sentences such as "The SISWG agreed that Michael Shao's design for OSI met the requirements for AIM." And he proves that you can consult for the government and still maintain a sense of humor, as when he says that "51 Pegasi's planet must have formed more or less at its predicted location, and then been dragged kicking and screaming inward toward its star."

The late 1990s have seen the start of one of the great ages of discovery, and Boss's excitement is palpable. "In the distant future, a thousand years or two from now, aliens will reach an Earth-like planet orbiting a star in the Sun's neighborhood.... Our descendents will be those aliens." --Mary Ellen Curtin ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Extrasolar Enterprise
If you're content to have your view of the universe stop right where it is, don't read this book. But if you want to know the planetary exploration history and latest information about the search for planets beyond our solar system, then pick up "Looking for Earths."

Alan Boss, a NASA adviser at the Carnegie Institution, has presented us with an extremely well written, smart and well-informed account of the search for "extrasolar planets", those beyond our solar systems. Just in case anyone thinks that's an easy step-you know, just pull up the telescope and point it at the stars, here is his description of the difficulty:

"Trying to see an extrasolar planet right next to its star is akin to trying to see a tiny mirror being held by a person standing next to a powerful carbon-arc searchlight that is pointed right at you-you can't see the light from the mirror because you are blinded by the far brighter light from the
searchlight itself. Human beings could start at the sky until
their eyes popped without ever seeing a planet belonging to another star."

What Boss does is quickly but clearly tell us the history of planetary exploration, tracing thoughts and discoveries,
starting with Pythagoras in the sixth century B.C.E., who thought the Earth was fixed an unmoving, then explaining the brilliance of Copernicus and then Kepler, Brahe, Giordano Bruno, Kant and other early giants.

Then he moves on to such contemporary heroes as Peter van de Kamp, Daniel Goldin and George Gatewood as they come up, rapid-fire, it seems, relatively speaking, with proof of the extrasolar planets' existence, some coming so quickly that scientists joked about subscribing to "Planet of the Week".

What Boss does especially well, besides writing in utterly understandable language, is connect the dots, as it were.

If you read this book, you'll get a wonderful look at scientific thinking and development, instead of getting science piecemeal.

Boss has a rather interesting approach: starting with
Chapter 3, he dates events as he opens the chapter, so that each chapter, and often sub-chapters start with the date of the discovery or event that led to a discovery. It's a neat way of encompassing history and allows us to see how quickly ideas can move along. Most obvious to me was the sense that discoveries are speeding up-each development happens a little more quickly and closely to its predecessor, feeding yet the next discovery.

The science outlined in this book is totally comprehensible to most teenagers and adults and probably some pre-teens as well, if they're reasonably aware of astronomical issues. You may want to skip some of the deeper science and just read about the discoveries and who made them. Charts and photos accompany
several chapters to help explain who did what and why it was important.

Anyone wanting to know more about what's next, and not have to get all their science from Star Trek would be well advised to read this book. ... Read more

Book Description

WHAT ARE THESE GRACEFUL VISITORS TO OUR SKIES? WE NOW KNOW THAT THEY BRING BOTH LIFE AND DEATH AND TEACH US ABOUT OUR ORIGINS.

Comet begins with a breathtaking journey through space astride a comet. Pulitzer Prize-winning astronomer Carl Sagan, author of Cosmos and Contact, and writer Ann Druyan explore the origin, nature, and future of comets, and the exotic myths and portents attached to them. The authors show how comets have spurred some of the great discoveries in the history of science and raise intriguing questions about these brilliant visitors from the interstellar dark.

Were the fates of the dinosaurs and the origins of humans tied to the wanderings of a comet? Are comets the building blocks from which worlds are formed?

Lavishly illustrated with photographs and specially commissioned full-color paintings, Comet is an enthralling adventure, indispensable for anyone who has ever gazed up at the heavens and wondered why.

"SIMPLY THE BEST."

 *The Times of London

"FASCINATING, EVOCATIVE, INSPIRING."

 *The Washington Post

"COMET HUMANIZES SCIENCE. A BEAUTIFUL, INTERESTING BOOK."

 *United Press International

"MASTERFUL . . . SCIENCE, POETRY, AND IMAGINATION."

 *The Atlanta Journal & Constitution

... Read more

Reviews (8)

Ameteur and Armchair Astronomers will love this book
I would classify myself as the Armchair type - I don't own a telescope, and shamefully I do not know my constellations, but I have enjoyed many popular books on the subject. Having just finished reading this book I am sorely tempted to get a telescope or at least go out and find a local star party (where ameteur astronomers set up their equipment and gladly share viewing opportunities with strangers). This book was truely one of my favorite reads on the subject in recent years. To be sure, the primary focus of the book is about comets and I thought that there could not be enough here to justify an entire book - wrong!!! Sagan takes the reader on a very interesting and inspiring tour of the solar system while also teaching some interesting astronomy history. The chapter on Haley alone teaches about the early history of astronomy and tells a fascinating story of a brilliant scientist about whom most of us have heard little beyond the discovery of the comet which carries his name. Also discussed in this book is the likely connection between comets and the end of the Dinosaurs 65,000,000 years ago (before which the largest mammals were mouse size, according to the book) and the current interest astronmers have in comets and asteroids as a potential threat in our current age. Another great feature of this book is that the many chapters may be easily read in any desired order; Sagan kindly refers us to other chapters with supporting material - so when he talks about the "sand bank" theory of comets - he tells you which chapter covered that idea. I couldn't put the book down (for long).

This comet went too deep for me
As an interested layman when it comes to astronomy, I looked forward to reading this book. Given Carl Sagan's well-deserved reputation as one of the world's best communicators when it comes to matters scientific, I was certain of some happy hours whiling away through the universe.
It started very promising, and I really enjoyed the introduction. But then the book just went on and on and on: about how comets were seen in various cultures in various times; the history of scientific discovery in regard to comets; etc. After about 70 pages I had had enough. I thumbed through the rest of the book, enjoyed the superb artwork, and returned it to the library. (Oops! Am I allowed to even use that word on the Amazon website?)
In summary: very informative and well-written, but going into too much detail to keep my attention. That may not be the book's fault, of course, but I would only recommend this for people with a real interest in comets, rather than a general interest in astronomy.

Review of Sagan's Comet
This is one of my favorite non-fiction books. Sagan does his usual great job of translating complex information into enjoyable reading. I recommend this book to anyone with even a slight interest in the subject.

Goob book but too many historical notes
A nice book to read though too many historical notes which are annoying and make the book unncessarily thick

Good book
Dr. Sagan, as usual, has written a book that truly captured my attention. The photos and drawings were superb and the writing as usual was direct and not written in techno babble.

Dr. Sagan takes the time to explain theories and takes us on a roving path through the solar system. I couldn't figure out how some of the topics related to comets, but to be honest with you, I did not really care. I love his writings and I am sorry that he is no longer with us. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Amateur astronomers will enjoy Atlas of Venus, themost up-to-date book available on the geography and geology of Earth'snon-identical twin planet. This colorful compendium of maps andpictures draws heavily from the Magellan spacecraft's radar imaging,some of it published here for the first time. As the authors point out, wehave learned more about Venus in the last few decades--perhaps even inthe last few years--than throughout the whole of human history. It'shardly the tropical paradise of 1950s science fiction, but a harsh worldthat may never witness human exploration due to the severity of itsenvironment. In a way, its truly alien qualities make Venus all the moreenticing. ... Read more

Book Description

The asteroids are a series of small, heavenly bodies whose orbits fall mainly between those of Mars and Jupiter. The largest asteroid is 620 miles in diameter, the smallest, less than one mile. The use of the asteroids brings an influx of new symbols, and the addition of new symbols means the number of ideas which may be communicated is increased. It is as if you were working with a language which contained a vocabulary of ten words. You could create many more meanings than ten by combining these words in different ways. But consider how much richer the possible communication becomes if you suddenly have more than twice as many words to play with., 6 1/4" x 9 1/4" ... Read more

Reviews (2)

My opinion:
This book has articles on many asteroids going beyond the first four,using interpretations and sample charts of famous persons. But what boggles my mind is that in this,and other books dealing with asteroids beyond the first four, for interpretation of asteroids in the chart, the authours only interpret ASPECTS between the asteroid and other bodies. I cannot find one book that has interpretations for asteroids beyond the first 4 in each SIGN and HOUSE! All I can find is info on ASPECTS! I want info on asteroids in the signs and houses!

IT'S ABOUT SPACE
THE BEST BOOK I EVER REA ... Read more

Book Description

Extensively revised and updated, this new edition of David A. Rothery's acclaimed geological guide to the outer solar system includes results and close-up color and black and white images from the 1995-1999 Galileo mission to Jupiter and from the Voyager space probe. Rothery, a noted planetary scientist, explains the geological aspects of the major satellites of the outer planets, from Jupiter to Neptune to the Pluto-Charon system. In particular he shows how tectonic and volcanic processes, driven by heat from within, have shaped the rigid outer layers of these planets. Rothery also discusses the similarities and differences among these planets, and reveals how they resemble Earth-like planets. This fascinating book is written in an introductory style ideal for first- or second-year college courses. Amateur geologists and astronomers will also find its insights rewarding. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Geological Processes that Shaped the Outer Planet's Moons
Though the number of pages in this book may seem a bit small to provide a good explanation the geological processes that shaped and are still shaping the moons of the outer planets, the author does an excellent job of doing just that. Excluding the Moon and the two small satellites of Mars, this book covers all the planetary satellites (moons) of our solar system. The book does include the latest findings (as of 1999) from the Galileo space probe.

The first quarter of the book describes in quite some detail, at least for the non-geologist, the different theories that have been used to classify these planetary bodies. The remainder of the book, excluding the conclusion section, is divided into three parts: dead worlds, recently active worlds and active worlds. Each of the moons falls into one of these categories and a detailed description of each moon is provided in its corresponding section. Each section also includes high resolution Voyager and Galileo photographs and shade relief maps.

After finishing this book, I came away with the idea the solar system is a very geologically diverse place and there is a lot we don't know. Even the author, in several places was willing to admit to that. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

From La Canada, CA
This is the book for anyone interested in Meteorites, Meteoritics, History of Meteoritics, and hunting for and identifying Meteorites. Richard Norton has written a very readable book which does not require a scientific background to fully understand the subjects. The Parts of the book are: "Falls, Finds and Craters", "What is a Meteorite?", "Meteorite Hunters", and "Origins". Each part can be read separately and stands alone. I started reading with the section about the pioneer meteorite hunter H.H. Nininger to whom Meteoritics owes so much. When in doubt as to the meaning of a scientific term, Mr. Norton has helpfully attached a Glossary. If you want to verify, test, or etch a meteorite, turn to the Appendices for instructions. For more written sources on Meteoritics, see the book's "References" section. Dorothy Norton has illustrated beautifully in a manner which is most helpful for understanding the text. The book, in addition to being a delight to read, (once I started reading I could not put it down), does a real service to the advancement of Meteoritics.

Why Not Find The Time To Look For Meteorites?
Here's the book you'll need to take along, as meteorites are much easier to find when you know their characteristics and the places where they stand out from other rocks. I've held onto my own copy of Rocks From Space for some time, although I have not gone out hunting for meteorites yet, because this is the book that entices me to make time for it. There are a lot of good quality photographs printed here on slick magazine paper, and some are in color. The book is what it's supposed to be, but if I was going to improve it for someone planning to pack it for a hike across the Utah salt flats, I would suggest that the next edition be on a lighter weight paper. This guide fills you in on the famous meteors (In the sky) and meteorites (Striking the earth) which fell in earth's recorded history. These are great fun to learn about, as there's nothing like a surprise from outer space to brighten up everyone's day. And while meteorites can even impress us as being pretty weird in the modern era, wait until you read about the one that fell in Alsace, France in 1492. It drew so much curiosity and awe that even King Maximilian of Germany came to see it. Many people took souvenir pieces from it over the centuries, but its last 122 pounds are protected by being in a local museum. Another fall Norton records came in 1992, when a car belonging to a young lady was struck. Excited collectors soon made generous offers for both the car and the meteorite. Not too long ago an old meteorite from Mars was sliced open to reveal what many scientists suspect is evidence of past life on that planet. The possibility was considered strong enough that it prompted President Clinton to go on national television to announce it; so if you use this book, you may even help confirm one of the greatest mysteries of all time.

A fine basic review of a little known field
My primary interest in the area of meteoritics is impact strucures. This book offers a fair discussion of that field, but is primarily concerned with meteorites and those who hunt, collect, and sell them. In these respects, Norton's presentation is unparalleled. The book is an easy, enjoyable read and may be perused by persons with no background in meteoritics. The biographical sketches of Ninenger and Haag alone give unique worth to the book.
The only real reservation keeping this book from a five star rating is its Apprndix C, listing suspected impact craters. Several of the listed items appear nowhere else in the impact literature I have reviewed and the listed size of many features varies from other calculations. But, then, I should do so good.

Second Edition Worth Buying
Those readers who bought the original First Edition might wish to know whether they should invest in the Second Edition. The answer is Yes. The Second Edition is sufficiently updated to warrant purchase, and includes discussion on new topics that have become important since the 1993/1994 writing of the First Edition. Additions include expanded discussion of the Shoemaker-Levy impact on Jupiter, discussion on the disputed finding of bacteria fossils in Mars meteorites, and discussion on the Mars Pathfinder mission. Here and there, clarifications and expansions on the First Edition's text bring the reader up to date.

Great Book
I thought the book was very good for someone like myself with a beginners interest in meteorites. There is a great deal of information, where meteorites come from, what they are made of, how they have gotten here. It did a geat job of peaking my interest in meteorites, I am planning a field tiip shortly and have ordered other books on the subject. So I would say the book did it's job of creating an interest on the subject of meteorites. I only gave it a four because I expected more from the section on meteorite hunters. ... Read more