Comets

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Comets—dazzling, mysterious visitors from the depths of space. Remnants of the primordial soup out of which the planets arose, they are also credited by some with bringing to Earth the original building blocks of organic life.
The story of humankind's relationship with those celestial nomads is at least as colorful and exciting as comets themselves. Comets have inspired beautiful artworks, given rise to a vast body of myth and folklore, and, on occasion, have even incited mass hysteria and social upheaval. And the story of the gradual evolution of our current scientific understanding ofcometsisjust as fascinating.
A monumental achievement. Comets: A Chronological History of Observation, Science, Myth, and Folklore brings to life, for readers of every persuasion, the rich tapestry of comet science and history Written by Donald K. Yeomans, the... Tovább

Fülszöveg

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' ' i 1
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1 ¦!
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11
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Comets—dazzling, mysterious visitors from the depths of space. Remnants of the primordial soup out of which the planets arose, they are also credited by some with bringing to Earth the original building blocks of organic life.
The story of humankind's relationship with those celestial nomads is at least as colorful and exciting as comets themselves. Comets have inspired beautiful artworks, given rise to a vast body of myth and folklore, and, on occasion, have even incited mass hysteria and social upheaval. And the story of the gradual evolution of our current scientific understanding ofcometsisjust as fascinating.
A monumental achievement. Comets: A Chronological History of Observation, Science, Myth, and Folklore brings to life, for readers of every persuasion, the rich tapestry of comet science and history Written by Donald K. Yeomans, the "specialists' specialist," it is destined to become the standard reference on comets for years to come.
From the ancient Babylonians and Assyrians to Aristotle and Seneca, from Galileo and Newton, all the way to the most recent spacecraft " observations of Halley's comet, this lavishly illustrated book:
• Clearly explains the basic astronomy and physics of comets
• Features a comprehensive catalog of all cometary apparitions
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up until 1700—a feature found in no other book
• Reviews the latest findings and observations
• Covers the full range of comet fact and fiction, science and sorcery, from China to the Americas, the Stone Age to recent observations
• Reproduces primitive art, woodcuts and paintings, engravings, high-resolution photos taken in space, and much more
A comprehensive reference and a joy to own. Comets: A Chronological History of Observation, Science, Myth, and Folklore is ideal for professional and amateur astronomers, or anyone who has ever felt the awe and grandeur that comets have long inspired.
Donald K. Yeomans, PhD, holds degrees in math and astronomy. He is a research astronomer with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and an acknowledged expert in cometary science and history Among his numerous honors and awards are the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, a Space Achievement Award of the American In-stitute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Award of Appreciation, and in honor of his many contributions to cometary science. Asteroid 2956 Yeomans was named after him. Dr. Yeomans' other books include Comet Halley: Once in a Lifetime and The Distant Planets. Vissza