Rock Legends: The Asteroids And Their Discoverers (springer Praxis Books)
by Paul Murdin /
2016 / English / PDF
6.7 MB Download
This book relates the history of asteroid discoveries and
christenings, from those of the early pioneering giants of
Hersehel and Piazzi to modern-day amateurs. Moving from history
and anecdotal information to science, the book's structure is
provided by the names of the asteroids, including one named after
the author.
This book relates the history of asteroid discoveries and
christenings, from those of the early pioneering giants of
Hersehel and Piazzi to modern-day amateurs. Moving from history
and anecdotal information to science, the book's structure is
provided by the names of the asteroids, including one named after
the author.
Free from a need to conform to scientific naming conventions, the
names evidence hero-worship, sycophancy, avarice, vanity, whimsy,
erudition and wit, revealing the human side of astronomers,
especially where controversy has followed the christening. Murdin
draws from extensive historical records to explore the debate
over these names. Each age reveals its own biases and preferences
in the naming process.
Free from a need to conform to scientific naming conventions, the
names evidence hero-worship, sycophancy, avarice, vanity, whimsy,
erudition and wit, revealing the human side of astronomers,
especially where controversy has followed the christening. Murdin
draws from extensive historical records to explore the debate
over these names. Each age reveals its own biases and preferences
in the naming process.
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< Originally regarded as “vermin of the skies,” asteroids are minor planets, rocky scraps left over from the formation of the larger planets, or broken fragments of worlds that have collided. Their scientific classification as “minor” planets makes them seem unimportant, but over the past decades asteroids have been acknowledged to be key players in the Solar System. This view of their starring role even alters the trajectories of spacecraft: NASA’s policy for new space missions en route to the outer planets is that they must divert to study passing asteroids whenever possible. This book provides for readers a complete tour of the fascinating world of asteroids.
Originally regarded as “vermin of the skies,” asteroids are minor planets, rocky scraps left over from the formation of the larger planets, or broken fragments of worlds that have collided. Their scientific classification as “minor” planets makes them seem unimportant, but over the past decades asteroids have been acknowledged to be key players in the Solar System. This view of their starring role even alters the trajectories of spacecraft: NASA’s policy for new space missions en route to the outer planets is that they must divert to study passing asteroids whenever possible. This book provides for readers a complete tour of the fascinating world of asteroids.
