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Rock Legends: The Asteroids and Their Discoverers
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.
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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.
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.
<
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.
207 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 13, 2016
18 people want to read
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February 9, 2023
Un título rompedor, sin duda. En este libro, Paul Murdin nos detalla las historias y curiosidades de los descubrimientos de los cuerpos menores del sistema solar: planetoides, meteoros, cometas, asteroides... Un libro plagado de anécdotas, muy interesante.
El autor sabe mucho de la materia sin duda, y se le olvida que los profanos tenemos que tirar mucho de wikipedia para seguirle el ritmo. En ocasiones se me hizo bola, y tuve que saltarme páginas con alegría. En otras sin embargo, las historias te atrapan y te dedicas a releer.
En su día lo leí y me gustó. El libro no defrauda, aunque para mi nivel, quizá sea un poco exigente.
El autor sabe mucho de la materia sin duda, y se le olvida que los profanos tenemos que tirar mucho de wikipedia para seguirle el ritmo. En ocasiones se me hizo bola, y tuve que saltarme páginas con alegría. En otras sin embargo, las historias te atrapan y te dedicas a releer.
En su día lo leí y me gustó. El libro no defrauda, aunque para mi nivel, quizá sea un poco exigente.
Displaying 1 of 1 review