1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910254580403321

Autore

Powell Jonathan

Titolo

Cosmic Debris : What It Is and What We Can Do About It / / by Jonathan Powell

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cham : , : Springer International Publishing : , : Imprint : Springer, , 2017

ISBN

3-319-51016-9

Edizione

[1st ed. 2017.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (VII, 267 p. 35 illus. in color.)

Collana

Astronomers' Universe, , 1614-659X

Disciplina

629.416

Soggetti

Astronomy

Space sciences

Planetary science

Aerospace engineering

Astronautics

Popular Science in Astronomy

Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics, Space Exploration and Astronautics)

Planetology

Aerospace Technology and Astronautics

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di contenuto

Chapter 1: Defining Cosmic Debris -- Chapter 2: Minor Planets and Asteroids -- Chapter 3: Comets -- Chapter 4: Meteors and Meteorites -- Chapter 5: Fireballs -- Chapter 6: Near Earth Objects -- Chapter 7: Life Givers or Life Takers? -- Chapter 8: Our Own Debris -- Chapter 9: Observing Meteors and Meteor Showers -- Chapter 10: Observing Comets and Asteroids -- Chapter 11: Endgame -- Glossary -- Index.

Sommario/riassunto

This book examines the mysterious and the well-studied debris in Earth’s crowded neighborhood. From orbiting comets to the workings of the Asteroid Belt, and from meteor showers to our home-grown network of orbiting satellites, the full diversity of space objects and the debris they create is explored. Powell also discusses some of the current research techniques used to find potentially harmful rogue elements, with an emphasis on keeping watch for any objects that may



intersect Earth’s orbit. Such bodies also impact other worlds, and much has been learned from observing these encounters. The information in this book is intended to foster thought about the universe in which we live, but without overloading its readers with numbers and lecture-room analysis. Like a good thriller, it allows its readers to pace themselves with the story and, by the end, encourages them to draw their own conclusions.