Meteor showers and their parent comets

Meteor Showers and their Parent Comets is a unique handbook for astronomers interested in observing meteor storms and outbursts. Spectacular displays of 'shooting stars' are created when the Earth's orbit crosses a meteoroid stream, as each meteoroid causes a bright light when it enters our atmosphere at high speed. Jenniskens, an active meteor storm chaser, explains how meteoroid streams originate from the decay of meteoroids, comets and asteroids, and how they cause meteor showers on Earth. He includes the findings of recent space missions to comets and asteroids, the risk of meteor impacts on Earth, and how meteor showers may have seeded the Earth with ingredients that made life possible. All known meteor showers are identified, accompanied by fascinating details on the most important showers and their parent comets. The book predicts when exceptional meteor showers will occur over the next fifty years, making it a valuable resource for both amateur and professional astronomers. Meteor Showers And Their Parent Comets Is A Unique Handbook For Astronomers Interested In Observing Meteor Storms And Outbursts. The Author, A Leading Astronomer In The Field And An Active Meteor Storm Chaser, Explains How Meteoroid Streams Originate From The Decay Of Comets (and Asteroids) And How They Evolve Into Ever Changing Orbits By The Gravitational Pull Of Planets To Cause Meteor Showers On Earth. He Includes The Findings Of Recent Space Missions That Have Visited Comets And Asteroids, The Risk Of Meteoroid Impacts On Earth, What Showers To Expect On Other Planets, And How Meteor Showers May Have Seeded The Earth With The Ingredients That Made Life Possible. All Known Meteor Showers Are Identified, Accompanied By Details On The Most Important Showers And Their Parent Comets. The Book Predicts When Exceptional Meteor Showers Will Occur Over The Next 50 Years, Making It A Valuable Resource For Both Amateur And Professional Astronomers.--jacket. Part I: Introduction: How Meteor Showers Were Linked To Comets -- What Is The Core Of Comets? -- The Formation Of Meteoroid Streams -- Meteors From Meteoroid Impacts On Earth -- Comet And Meteoroid Orbits -- Part Ii: Parent Bodies: Long-period Comets -- Halley-type Comets -- Jupiter-family Comets -- Fading Comets Of The Inner Solar System -- Asteroids As Parent Bodies Of Meteoroid Streams -- Part Iii: Young Streams From Water Vapor Drag: Forecasting Meteor Storms From What Planets Do To Dust Trails -- Meteor Storm Chasing -- Meteor Outbursts From Long-period Comets -- Trapped: The Leonid Filament -- The Leonid Storms -- The Ursids -- The Perseids -- Other Halley-type Comets -- Dust Trails Of Jupiter-family Comets -- Part Iv: Young Streams From Comet Fragmentation: Quadrantids -- Broken Comets -- Geminids -- The Sunskirting Arietids And -aquariids -- X-capricornids And K-cygnids -- The Taurid Complex -- Part V: Old Streams And Sporadic Meteoroids: Annual Showers -- Dispersion From Gradually Evolving Parent Body Orbits -- The Ecliptic Streams -- Toroidal Streams -- Meteor Showers From Asteroids -- Sporatic Meteors And The Zodiacal Cloud -- Part Vi: Impact And Relevance Of Meteor Showers: Impact! -- Meteor Showers On Other Planets -- Meteors And The Origin Of Life. By Peter Jenniskens. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Meteor Showers and Their Parent Comets is a unique handbook for astronomers interested in observing meteor storms and outbursts. The author, a leading astronomer in the field and an active meteor storm chaser, explains how meteoroid streams originate from the decay of comets (and asteroids) and how they evolve into ever changing orbits by the gravitational pull of planets to cause meteor showers on Earth. He includes the findings of recent space missions that have visited comets and asteroids, the risk of meteoroid impacts on Earth, what showers to expect on other planets, and how meteor showers may have seeded the Earth with the ingredients that made life possible." "All known meteor showers are identified, accompanied by details on the most important showers and their parent comets. The book predicts when exceptional meteor showers will occur over the next 50 years, making it a valuable resource for both amateur and professional astronomers."--BOOK JACKET When we wish upon a falling star, we appeal to an ancient belief that the stars represent our souls and a meteor is one falling into the hereafter.