Cosmic Pinball: The Science of Cosmets, Meteors, and Asteroids - Hardcover

Allen, Carlton

9780071354608: Cosmic Pinball: The Science of Cosmets, Meteors, and Asteroids

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0071354603 ISBN 13: 9780071354608

Publisher: McGraw-Hill, 1999

Combines myth and history with current scientific research to explore the threat and effect of impact, the physical composition of comets and meteorites, and the stories of famous comets

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From the Back Cover:

The real story of the science behind the "rocks" from space. Based on the latest scientific research, Cosmic Pinball explores three cosmic intruders from right here in our planetary neighborhood: comets, meteors, and asteroids. It masterfully pieces together the many stories of these rogue rocks--from the memorable Leonid meteor showers, to Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9's powerful impact on Jupiter, to the asteroid credited with wiping out the dinosaurs. Carolyn Sumners, Director of Astronomy at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, and Carlton Allen, planetary geologist at NASA's Johnson Space Center, bring together a panel of highly respected scientists to dig through the many myths and fables surrounding the potentially treacherous trio of projectiles. The contributing astronomers are: Guy Consolmagno, SJ, Ph.D., Vatican Observator; Daniel Durda, Ph.D., Southwest Research Institute; and David Kring, Ph.D., University of Arizona. Going beyond the paranoia and hype, Cosmic Pinball provides a unique framework tying together myths, history, and today's research, to present a sound overview of the science of comets, meteors, and asteroids.

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