Bibliographic Information

Introduction to comets

John C. Brandt and Robert D. Chapman

Cambridge University Press, 1981

  • hard covers
  • paperback

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Note

Bibliography: p. 229-238

Includes indexes

Description and Table of Contents

Description

Drs. Brandt and Chapman provide a comprehensive introduction to comets by consolidating in one text information from the fields of history, physics, astronomy, and space science. Comets have intrigued man since ancient times, when astronomical phenomena were interpreted as evidence of divine intervention in human affairs. Today, attention to the behaviour of comets remains strong, although interest is now more specific than theological. Aided by increased technology, many space scientists look to the return of Halley's Comet in 1985-6 with the expectation that spacecraft might be sent to intercept the comet and take measurements in situ. The authors trace the historical development of investigations into the nature of comets, in addition to presenting an up-to-date account of cometary research.

Table of Contents

  • Preface
  • Part I. The Historical Perspective: 1. Comets in history
  • 2. Development of modern ideas on the physics of comets
  • Part II. The Current Perspective: 3. Dynamics of comets
  • 4. Structure of comets
  • 5. Model and origins of comets
  • 6. Comets and the solar system
  • Part III. The Future Perspective: 7. Recent comets and some current developments
  • 8. Missions to comets
  • Part IV. The Lay Perspective: 9. Are comets dangerous?
  • 10. Comet lore
  • Notes
  • Suggested readings
  • Index of comets
  • Index.

by "Nielsen BookData"

Details

  • NCID
    BA03078518
  • ISBN
    • 0521239060
    • 0521272181
  • LCCN
    76047207
  • Country Code
    uk
  • Title Language Code
    eng
  • Text Language Code
    eng
  • Place of Publication
    Cambridge ; New York
  • Pages/Volumes
    viii, 246 p.
  • Size
    24 cm
  • Classification
  • Subject Headings
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