We have now reached an exciting time in cometary research. With several missions launched or about to be launched in the near future, cometary research is rapidly being driven forward. This book describes the wealth of information known prior to the return of Halley's comet, and the new information discovered since then. It presents material on important background topics including observational techniques, plasma physics, celestial mechanics, the solar wind and cosmogony. The science of comets is described in order of its discovery, from tail phenomena to coma morphology through to the most recent findings from space missions. The relationship between comets and asteroids is discussed, and future space missions to investigate comets are described. This comprehensive text is a complete and up-to-date treatment of the subject, suitable for graduate and advanced undergraduate students of astronomy and planetary science.
- Useful summaries of relevant background topics
- Up-to-date information on current and future cometary space missions
- Illustrated throughout
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Reviews & endorsements
'… if you want to get a basic understanding of the science behind these enigmatic objects you should get yourself a copy. I don't think that there are any better books available for the general reader.' The Journal of the British Astronomical Association

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Product details
- Edition: 2nd Edition
- Date Published: May 2004
- format: Paperback
- isbn: 9780521004664
- length: 476 pages
- dimensions: 248 x 176 x 28 mm
- weight: 1.074kg
- contains: 216 b/w illus. 24 colour illus. 27 tables
- availability: Available
Table of Contents
Preface
1. Comets in history
2. Discovery and dynamics of comets
3. Observing and measuring techniques
4. Tails
5. Coma and related phenomena
6. Comets and the solar wind
7. The nucleus
8. Asteroids
9. Origins of comets
10. Comets and the solar system
11. The future of cometary research
12. Comet lore
References.

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Authors
John C. Brandt, University of New Mexico
John C. Brandt is Adjunct Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of New Mexico.
Robert D. Chapman
Now retired, Robert D. Chapman has been a professor at UCLA, a civil servant working for NASA and a program manager in industry.