Meteorites: Their Impact on Science and History

by Brigitte Zanda (Editor), Monica Rotaru (Editor), Roger Hewins (Translator)

Overview

What are meteorites? Where do they come from? Are they a threat? What are they made of? How common are they? As centuries have passed, our knowledge of these extraterrestrial objects has advanced immensely, and today, the scientific study of meteorites provides a wealth of information about the solar system. Meteorites reveal clues to some of the greatest scientific enigmas:

• the origin of life on Earth
• the mass extinction of species
• the nature and composition of asteroids
• the conditions during the formation of the solar system
• the dust from stars that died long before our Sun formed.

Written by a team of experts, Meteorites is an accessible, comprehensive guide that features over two hundred full-color photographs, diagrams and graphs. Look no further for a wonderful introduction to these powerful, yet mystifying, objects. Brigitte Zanda is Associate Professor at the Mineralogy Laboratory of the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris, and Adjunct Member of the Graduate Faculty at Rutgers University. Following on from her PhD in Geochemistry, she has written many papers in Meteoritics and Planetary Science and other journals, and is a member of the Nomenclature Committee of the Meteoritical Society. Monica Rotaru is Department Chief of Earth Sciences at the Palais de la découverte in Paris, where she organizes scientific exhibitions. After her PhD in geochemistry, she has conducted research in climatology and written television science documentaries.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521799409
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	07/12/2001
Edition description:	ENGLISH ED
Pages:	130
Product dimensions:	6.77(w) x 9.09(h) x 0.47(d)

About the Author

Brigitte Zanda is Associate Professor at the Mineralogy Laboratory of the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris, and Adjunct Member of the Graduate Faculty at Rutgers University. Following on from her PhD in Geochemistry, she has written many papers in Meteoritics and Planetary Science and other journals, and is a member of the Nomenclature Committee of the Meteoritical Society.

Monica Rotaru is Department Chief of Earth Sciences at the Palais de la découverte in Paris, where she organises scientific exhibitions. After her PhD in geochemistry, she has conducted research in climatology and written television science documentaries.

Table of Contents

1. The harder they fall C. Perron; 2. Stones fallen from the sky U. Marvin; 3. Impact craters P. Thomas; 4. Cretaceous Park R. Rocchia, E. Robin and H. Leroux; 5. Like no rock on Earth B. Zanda, M. Christophe Michel Lévy, M. Bourot Denise and C. Caillet Komorowski; 6. Little planets D. Benest; 7. The Sound and the Fury J.-P. Bibring; 8. Signed carbon F. Robert, M. Festou and F. Raulin; 9. A stormy nebula R. Hewins; 10. The age of the solar system G. Manhès; 11. Galactic fossils E. Zinner; 12. Leafing through the past two centuries... P. Pellas; Glossary; Acknowledgements; Illustration credits.

Editorial Reviews

"It is full packed on information and illustrations, striking the right balance between history and science." The Tecumseh Review

"This is a nice popular science book on planetary science that bravely encompasses many of the more complex aspects of planetary science, including short-lived radionuclides, exposure ages and nucleosysnthesis, all in a remarkably well-presented manner...it is very readable...The book is well illustrated with many magnificent pictures and diagrams...this book is a must....As a source for quick facts, which never seem to be at hand when you need them, and ways to explain planetary science in a concise, but accurate manner,...My advice is to just flip the pages and you'll probably end up buying a copy." Meteoritics & Planetary Science

From the Publisher