Meteor Showers and their Parent Comets (Hardcover)

~ Peter Jenniskens (Author) "When we wish upon a falling star, we appeal to an ancient belief that the stars represent our souls and a meteor is one falling..." (more)
Key Phrases: Dutch Meteor Society, Moon Planets, Smithsonian Contrib (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a veritable encyclopedia of past and current meteor studies. Though intended for professional astronomers... the text remains accessible to amateurs with a keen interest in meteor showers."
Sky and Telescope

"All known meteor showers are identified, accompanied by fascinating details on the most important showers and their parent comets. The book predicts when exceptional meteor showers will occur over the next fifty years, making it a valuable resource for both amateur and professional astronomers."
Mercury, Spring, 2007

"...a good book for beginners, amateurs, and researchers interested not only in meteors, but also in the evolution of solar system minor bodies. The text provides an overall introduction to the origin of meteoroids and their direct applications to the study of their parent objects." --The Meteoritical Society

"The tour de force of the book is the extensive set of tables, which includes predictions for expected meteor outbursts, and these will be of great benefit to the amateur observer...a compulsory aid to planning when and where to take your next astronomical holiday." --Journal of the British Astronomical Association

"the reader will find inserts chronicling the author's own experiences in meteor observing, some ending in frustration and disappointment, others crowned by the elation of success. These gold nuggets add a welcome 'novel' quality to the text that is often lacking in efforts of this size and scope...this book provides the community with something that it has so far lacked: a concise, comprehensive, and up-to-date reference textbook on the subject of meteor showers and their origins. At the same time, the unassuming style of writing makes it accessible to the non-specialist looking to broaden his or her horizons." --The Observatory

"The work which went into this volume is phenomenal...a must have for any reseracher in meteor science, and should appear in the library of institutions that teach and research in cometary, meteor or more generally planetary science...this book will make a lasting impact on the field of meteor science." --R.L. Hawkes: Springer Book Review

Product Description

Meteor Showers and their Parent Comets is a unique handbook for astronomers interested in observing meteor storms and outbursts. Spectacular displays of 'shooting stars' are created when the Earth's orbit crosses a meteoroid stream, as each meteoroid causes a bright light when it enters our atmosphere at high speed. Jenniskens, an active meteor storm chaser, explains how meteoroid streams originate from the decay of meteoroids, comets and asteroids, and how they cause meteor showers on Earth. He includes the findings of recent space missions to comets and asteroids, the risk of meteor impacts on Earth, and how meteor showers may have seeded the Earth with ingredients that made life possible. All known meteor showers are identified, accompanied by fascinating details on the most important showers and their parent comets. The book predicts when exceptional meteor showers will occur over the next 50 years, making it a valuable resource for both amateur and professional astronomers.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 802 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (September 25, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521853494
• ISBN-13: 978-0521853491
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.7 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #660,901 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must for Meteor Enthusiasts!, December 2, 2006

By	Pete Bias (Florida) - See all my reviews

WOW! what a book this is for aspiring and experienced observers! I'm in awe. Dr. Jenniskens' new book is so chock-full of information it will take years to soak it all in. He has done a masterful job of explaining everything that goes into the generation of comet dust trails and the resultant meteor showers they spawn. That -- plus a comprehensive listing of EVERY expected meteor outburst (and their expected ZHRs!) for the next fifty years! Not just the main showers like the Leonids and Perseids, but all minor showers as well.
I'm absolutely astounded by the enormous amount of work that must have gone into creating this book! It is simply an amazing work that should be in every library and on every meteor enthusiast's shelf -- because you'll be going back to it again and again for the rest of your life!

(Note: This is probably not the right meteor book for youngsters just getting to know this wonderful science and hobby, however. The charts, graphs, and mathematics are a little overwhelming for beginners.)

Pete Bias (author of Meteors and Meteor Showers, an Amateur's Guide to Meteors)