Comet
by Carl Sagan, Ann Druyan (Author)
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Explores the fascinating realm of comets answering questions raised by their appearance and delving into the superstitions surrounding them.Tags
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Journey through space with a comet, then explore the myths that arose around these celestial travelers. In this informative book, readers can investigate the scientific findings surrounding comets while learning how they spurred some great scientific discoveries.
Filled with amazing photographs, sketches, and diagrams, this is a definitive scientific work on comets. Readers with an interest in space science and the universe will find much to appreciate here.
Highly recommended.
Filled with amazing photographs, sketches, and diagrams, this is a definitive scientific work on comets. Readers with an interest in space science and the universe will find much to appreciate here.
Highly recommended.
Well, that took a long time to read! Learned a lot of stuff I promptly forgot again (just like in school!). It was especially interesting to compare a scientist's hopes for the future from decades ago to what has actually developed. Interesting, and depressing and sad. But also very cool in a lot of ways.
I purchased this book more than once. I bought the book before Halley's Comet returned in 1986. February in Portland is perhaps the worst place and time to comet watch and I was greatly disappointed. It took me until 2018 to read this book and it was more fascinating than I can imagine. I will give copies of these books to my sons. Hopefully they will read it before 2061. Much of the informational is historical so it will still have relevance. It should be fun to see how far astronomy will have advanced by then.
COMET begins with a breathtaking ride through space astride a comet. The authors show how comets have spurred some of the great discoveries in the history of science, and raise intriguing questions about these brilliant visitors from the interstellar dark. Lavishly illustrated with over 300 photographs and specially commissioned full-colour illustrations. COMET is an enthralling adventure, indispensable for anyone who has ever gazed up at the heavens and wondered why.
A comprehensive look at comets, from the earliest times to 1985, originally published as Halley's comet made its 1986 approach towards earth.. Full of colour illustrations and information.
One of the best gifts I have ever received. Extremely readable.
First edition
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88+ Works 48,308 Members
A respected planetary scientist best known outside the field for his popularizations of astronomy, Carl Sagan was born in New York City on November 9, 1934. He attended the University of Chicago, where he received a B.A. in 1954, a B.S. in 1955, and a M.S. in 1956 in physics as well as a Ph.D. in 1960 in astronomy and astrophysics. He has several show more early scholarly achievements including the experimental demonstration of the synthesis of the energy-carrying molecule ATP (adenosine triphosphate) in primitive-earth experiments. Another was the proposal that the greenhouse effect explained the high temperature of the surface of Venus. He was also one of the driving forces behind the mission of the U.S. satellite Viking to the surface of Mars. He was part of a team that investigated the effects of nuclear war on the earth's climate - the "nuclear winter" scenario. Sagan's role in developing the "Cosmos" series, one of the most successful series of any kind to be broadcast on the Public Broadcasting System, and his book The Dragons of Eden (1977) won the Pulitzer Prize in 1978. He also wrote the novel Contact, which was made into a movie starring Jodie Foster. He died from pneumonia on December 20, 1996. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Awards and Honors
Distinctions
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Comet
- Original publication date
- 1985-11-12
- People/Characters
- Edmund Halley
- Important events
- Halley's Comet (1985-10 | 1986-05)
- Dedication
- To Shirley Arden, for more than a decade of friendship and hard work well done. With our love and admiration.
- First words
- Before the Earth was formed, there were comets here.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)When the rest of the solar system is dead, and the descendants of humans long ago emigrated or extinct, the comets will still be here.
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- Members
- 998
- Popularity
- 26,163
- Reviews
- 7
- Rating
- (3.74)
- Languages
- 7 — Czech, Dutch, English, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 21
- ASINs
- 14
