Cometography
Cometography
Cometography is a multi-volume catalog of every comet observed throughout history. Volume 3 provides a complete discussion of every comet seen during the first part of the twentieth century. Cometography uses the most reliable orbits known to determine the distances from the Earth and Sun at the time a comet was discovered and last observed, as well as the largest and smallest angular distance to the Sun, most northerly and southerly declination, closest distance to the Earth, and other details to enable the reader to understand the physical appearance of each well-observed comet. The book also provides non-technical details to help the reader better appreciate how the comet may have influenced various cultures at the time of its appearance. Cometography will be valuable to historians of science as well as providing amateur and professional astronomers with a definitive reference on comets through the ages.
- The most detailed catalog of comets, containing observer descriptions of every comet seen from 1900 to 1932
- Calculated details of every well observed comet
- Includes the unconfirmed comets (those never confirmed by a second observer, or those not observed long enough for an orbit to be calculated)
Reviews & endorsements
'What he did is phenomenal.' Daniel Green, Daily Guide
'… an indispensable reference for historians, comet researchers, and true enthusiasts of the field … the book's value is inestimable and I can only give [it] my highest praise.' Sky Telescope
'… a valuable reference for scientists and historians in many fields.' Choice
'… a treasure trove of information and each entry stands on its own.' The Journal of the British Astronomical Association
'Cometography has been beautifully produced, and it is a thorough, definitive, well referenced, comprehensive, and easily accessible work of scholarship. For historians, scientific or otherwise, this will be a 'first stop' for information about ancient comets. Looking into the future, it will be a rare month that I will not refer to it.' David W. Hughes, The Observatory
'This marvellous book was clearly a labour of love. It is a treasure, and will be appreciated for much longer than the century it covers.' New Scientist
'… sure to become the standard cometary reference source .. Every library with a comet section should invest in the Cometography series. Congratulations to Gary Kronk on a lifetime of scholarly achievement.' Contemporary Physics
'… ambitious attempt to catalogue all recorded comets through history … the sheer volume of information contained in this book … is a very useful work of reference.' Journal of Geological Magazine
'… an exhaustive reference work, giving you not only data such as distances from the Sun, but also the impact of comets on various cultures.' BBC Sky at Night
'… truly impressive and extremely useful …' The Observatory
'This volume contains all the descriptions that you could ever want of the comets of the first decades of the twentieth century … [it] is an invaluable reference, being a compendium of most of the readily accessible descriptions of comets … a must for comet anoraks.' Jonathan Shanklin, Journal of the British Astronomical Association
'Cometography is a catalog of every comet ever recorded by humans. It is an outstanding reference work, that is a must for any astronomer, both amateur or professional, and for any observatories or institute library. It is the number one source when searching on yesterday's comets.' Reviews of Astronomical Tools
Product details
No date availableHardback
9780521585064
666 pages
260 × 182 × 35 mm
1.532kg
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Acknowledgements
- Catalog of comets
- Appendix 1. Uncertain objects and mistaken identities
- Appendix 2. Periodical abbreviations
- Appendix 3. Source abbreviations
- Index.
