Synopses & Reviews
Meteorites - as well as shooting stars and meteors - result from a collision of a solid body from space with our Earth, but only meteorites are able to penetrate the Earth's protective shield, the atmosphere, and fall to the Earth's surface. Apart from lunar samples, they are the only materials from beyond the Earth which we can probe and study. This book gives a concise and up-to-date description of meteorites - fall phenomena, chemical and mineral composition, classification - as well as a discussion of their formation and origin, which also tells us the story of the formation of our planetary system. The text is understandable for laymen and students, but can also be used as an introduction to the field for students and scientists.
Review
"I enjoyed reading it and will hesitate to recommend it to friends and undergraduate students who are keen to tap at the door of this exciting discipline." Meteoritics
Synopsis
This is an easy-to-read introduction to, and overview of, current knowledge about meteorites. With information on fall phenomena, chemical and mineral composition, and classification, the book also provides current information on meteorite falls for planning observations. Accessible to the layperson and student, this concise book is thorough enough to serve as an introduction for scientists.