Asteroids, comets, and meteorites
Subtitle: cosmic invaders of the earth
By: Jon Erickson ; foreword by Timothy Kusky
Contributors: Kusky, Timothy M.
Series: The living earth; Facts on File science library; Facts on File science library
Publisher: Facts On File
Published: 2003
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Format: [electronic resource] :
Number of pages: 256
ISBN-13: 9781438109626
Subjects: Comets; Asteroids; Sedimentology & Stratigraphy; Meteorites; SCIENCE; Earth Sciences
Description: The impact event that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs was not an isolated occurrence, for, as the foreword writer reminds us, a near-miss with an asteroid occurred in 1996. Erickson, an independent Colorado-based geologist, provides students beginning to study the Earth sciences and general readers with a lucid introduction to the bearers of such planetary impacts and their ongoing role in shaping our solar system. The book features numerous b&w illustrations, including recent photos taken from spacecraft, and a glossary with a pronunciation guide.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 239-245) and index.

Description based on print version record.
Table of contents: title: Origin of the solar system: Formation of the sun and planets; title: Cratering events: Historic meteorite impacts; title: Planetary impacts: exploring; title: Meteorite craters; title: Asteroids: wandering rock fragments; title: Comets: Cosmic ice debris; title: Meteorite craters: Formation; title: Impact effects: Global changes; title: Death star: Impact extinction of species; title: Cosmic collisions: asteroid and comet bombardment.