Five Books about Comets
The momentous news that the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft had successfully deployed a robotic lander on a comet was inexplicably overshadowed by nude pictures of Kim Kardashian last week. It's a shame. The arrival of lander Philae on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko is far more rare.
The Rosetta was launched in March 2004 and has spent the past decade moving on a meticulously planned journey through space before landing on a moving comet, 300 million miles away from earth. That's mindblowing.
Philae transmitted sounds and pictures before its solar powered battery failed on November 15. It is hoped that the batteries will recharge in August 2015 when the comet will be closer to the sun.
Meanwhile, these are some books about comets:
Non-Fiction
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Comets: Visitors from Deep Space by David J. Eicher
Learn all about comets in this book.
Dreams of Other Worlds: the Amazing Story of Unmanned Space Exploration by Chris Impey and Holly Henry
Profiles of several unmanned space missions that have increased our understanding of the universe.
Near-Earth Objects: Finding Them Before they Find Us by Donald K. Yeomans
Yeomans discusses the scientific efforts to find, study and track near-earth objects like comets and asteroids.
Fiction
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The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani
• Audiobook
• eAudiobook
• eBook
• Large Print
• Talking Book: CD Format (restricted to Print Disabled patrons)
A comet is a sign of misfortune to a 17th century Persian town. Shortly after, a young girl's life is disrupted when her father dies and instead of the marriage she was planning, she becomes a servant to her wealthy rug designer uncle.
The Night of the Comet by George Bishop
• eBook
A coming of age novel set in 1973 as many people waited expectantly for the arrival of Comet Kouhoutek.
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