Book Description

This book tells of the billions of wandering objects, from dust-particles to moon-sized lumps of rock, and of the random but vital roles they play in the drama of our evolving solar system.

To human beings on Earth, comets have always been objects of mystery and terror. This fear, once dismissed as superstition, is sometimes justified; comets really can bring catastrophes in their wake. Research show that comets are close relatives of both the space dust which forms meteors or shooting stars, and of the larger, inert rocks -- the asteroids -- which circle the Sun by the millions. Left over from the formation of the solar system, all of these objects have threatened Earth with massive impacts and "nuclear winters." However, they have also been part of the process by which the Solar System renews itself -- we may owe our very existence to the impact that destroyed the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.

The threat of collision with the Earth has placed comets and asteroids at the top of the agenda for astronomers, the public, and, increasingly, for governments. Comets, Meteors, and Asteroids presents a fascinating and insightful exploration of these space wanderers of the cosmos. ... Read more

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Capper's, published by Ogden Publications, Inc. on January 8, 2002. The length of the article is 499 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Meteorite hunters seek space rocks.(Bob Haag searches Portales, New Mexico, for rocks from space)(Brief Article)
Author: Foster Klug
Publication: Capper's (Magazine/Journal)
Date: January 8, 2002
Publisher: Ogden Publications, Inc.
Volume: 124Issue: 1Page: 12(1)

Article Type: Brief Article

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Reviews (1)

This book is a monument to meteorites... excellent!!!
I could not believe that a book on meteorites was such a riveting read. I could not wait for the next page. A few short weeks ago, I wouldn't have known a meteorite if one hit me in the head. But I sure would now! TheDefinitive Book on Meteorites is one cosmically written imminent bestseller. It made a massive impact on me as a reader who has always had acasual interest in meteorites as I am certain it will for others...

Kevin Allen Hall ... Read more

Book Description

Bill Cassidy led meteorite recovery expeditions in the Antarctic for fifteen years and his searches have resulted in the collection of thousands of meteorite specimens from the ice. This personal account of his field experiences on the U.S. Antarctic Search for Meteorites Project reveals the influence the work has had on our understanding of the moon, Mars and the asteroid belt.Cassidy describes the hardships and dangers of fieldwork in a hostile environment, as well as the appreciation he developed for its beauty. William Cassidy is Emeritus Professor of Geology and Planetary Science at the University of Pittsburgh.He initiated the U.S. Antarctic Search for Meteorites (ANSMET) nroject and led meteorite recovery expeditions in Antarctica in1976.His name is found attached to a mineral (cassidyite), on the map of Antarctica (Cassidy Glacier), and in the Catalog of Asteroids (3382 Cassidy).Profiled in "American Men of Science," and "Who's Who in America," he is also a recipient of The Antarctic Service Medal from the United States and has published widely in Science, Meteoritics and Planetary Science, and The Journal of Geophysical Research. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Masterpiece of Communication!
Meteorites, Ice, and Antarctica is a masterpiece of communication! Few science books teach technical matters and yet leave the reader experiencing only a great adventure and joy of learning. Yet, on every challenging subject (from Antarctic ice meteorite-stranding surfaces and the thrilling finding of the first lunar meteorite, Alan Hills 81005, to the Antarctic Martian meteorites like the now famous Alan Hills 84001 that might or might not include signs of very ancient Martian life), Cassidy amazes and informs the reader by successful teaching. He shares the cold reality of Antarctic winds with the warmth of a father recounting his own youth, around a campfire, or as with colleagues around a bar.

Talk about translating meteorite science into terms of human experience! Under, "THE SOCIOLOGY OF CHONDRITES [A broad class of meteorites]", we gain easy access when Cassidy smilingly speaks of "mixed neighborhoods" and the "melting pot" effect. But a few words do no justice to Cassidy's wonderful analogy. One must read it and smile while learning.

Cassidy neither talks down to his audience nor resorts to jargon just to sound 'scientific'. As a reviewer having read almost every meteorite book published in the English language (with help of the NASA-Goddard library), this one emerges as my favorite because of the clarity of presentation and even its 'salt' of good humor.

The entire book is permeated with an air of open honesty and objectivity. When anyone, including the author, has an unproven idea about, e.g., the origin of certain meteorite parent bodies, it clearly is labeled as such. Readers are encouraged in the valuable lesson of thinking for themselves, and with such evoked pondering, Cassidy applies one of the best learning tools.

So it is that this book is enthusiastically recommended, whether you be an intelligent novice just wanting to learn about meteorites and the origin of our solar system, a wayward wanderer who has glimpsed the majesty of a 'falling star' and wondered how it might be to relieve loose bowels in the Antarctic wind, or whether you are one of Cassidy's fellow scientists desiring to share the adventures of a colleague.

This book is learning at its most pleasurable, an adventure into life as a scientist at the terrestrial climatic extreme, a view into the politics of financing scientific adventures, and, furthermore, just one doggoned wonderful reading experience! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great read! Davy is a corker!
Some have complained, over the years, that this book was more novel than biography. Okay, then... what a great NOVEL! This was in my elementary school library in Elgin, AZ, and if I'd studied my textbooks like I studied this, I might have been a MONSTER! Connie Roarke made a great book, and I bless her name for it!

BONUS: Read how Davy was a true Small-government conservative in the Jacksonian (read that "Proto-Clintonian") big-government epoch! It's the true hero tale of the book!

Al ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Wow, Duncan Steel gives a wakeup call!
Target Earth was so interesting, I read it in one sitting. A lot of new information is presented and his background gives the reader a unique perspective and understanding of our universe.

A good introductory book on impact science, but,........
I would have given this book a five-star rating, inasmuch as it is an excellent intorduction to the area of between cosmic objects and the Earth. It is well-organized, and the many color photographs and drawings are among the best I have ever seen in this area of scientific endeavor. Reader's Digest and author Steel, an Australian astronomer, are to be complimented highly.

The book excellently summarizes the history of impact studies, including discussions of asteroids, comets, impact features on other worlds, and contains a sterling chapter on impact features on the Earth, both recent and ancient. It ends with a discussion of the danger from such events in the future, and of the means that might be used to prevent such a catastrophe. The book is readily understandable for someone with a limited scientific background, and is probably the best trade book of its kind.

That much being said, I was a bit put off at the constant drumming of a questionable theme, i.e., that the Earth is imminent danger of another such collision at any moment. This past century marks two large impacts, both in Siberia, which the book covers very well, and two possible events in South America. None caused known casualties, and to extrapolate from this a contention that cities may be vaporized almost any day is a bit far-fetched in my estimation. It COULD happen, of course, but global warming, etc. seem much more in need of immediate attention.

Author Steel was head of an Australian project to spot near-Earth objects, and his pique at the cessation of the program for lack of funds seems to pervade this work. Also, there are typos that are sometimes significant, such as mislocation of certain features, and the like. Having so kvetched, I would still recommend the book highly, but for the above reasons, I cannot give it a five-star ranking.

The sky is falling! REALLY!
Another wonderful book published by Reader's Digest. This book brings an insightful look into near earth objects that has the potential of catastrophic destruction in a blink of an eye. TARGET EARTH is a wonderfully up to date and is definitely an eye opener. Not only are there great pictures and color illustrations, its also written for the laymen and amateur skywatchers alike. The only drawback is that the book reads like a public service announcement for the Spaceguard Foundation, warning everyone that action needs to be taken now, more funding is needed, etc. Nevertheless, if you wanted to know the real science behind movies like Meteor, Armageddeon, and Deep Impact, this is the book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The universe was created in the first Big Bang, but according to Philip Dauber and Richard Muller that alone couldn't have been sufficient to set the stage for life on Earth today. Two more big bangs were needed: one in the form of a supernova that seeded the solar system with heavy elements; the second a devastating asteroid or comet impact 65 million years ago that exterminated the dinosaurs and permitted the evolution of mammals and ultimately humans. The Three Big Bangs describes the science behind each of these events in a colorful manner. It provides an easily accessible survey of key theories in cosmology, but readers more familiar with these principles may yearn for greater detail and rigor. Still, as an overview of three classes of cosmological cataclysms and their role in shaping the world as we know it, The Three Big Bangs succeeds. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

saf
okay...i admit it, i thought he would be nice...but that has changed. i don't like him anymore, he is too stuffy. he is still brilliant, tho.

Dr. Einstein
This book is really good. Dr. Dauber, or Dr. Einstein, how our AP Physics class in Alameda calls him, is simply an amazing guy. It does not matter what his hair looks like, this guy is simply brilliant. I have him here at Alameda High, he is my and many more student's brilliant teacher, much better then Dr. Lynch, and he tells you all about his experiences in life, with the NASA and so on. Brilliant and very nice guy. To the book again, I think the theory of 3 big bangs is something new, I really like this book and it is very informative and helps one studying about that era.

Book Bad - Me no like.
Boring, not good. What's the deal with his hair?

i hated this book no action
there should of been more storie

Excellent popular science about evolution of the universe.
The authors' three big bangs are 1) THE Big Bang thought to have given birth to the known universe, 2) the later explosions of supernovas which produced the heavy elements not originally present in the early universe, which was dominated by the light elements hydrogen and helium, and 3) the crash of a comet or asteroid near the Yucatan peninsula 65 million years ago, which destroyed the dinosaurs and gave fresh opportunities to mammals and, eventually, to us humans. For the authors, these diverse events are linked because they have each played an enormous role in determining the nature of the world we now live in. These three big bangs give us a strong sense of physical evolution, comparable to the modern view of biological evolution. This is a new perception. When I was a child in the 1940's I read everything about popular astronomy I could get my hands on. The view I got at the time was of a completely static universe, in which nothing much ever happened. The universe was magnificent and awesome but certainly not dynamic. Now the universe is a place of explosive evolution and is vastly more magnificent and awesome. "The Three Big Bangs" tells this story well. This is a book that openly panders to our fascination with violence, but in a way that is socially acceptable! ... Read more

Book Description

The Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) was the first dission to orbit and eventually land on an asteroid. A phenomenal success, the mission returned with hundreds of thousands of images, spectra, and other measurements about the large near-Earth asteroid 433 Eros. Some of the scientists and engineers who made NEAR such a success describe the mission here in their own words, from the initial concept studies, through the development phase, launch, cruise operations, the flyby of asteroid Mathilde, the near-catastrophic main engine failure in 1998, the heroic rescue and recovery of the spacecraft, the amazing year-long up-close look at one of Earth's most primitive celestial neighbors, and, finally, the daring attempt to land the spacecraft on Eros at the end of the mission. The book is illustrated throughout with images from the mission and explanatory diagrams. Jim Bell is an Assistant Professor in the Cornell University Astronomy Department whose research focuses on the geology, chemistry, and mineralogy of planets, asteroids, and comets using data obtained from telescopes and spacecraft missions.He is a member of a number of space science teams, including the NASA Mars Pathfinder and NEAR.Author of some 70 first and co-authored journal publications, he is a frequent contributor to popular astronomy magazines and radio shows.The International Astronomical Union recently awarded him the honor of having asteroid 8146 Jimbell named after him.Jacqueline Mitton is the Press Officer and a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, a member of the International Astronomical Union, and a Member of the Division of Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society.She is the author or co-author of 16 astronomy books; her most recent being The Cambridge Dictionary of Astronomy (2001). ... Read more

Reviews (2)

An Excellent Account of a Unique Space Science Mission
The Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) mission completed in 2001 was the first to orbit and eventually land on an asteroid. That fact makes it significant. The fact that the mission was an unqualified success-when a success for NASA was truly critical in the aftermath of two successive failures with Mars probes in 1999-makes it rare. The fact that it was conducted by the Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory over the protests of the mighty Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA's traditional solar system exploration center, makes it politically sensitive. The fact that the NEAR team performed the mission on the cheap, spending less than $150 million, makes it unprecedented for deep space probes. The fact that it returned thousands of images, spectra, and other measurements about the large near-Earth asteroid 433 Eros makes it scientifically relevant.

After a long gestation period, NEAR began its voyage to Eros on 17 February 1996, the first mission flown under NASA's new Discovery program, a series of low-cost planetary science projects. NEAR finally moved into orbit around Eros on 14 February 2000, roughly a year later than intended.

Throughout 2000, NEAR explored Eros offering spectacular pictures and a rich harvest of spectroscopy data. At the conclusion of the mission, on 12 February 2001, the mission team landed it on the surface of Eros. Although the NEAR spacecraft was not designed to survive landing, its instruments remained operational until 1 March 2001.

In "Asteroid Rendezvous" several of the scientists and engineers who conducted the NEAR mission describe it in their own words from initial concept studies through development, launch, and cruise operations. The book is liberally illustrated throughout with both stunning images from the mission and explanatory diagrams.

"Asteroid Rendezvous" is long on description and celebration and short on analysis and critical examination. Even so, it is a very interesting book, and a fine start in documenting the history of this important mission. It will be of interest to amateur astronomers and general readers who want to know about the American space program. It will serve as grist for future serious historical studies of planetary exploration.

Very Good Book About A Great Space Mission
The Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) mission was the first of NASA's "Faster, Better Cheaper" spacecraft. Its primary mission was to orbit the asteroid 433 Eros, thereby becoming the first robotic explorer to orbit and eventually land on an asteroid. On the journey to Eros, NEAR flew by the main-belt asteroid Mathilde as well as our home planet, the Earth and returned dozens of pictures; however, the journey to Eros was almost lost when a software error caused the main engine to shut down prematurely. Due to the efforts the engineers and scientists supporting this project, the space probe was saved and the NEAR mission became one of the most successful NASA missions. In the end, the mission returned with hundreds of thousands of images, spectra, and other measurements about the large near-Earth asteroid Eros.

In this book, the author, Jim Bell, a planetary scientist and professor at Cornell, has assembled nine different articles about various aspects of this mission into one concise book about all aspects of this specular mission. The book opens with a chapter providing an overview of Eros and then moves into two chapters dedicated to the spacecraft and its mission, and its trip to Eros, from launch to rendezvous. The remaining chapters cover the different discovers made by the NEAR spacecraft, such as its overall landscape, its history, and several on its geology. There is also one chapter, which explains the photography planning, and eventual execution of this plan.

In general, I did not find the book to be very technical and there is a glossary of terms to help the layman as well as numerous photographs, figures and graphs are found throughout the book to further explain a given topic.

If you are interested in planetary exploration or the space program in general, this book would an excellent addition to your library. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Best book but dated
This is the best reference book available right now, but 10 years is a long time for technology.Buy the book.Read the book.Get on the web and go to the Remote Imaging Group in the UK and learn the rest.

Teaches you what you need to know and more!
This great book, writen by Dr. Taggart, is probably the single greatest source of information about weather sats, both low orbiting and geostationary. Construction articles allow even a novice to build antennasfor the low orbiting birds. Many photos show how your station needs to beset up as well as pictures from the sats themselves. In the back of thebook is several pages of advertisements related to the subject matter. Thisa great reading book and one you must have for your collection. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Moran's Meteorology
This book is filled full of facts, which are very interesting. The book can get tedious to read, but the content itself is great, and actually makes sense :) Concepts are explained clearly. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Comets have long dwelled in our imaginations as harbingers of fortune, good and bad, and this very human interest lies at the heart of the book. Comets, by astronomer and science writer David H. Levy (one of the discoverers of Comet Shoemaker-Levy, which battered Jupiter in 1994). He proves that you don't have to be a stargazer to succumb to the allure of the comet, inspiring the novice and satisfying the curious with up-to-date scientific fact, speculation, history, literature, and his own obvious enthusiasm for the subject. Whether exploring comets' role in seeding Earth with the building blocks of life or their link to mass extinctions, Comets consistently engages the reader with a conversational tone that provides just the right level of detail. These visitors from the fringes of our solar neighborhood are sure to rise on everyone's Top Ten Lists as the millennium approaches; this book outlines their relationship with our past and our future. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (4)

I wanted comets!
The cover says "Comets", but the text is not entirely devoted to the science of comets. It skims a lot of related subjects, but sometimes digresses a little too much. And this book is definitly popularized too far! Popularization is no excuse for (small) errors. IMHO, you'd better read "Cosmic Pinball" instead.

Fun & Informative
This book reveals the history of comets and their place in the universe in layman's language. The author talks about comet Shoemaker-Levy 9's collision with Jupiter, what could happen if a large extra-terrestrial body hit the Earth. Levy also discusses possible preparations which could be taken to prevent or prepare for such a cataclysmic event. But it is not really a doom-and-gloom type book. It is a book filled with interesting ideas and facts. Lots of b&w illustrations throughout.

Five stars! An 'edge-of-your-seat' book!
This is a truly wonderful story not only giving a great deal of easy to understand information about comets, but doing it in such a way that it kept me at the 'edge of my seat' throughout. This book reveals the secrets of the beginning of life on earth, and possibly the end of civilization as we know it. I would give this book 5 stars, a great read from start to finish!

A love affair with the sky
This is a love story. From the first moment author Levy said "Twinkle twinkle little star..." he did more than just wonder what they were but made it his life study to find out. The words flow trippingly off the page. If you only read one book about comets in your entire life, this is the one to read. It is truly a page turner; it kept me up half the night. Don't walk -- RUN and get it! ... Read more

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Siempre!, published by Edicional Siempre on September 18, 1997. The length of the article is 935 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Un cometa nos amenaza. (investigaciones astronmicas; incluye artculos variados sobre la escasez del agua, y el periodismo cientfico en Mxico)(TT: A comet threatens us) (TA: astronomy research; includes varied articles about the shortage of water, and scientific journalism in Mexico)
Author: Ren Anaya
Publication: Siempre! (Refereed)
Date: September 18, 1997
Publisher: Edicional Siempre
Volume: v44Issue: n2309Page: p70(2)

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Book Description

This digital document is an article from Siempre!, published by Edicional Siempre on March 13, 2002. The length of the article is 500 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Trminos de uso comn.(TT: Terminology and their daily use.)(Artculo Breve)
Author: Mari Carmen Luque
Publication: Siempre! (Refereed)
Date: March 13, 2002
Publisher: Edicional Siempre
Volume: 48Issue: 2543Page: 98

Article Type: Artculo Breve

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Book Description

Brian Kaye has written a delightful and informative book on the design and behavior of different kinds of missiles from golf balls, arrows, and slingshots to comets and rockets to outer space. You'll learn about the science of tennis and find the answer to questions like why a golf ball has dimples or why a boomerang comes back. Don't miss Brian Kaye's latest, you'll be amused and amazed - and learn some physics to boot. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Fun Science
I was a bad physics student in High School. I could see that there was something important being said there, but it was just so boring. That's why I received this book (as a gift) with little hope. I was hooked on from chapter one. The breadth of knowlege and the ease of exposure, combine to make a jewel of scientific reading. And I plan to make my kids read it in High School. ... Read more