Customer Reviews

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

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The book does a good job a teaching what these objects are, by using a precise and yet simple vocabulary. The text covers a lot of related subjects, including impact with earth, but never goes into catastrophism and sensationalism.

It is hard to find balanced & readable books on science topics that are not too dumbed down, nor too tediously academic. Also, this subject matter could so easily have been sensationalised.

This book has none of those failings. It is a straight talking, plain English, yet detailed tour of the science of potential impactor objects. It conveys the enthusiasm and deep knowledge that these scientists have for their subject, and their commitment to avoid trivialising it with hype.

It covers the main classes of object, their different characteristics and origins, cratering, statistical impact rates, and damage simulations. The conclusions are presented dispassionately.

Evidence of past impacts on the planets, Moon, & Earth are abundant. The existence of the objects and their orbits is well understood. Although there may have been greater impact rates in the past, impacts do continue. It is only a matter of time before Earth is struck again. It is up to our governments how to prepare for that.