The Greatest Comets in History

The Greatest Comets in History
Author: David A.J. Seargent
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 272
Release: 2008-12-16
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0387095136

Naked-eye comets are far from uncommon. As a rough average, one appears every 18 months or thereabouts, and it is not very unusual to see more than two in a single year. The record so far seems to have been 2004, with a total of five comets visible without optical aid. But 2006, 1970, and 1911 were not far behind with a total of four apiece. Yet, the majority of these pass unnoticed by the general public. Most simply look like fuzzy stars with tails that are either faint or below the naked-eye threshold. The ‘classical’ comet – a bright star-like object with a long flowing tail – is a sight that graces our skies about once per decade, on average. These ‘great comets’ are surely among the most beautiful objects that we can see in the heavens, and it is no wonder that they created such fear in earlier times. Just what makes a comet ‘‘great’’ is not easy to define. It is neither just about brightness nor only a matter of size. Some comets can sport prodigiously long tails and yet not be regarded as great. Others can become very bright, but hardly anyone other than a handful of enthusiastic astronomers will ever see them. Much depends on their separation from the Sun, the intensity of the tail, and so forth.

Atlas of Great Comets

Atlas of Great Comets
Author: Ronald Stoyan
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 225
Release: 2015-01-08
Genre: Science
ISBN: 110709349X

A stunning reference on thirty of the greatest comets that have been witnessed and documented since the Middle Ages. Supported by a wealth of images, the broad historical context and modern scientific interpretation are explored for each Great Comet, providing an invaluable resource for all astronomy enthusiasts.

A Handbook of Descriptive and Practical Astronomy

A Handbook of Descriptive and Practical Astronomy
Author: George Frederick Chambers
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 646
Release: 2010-06-17
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1108014755

A best-seller for decades, this classic 1861 work was an indispensable guide for the Victorian amateur astronomer.

The World of Comets

The World of Comets
Author: Amédée Guillemin
Publisher: London : S. Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington
Total Pages: 620
Release: 1877
Genre: Comets
ISBN:

Lewis Swift

Lewis Swift
Author: Gary W. Kronk
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 435
Release: 2017-09-19
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3319637215

This biography covers the life of Lewis Swift (1820-1913), who discovered 13 comets and nearly 1,200 other deep sky objects. All 13 comets found by Swift now bear his name, including three periodic comets with periods of 6 years (11P/Tempel-Swift-LINEAR), 9 years (64P/Swift-Gehrels), and 133 years (109P/Swift-Tuttle). Swift's enthusiasm and success as an amateur astronomer helped make him famous in the United States. With the help of others, Swift was able to buy a 16-inch refractor, the third largest telescope in the United States at the time. Hulbert Harrington Warner built "Warner Observatory" to house this telescope. As a prolific writer and lecturer, Swift's stories appeared in newspapers and magazines, while his lectures showed that he was able to explain anything in a way that everyone could understand. When Warner went broke during the "Panic of 1893," Swift was forced to leave his home. Almost two dozen invitations arrived from around the United States asking him to bring his telescope to their city, and he eventually accepted the invitation of Californian Thaddeus Sobieski Constantin Lowe. This book highlights Swift's valuable contributions to astronomy before failing eyesight forced him to give up this profession. In addition to detailing Swift's life, biographical material is also provided for a number of individuals who were influenced by Swift. This includes his son, Edward, who was discovering deep sky objects as a teenager.

COMETS!

COMETS!
Author: David J. Eicher
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 225
Release: 2013-09-23
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1107513502

Join David J. Eicher in this fast-paced and entertaining journey through the history, present, and future of these important yet mysterious cosmic bodies. From ancient times, humans have been fascinated by 'broom stars' and 'blazing scimitars' lighting up the sky and moving against the fixed background of stars. The Great Comets of our time still receive in-depth attention - ISON, Hale-Bopp, Hyakutake, West, and others - while recent spacecraft encounters offer amazing insight into the earliest days of the solar system. In this guide you will discover the cutting-edge science of what comets are, how they behave, where they reside, how groups of comets are related, and much more. The author carefully explores the ideas relating comets and life on Earth - and the danger posed by impacts. He finishes with practical, how-to techniques, tips, and tricks on how to successfully observe comets and even to capture your own images of them.