David J. Eicher

Comets!

Visitors from Deep Space
Mitarbeit: Levy, David H.

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

Join David J. Eicher in this fast-paced and entertaining journey through the history, present, and future of these important yet mysterious cosmic bodies. From ancient times, humans have been fascinated by 'broom stars' and 'blazing scimitars' lighting up the sky and moving against the fixed background of stars. The Great Comets of our time still receive in-depth attention - ISON, Hale-Bopp, Hyakutake, West, and others - while recent spacecraft encounters offer amazing insight into the earliest days of the solar system. In this guide you will discover the cutting-edge science of what comets are, how they behave, where they reside, how groups of comets are related, and much more. The author carefully explores the ideas relating comets and life on Earth - and the danger posed by impacts. He finishes with practical, how-to techniques, tips, and tricks on how to successfully observe comets and even to capture your own images of them.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Cambridge University Press
• Seitenzahl: 230
• Erscheinungstermin: 23. September 2013
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 254mm x 177mm x 20mm
• Gewicht: 474g
• ISBN-13: 9781107622777
• ISBN-10: 1107622778
• Artikelnr.: 39118616

Autorenporträt

David J. Eicher is Editor-in-Chief of Astronomy magazine, the world's largest publication on the subject. He is president of the Astronomy Foundation, the telescope industry's first-ever trade association. He is author of seventeen books on science and history, and at age fifteen founded a magazine on observing galaxies, clusters, and nebulae, Deep Sky Monthly. An avid observer of astronomical objects for more than thirty-five years, he was honored in 1990 by the International Astronomical Union with the naming of minor planet 3617 Eicher.

Inhaltsangabe

Foreword David H. Levy; Preface; Acknowledgments; 1. Strange lights in the sky; 2. Great comets of the past; 3. What are comets?; 4. Comets of the modern era; 5. Comets in human culture; 6. Where comets live; 7. The expanding science of comets; 8. Observing comets; 9. Imaging comets; Glossary; Bibliography; Index.

Rezensionen

'David J. Eicher has written a wonderful, up-to-date book on the history and science of comets. The book is written in a more conversational style, with occasional humor thrown in, and is not too technical. The result is a very enjoyable read for everyone.' Gary W. Kronk, author of the 'Cometography: A Catalog of Comets' series