Astonishing'- New ScientistIcy,rocky,sometimes dusty,always mysterious - comets and asteroids are among the Solar System's very oldest inhabitants,formed within a swirling cloud of gas and dust in the area of space that eventually hosted the Sun and its planets. Locked within each of these extra-terrestrial objects is the 4.6-billion-year wisdom of Solar System events,and by studying them at close quarters using spacecraft we can coerce them into revealing their closely-guarded secrets. This offers us the chance to answer some fundamental questions about our planet and its inhabitants.Exploring comets and asteroids also allows us to shape the story of Earth's future,enabling us to protect our precious planet from the threat of a catastrophic impact from space,and maybe to even recover valuable raw materials from them. This cosmic bounty could be as useful in space as it is on Earth,providing the necessary fuel and supplies for humans as they voyage into deep space to explore more distant locations within the Solar System. Catching Stardust tells the story of these enigmatic celestial objects,revealing how scientists are using them to help understand a crucial time in our history - the birth of the Solar System,and everything contained within it.
MEDIA REVIEWS
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLCISBN: 9781472944009Number of pages: 256Weight: 398 gDimensions: 216 x 135 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
Well presented and bridges many gaps between different observational methods.Astonishing...a promising debutNatalie Starkey has packed this book full of information on the minor bodies of our solar system,which are key to understanding how things got the way they are today - a must-have for anyone interested in where we came from.Catching Stardust builds a strong case for why continuing to explore comets and asteroids is so important to understanding our past and in shaping our future.An action-packed narrative that really draws in the reader to the thrills and challenged of exploring the true nature of our Solar System.A fast-paced journey through time and space under the enthusiastic guidance of space geologist Natalie Starkey. Highly recommended.
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