Synopses & Reviews
Comets have fascinated and awed humankind since ancient times. Of the thousands of comets recorded throughout history, those deemed to have been the most spectacular have been described in the accounts of eyewitnesses and often recorded in official documents. This book introduces you to the greatest of the greats, starting with the comet in 372 B. C. called "Aristotle's Comet" and ending with the spectacular appearance of McNaught's Comet in 2007. There is an introductory chapter explaining what comets are and how they are classified, and correcting a few popular misconceptions. Later in the book you will read about the different returns of Halley's Comet and the Kreutz sungrazing group, often called the kamikaze comets. There is even a chapter on comets that were visible in broad daylight. This book is unique. There are a few books on comets that make passing reference to some of the more famous or spectacular objects of the past, and a few catalogs with long lists of comets. But little detailed and descriptive information is contained in either of these sources. This is a fascinating account, not only for astronomers at every level but also for readers of popular science. In an engaging way it pulls together a vast amount of information and offers rich anecdotal material that will entertain as well as inform you.
Review
From the reviews: "This book is exactly what it says on the cover ... . There are detailed accounts of how the comets would have appeared and changed during their appearance ... and an analysis of the comments and drawings they made at the time of observing. ... anyone who has an interest in astronomy could easily read this book. I imagine it would appeal particularly to those who are interested in astronomical history and in particular comets." (David Bowdley, Astronomy Now, June, 2009) "For those with an historical interest in comets, this is a compelling book in that it succinctly presents an overview of almost fifty truly amazing comets ... . The Greatest Comets in History ... is an excellent book. It is totally affordable, and belongs in the library of all those with a passion for comets and cometary history." (Wayne Orchiston, Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, Vol.12 (1), 2009) "In this small book, Seargent ... gives observational details about his favorite comets from ancient times through the present. ... the book provides comet descriptions in chronological order. Photographs and artwork illustrate some comets. ... volume includes a short glossary, suggested readings, and a tabular list of the 'greatest' comets. Readers with an avid interest in comets will value the completeness and detail of this work ... . Summing Up: Recommended. All levels of general readers, undergraduates interested in the history of astronomy, and professionals." (M. Dickinson, Choice, Vol. 46 (11), July, 2009) "The author's wonderful descriptions of the spectacular comets that have been given the moniker of "Great", I wish that I could have personally witnessed all of them. ... I thoroughly enjoyed the author's writing style and the way he has presented this material. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in observing comets or reading about this aspect of astronomical history." (A. Robert, The Observatory, Vol. 130 (1214), February, 2010)
Synopsis
The Greatest Comets of History is unique. There are a few books on comets that make passing reference to some of the famous and spectacular objects of earlier years, and a few descriptive catalogues are available, but little detailed descriptive information is contained in either of these sources. This book fills the vacant niche that exists between general books, academic (and often cryptic) catalogues, and huge detailed catalogues such as Kronk's Cometography. The Greatest Comets of History is a detailed descriptive account - in non-technical language - of what are deemed to have been the most spectacular and notable comets ever recorded, beginning with 'Aristotle's Comet' of 372 BC and ending with McNaught's Comet of 2007. Halley's Comet is given a separate chapter and there is an introductory chapter on comets in general, explaining in lay terms what they are and correcting a few popular misconceptions. This is not only a fascinating read for astronomers at every level, but in pulling together a vast amount of information previously available only in disparate academic sources it is a major contribution to the literature.
Synopsis
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."
Synopsis
This book fills the gap between general books, academic catalogues, and huge detailed catalogues. It is a detailed descriptive account - in non-technical language - of what are deemed to have been the most spectacular and notable comets ever recorded.
About the Author
David Seargent is a former lecturer in Philosophy with the Department of Community Programs at the University of Newcastle in Australia and is now a full-time writer. He is the author of the very popular Comets: Vagabonds of Space (Doubleday), formerly a contributing editor on comets to Sky & Space magazine, and currently author of the regular comet column for Australian Sky & Telescope (the southern hemisphere edition). He was co-author with Joseph Marcus, of a paper published in 1986 entitled "Dust forward scatter brightness enhancement in previous apparitions of Halley's comet" (Proceedings, 20th. ESLAB Symposium on the Exploration of Halley's Comet, Vol. 3, B. Battrick, E. J. Rolfe and R. Reinhard, eds. ESA SP-250. European Space Agency Publications). He was also the Australian co-ordinator for visual observations during the International Halley Watch, 1985-6.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements.- Preface.- The Nature of Comets.- Halley's Comet Through the Ages.- The Greatest Comets from Ancient Times.- The Greatest Comets from A.D. 1000 to 1800.- The Greatest Comets from 1800 to Present Times.- Kamikaze Comets: The Kreutz Sungrazers.- Daylight Comets.- Glossary.- For Further Reading.- Index.