Comets Meteorites And Men

Profiles the smaller, free-ranging bodies that circle the Sun, providing information on their origins, make-up, and the threat they pose to Earth.

Climb Aboard! Explore the difference between meteor, meteorite, and meteoroid! Investigate comet composition and development and their observation through history! Learn about asteroids! Learn about key astronomers tools such as telescopes and the Deep Impact spacecraft! See an infographic showing a comet's orbit! Did You Know? facts and a Guidebook of Near Earth Objects complete your journey. Aligned to Common Core standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

Publisher description

Comets, Meteors and Asteroids explores the origins and life story of these cosmic phenomena which add elements of drama to all planets; in particular, to Earth and its life forms. 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 shows 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 in their millions. All of these objects, left over from the formation of the Solar System, have threatened life with massive impacts and 'nuclear winters'. However, they have also been part of the process by which the Solar System renews itself - we owe our very existence to the impact that destroyed the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Discovering the truth about this space debris - whose numbers increase by the thousand every year - has revolutionized our view of the Solar System. We now know that even the most distant planet is part of our Sun's system. This stretches out into icy interstellar wastes, from where these tiny objects occasionally fall sunwards to delight us with displays of cosmic brilliance, and threaten us with destruction. The threat of collision with Earth has placed comets and asteroids at the top of the agenda for astronomers, the public, and increasingly for governments. Comets, Meteors and Asteroids gives a fascinating and insightful exploration of these space wanderers and the cosmos. For a more comprehensive look at the solar system John Gribbin's SPACE - OUR FINAL FRONTIER is also available as part of this series.

When can you see fireballs and who should you contact if you spot one? When is it best to hunt for comets and meteors and whereabouts? How do you gauge the size of the coma in the head of a comet and estimate its degree of condensation? Clear and easy to use, this guide shows you how to make successful and valuable observations and records of comets, asteroids, meteors and the zodiacal light. For each topic the historical background and current scientific understanding support a wealth of observational techniques. Comet observers are shown techniques for search and discovery. They can learn how to make visual estimates of brightness and size, and how to make photographic studies of cometary heads and tails. Asteroid hunters will find a 'life list' of quarry and guidelines on how to search for these objects and then how to photograph or electronically image them. Fruitful photographic and electronic methods for studying meteors and meteor showers are provided. Visual and photographic techniques show you how to examine the often elusive zodiacal light. The more adventurous are provided with advanced techniques on how to make successful astrometric, spectroscopic and electronic observations. This is rounded off with an invaluable list of centres world-wide to contact with your details of unusual sightings.

Describes what meteors and micrometeors are, and describes the different types of meteorites, including lunar and martian meteorites, and how meteorites form craters.