Cometography: Volume 6, 1983-1993: A Catalog of Comets

Description

Cometography is a multi-volume catalog of every comet observed from ancient times up to the 1990s, when the internet took off as a medium of scientific record. It uses the most reliable orbits known to determine the distances from the Earth and Sun at the time of discovery and last observation, as well as the largest and smallest angular distance to the Sun, most northerly and southerly declination, closest distance to the Earth, and other details, to enable the reader to understand each comet's physical appearance. Volume 6, the final volume in the catalog, covers the observations and pertinent calculations for every comet seen between 1983 and 1993. The comets are listed in chronological order, with complete references to publications relating to each comet and physical descriptions of each comet's development throughout its apparition. Cometography is the definitive reference on comets through the ages, for astronomers and historians of science.

Gary Kronk has held a life-long passion for astronomy, and has been researching historical information on comets ever since sighting Comet Kohoutek in 1973/4. His work has been published in numerous magazines, and in two previous books: Comets: A Descriptive Catalog (1984) and Meteor Showers: A Descriptive Catalog (1988). Kronk holds positions in various astronomical societies, including Coordinator of the Comet Section of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers, and Consultant for the American Meteor Society. The International Astronomical Union named minor planet 48300 Kronk in honor of the extensive research Gary Kronk has done in cometography. Maik Meyer has observed comets since 1987. Besides comet observing, he is researching cometary orbits in order to link and identify historic comet apparitions. His speciality area is the history of comet hunting. In 2002, he discovered the Meyer group of sunskirting comets. Meyer was leader of the Comet Section of the German Vereinigung der Sternfreunde and served as assistant editor of the International Comet Quarterly (ICQ). The International Astronomical Union named minor planet 52005 Maik in honor of his research work in comets. David Seargent studied and tutored philosophy at the University of Newcastle, New South Wales, and has written books and articles covering a variety of subjects. He has been an amateur astronomer since his early teens, with comets being his principal interest. Seargent directed the Australian Comet Section from early 1980s until early 2000s and acted as visual co-ordinator for Australia of International Halley Watch 1985/6. He is the discoverer of C/1978 T1 (Seargent).

'For anyone interested in a specific cometary appearance, from the dawn of time up to AD 1993, the Cometography series of books has become a reliable and essential 'first stop' in the hunt for details. There is a minimum of a page of text on each comet. Orbital parameters are recorded as well as the heliocentric and geocentric distances and solar elongations of the first and last sightings. The constellations the comet passes through are also listed as is the comet's absolute magnitude. What I appreciated most were the detailed blow-by-blow observations ... [The author's] love of comets leaps from every page of this series of books and his dedication, thoroughness, accuracy, hard work, and clarity of prose is greatly appreciated.' David W. Hughes, The Observatory Review of previous volume: '... a valuable reference for scientists and historians in many fields.' Choice Review of previous volume: '... a treasure trove of information and each entry stands on its own.' Journal of the British Astronomical Association Review of previous volume: 'Cometography has been beautifully produced, and it is a thorough, definitive, well referenced, comprehensive, and easily accessible work of scholarship. For historians, scientific or otherwise, this will be a 'first stop' for information about ancient comets. Looking into the future, it will be a rare month that I will not refer to it.' David W. Hughes, The Observatory Review of previous volume: 'This marvellous book was clearly a labour of love. It is a treasure, and will be appreciated for much longer than the [period] it covers.' New Scientist Review of previous volume: '... sure to become the standard cometary reference source ... Every library with a comet section should invest in the Cometography series. Congratulations to Gary W. Kronk on a lifetime of scholarly achievement.' Contemporary Physics Review of previous volume: 'An ambitious attempt to catalogue all recorded comets through history ... the sheer volume of information contained in this book [makes it] a very useful work of reference.' Geological Magazine Review of previous volume: '... an indispensable reference for historians, comet researchers, and true enthusiasts of the field ... the book's value is inestimable and I can only give [it] my highest praise.' Sky and Telescope