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Meteorites: The Story of Our Solar System
"A well-illustrated overview of the science and (literal) impact of these space rocks."
-- Science News, on the first edition Leading experts in the field provide a compelling introduction to the space rocks that enter Earth's atmosphere at speeds ranging from 25,000 mph to 160,000 mph. Scientists estimate that about 48.5 tons of meteoritic material falls on the Earth each day. These messengers from space give us a unique insight into the nature of the material that was present when our solar system formed. Many of the specimen meteorites in this second edition were re-photographed to improve quality, and the optical microscopy shots were updated. There is also much new information on discoveries and developments in the study of meteorites, Co-author Sara Russell, who is part of NASA's Mars program, provides the latest news about NASA's Mars programs, including the Mars Rover, which landed in 2016.
-- Science News, on the first edition Leading experts in the field provide a compelling introduction to the space rocks that enter Earth's atmosphere at speeds ranging from 25,000 mph to 160,000 mph. Scientists estimate that about 48.5 tons of meteoritic material falls on the Earth each day. These messengers from space give us a unique insight into the nature of the material that was present when our solar system formed. Many of the specimen meteorites in this second edition were re-photographed to improve quality, and the optical microscopy shots were updated. There is also much new information on discoveries and developments in the study of meteorites, Co-author Sara Russell, who is part of NASA's Mars program, provides the latest news about NASA's Mars programs, including the Mars Rover, which landed in 2016.
128 pages, Paperback
First published February 18, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 29, 2025
It has beautiful photography and a solid first half. However, the second half becomes an catalog of meteorite types that's hard to follow. Learning that the sixteenth classification differs from the thirteenth by slightly more olivine and less pyroxene is more tedious than illuminating.
Also, it includes many colorful microscope images but how exactly I am supposed to read them? Or it do not give answers to questions like How do you know what is a meteorite and what is just a rock? How do they know their ages? Why do we have meteorites from Mars but not Venus?
Also, it includes many colorful microscope images but how exactly I am supposed to read them? Or it do not give answers to questions like How do you know what is a meteorite and what is just a rock? How do they know their ages? Why do we have meteorites from Mars but not Venus?
December 23, 2022
“Meteorites, The story of our solar system”.
Written by Caroline Smith, Sara Russel & Natasha Almeida
Second Edition, published by Firefly Books 2019
ISBN 978-0-228-10174-1
Designed by Mercer Design, London. Reproduction by Saxon Digital Service UK. Printed by Toppan Leefung Printed Limited.
Copyright The Trustees of the National History Museum, London.
Contents:
Chapter 1 What are meteorites?
Chapter 2 Where are meteorites found?
Chapter 3 Impacts and collisions.
Chapter 4 Sources and types of meteorites.
Chapter 5 Comets.
Chapter 6 The future.
Caroline describes alle the things you always wanted to know about meteorites. The parts of the book describing the chemical analysis of the different types of meteorites and determining the age and origin is an eye opener. The analysis of the found meteorite gives insight of the origin of our own solar system and sometimes also give us a view of the time before our solar system formed. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know about meteorites, minerals, our solar system and star formation.
My favourite chapter is Chapter 4 Sources and types of meteorites.
Written by Caroline Smith, Sara Russel & Natasha Almeida
Second Edition, published by Firefly Books 2019
ISBN 978-0-228-10174-1
Designed by Mercer Design, London. Reproduction by Saxon Digital Service UK. Printed by Toppan Leefung Printed Limited.
Copyright The Trustees of the National History Museum, London.
Contents:
Chapter 1 What are meteorites?
Chapter 2 Where are meteorites found?
Chapter 3 Impacts and collisions.
Chapter 4 Sources and types of meteorites.
Chapter 5 Comets.
Chapter 6 The future.
Caroline describes alle the things you always wanted to know about meteorites. The parts of the book describing the chemical analysis of the different types of meteorites and determining the age and origin is an eye opener. The analysis of the found meteorite gives insight of the origin of our own solar system and sometimes also give us a view of the time before our solar system formed. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know about meteorites, minerals, our solar system and star formation.
My favourite chapter is Chapter 4 Sources and types of meteorites.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews