Cosmic Impact: Understanding the Threat to Earth from Asteroids and Comets

Cosmic Impact: Understanding the Threat to Earth from Asteroids and Comets

Explore the high-stakes science of planetary defense with Cosmic Impact by Andrew May. This book investigates the very real possibility of a large-scale collision between Earth and a celestial body, and what humanity is doing to prevent a repeat of the dinosaur extinction.

Product Highlights

Historical Precedent: Examines past impact events—from the massive strike that ended the Cretaceous period to more recent events like the 1908 Tunguska explosion and the 2013 Chelyabinsk meteor.

The "Near-Earth" Threat: Learn how astronomers track Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) and how we quantify the risk of future impacts using the Torino Scale

Planetary Defense Strategies: Discover the cutting-edge technology behind deflection theories, including "gravity tractors," kinetic impactors, and the use of nuclear explosives to nudge an asteroid off course

The Science of Comets vs. Asteroids: Understand the distinct challenges posed by "dirty snowballs" (comets) versus rocky asteroids, and why their different compositions matter for defense planning

Technical Specifications

Author: Andrew May

Publisher: Icon Books

Format: Paperback

Page Count: 167 pages

Dimensions: 19.7cm x 12.8cm