Cometography: Volume 5, 1960-1982: A Catalog of Comets

Description

Cometography is a multi-volume catalog of every comet observed throughout history. It uses the most reliable orbits known to determine the distances from the Earth and Sun at the time a comet was discovered and last observed, 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 the physical appearance of each well-observed comet. Volume 5 provides a complete discussion of the observations and pertinent calculations for every comet seen between 1960 and 1982. 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 will be valuable to historians of science as well as providing amateur and professional astronomers with a definitive reference on comets through the ages.

Gary Kronk has held a life-long passion for astronomy, and has been researching historical information on comets ever since sighting Comet Kohoutek in 1973/74. 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 (IAU) 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 serves as assistant editor of the International Comet Quarterly (ICQ). The International Astronomical Union (IAU) named minor planet 52005 Maik, in honor of his research work in comets.

'... 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 '... a valuable reference for scientists and historians in many fields.' Choice '... a treasure trove of information and each entry stands on its own.' Journal of the British Astronomical Association '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 'This marvelous book was clearly a labour of love. It is a treasure, and will be appreciated for much longer than the century it covers.' New Scientist '... sure to become the standard cometary reference source ... Every library with a comet section should invest in the Cometography series. Congratulations to Gary Kronk on a lifetime of scholarly achievement.' Contemporary Physics '... ambitious attempt to catalogue all recorded comets through history ... the sheer volume of information contained in this book ... is a very useful work of reference.' Geological Magazine 'The authors are to be congratulated on providing a resource that will be referenced for years to come.' Jonathan Shanklin, Journal of the British Astronomical Association 'Cometography will be valuable to historians of science as well as providing amateur and professional astronomers with a definitive reference on comets through the ages.' Spaceflight