Comprehensive and highly illustrated guide to meteorites and the fascinating contributions they make to science.

Autorentext
Brigitte Zanda is Associate Professor at the Mineralogy Laboratory of the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris, and Adjunct Member of the Graduate Faculty at Rutgers University. Following on from her PhD in Geochemistry, she has written many papers in Meteoritics and Planetary Science and other journals, and is a member of the Nomenclature Committee of the Meteoritical Society. Monica Rotaru is Department Chief of Earth Sciences at the Palais de la découverte in Paris, where she organises scientific exhibitions. After her PhD in geochemistry, she has conducted research in climatology and written television science documentaries.

Klappentext
What are these strange rocks that fall from the sky? Where do they come from? Are they a threat? What are they made of? How common are they? Throughout history, we have been fascinated by meteorites and their significance. As time has passed, we have learned more and more about these extraterrestrial objects and today, the scientific study of meteorites provides a wealth of information about the solar system. They reveal clues to some of the greatest scientific enigmas: the origin of life on Earth, the mass extinction of species, the nature and composition of asteroids, the conditions during the formation of the solar system, and the dust from stars that died long before our Sun formed. This comprehensive guide to meteorites, first published in 2001, was written by a team of experts. With the help of over two hundred full-colour photographs, diagrams and graphs, they will skillfully answer all your questions.

Zusammenfassung
Throughout history, we have been fascinated by meteorites and their significance. Today, the study of meteorites provides a wealth of information about the solar system, revealing clues to some of the greatest scientific enigmas. This comprehensive and beautifully illustrated guide will expertly answer all your questions about these mysterious objects.

Inhalt

1. The harder they fall C. Perron; 2. Stones fallen from the sky U. Marvin; 3. Impact craters P. Thomas; 4. Cretaceous Park R. Rocchia, E. Robin and H. Leroux; 5. Like no rock on Earth B. Zanda, M. Christophe Michel Lévy, M. Bourot Denise and C. Caillet Komorowski; 6. Little planets D. Benest; 7. The Sound and the Fury J.-P. Bibring; 8. Signed carbon F. Robert, M. Festou and F. Raulin; 9. A stormy nebula R. Hewins; 10. The age of the solar system G. Manhès; 11. Galactic fossils E. Zinner; 12. Leafing through the past two centuries... P. Pellas; Glossary; Acknowledgements; Illustration credits.