Shepard M.K. Asteroids: Relics of Ancient Time

Cambridge University Press, 2015. — 350 p.The world was stunned when an undetected asteroid catastrophically exploded over the city of Chelyabinsk in February 2013, injuring over 1000 people. Luckily, such events are very rare. More commonly, asteroids skim the Earth without impact, as in March 2014, when three asteroids hurtled past our planet within a few days.Where do asteroids come from and what are they made of? What clues do they hold about the evolution of the solar system? Asteroids are of great interest to planetary scientists because they are relics of shattered protoplanets – time capsules that tell us about the earliest days of the solar system. Scientists have cataloged hundreds of thousands of asteroids. Most of them are found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, and many are thought to contain water and amino acids, the building blocks of life.
Michael Shepard tells the fascinating story of their discovery, and what they can tell us about the history of our own planet. He describes how we find and study asteroids, what they look like through the eyes of powerful telescopes and spacecraft, and plans for future sample return missions.
This timely book interweaves accessible scientific explanations with historical background and personal narrative, providing an engaging read for anyone curious about asteroids and what they may mean for our future – both as threats and opportunities.A popular level treatment of the field of asteroid studies, providing background material to people who want to know more about asteroids and their importance to society and science
Illustrated with clear diagrams, tables, and the most recent images from optical and radar telescopes and spacecraft cameras.
Includes the latest proposals for discovering and avoiding impacts, mining asteroids, and future asteroid missions.It's a small world
A night at the zoo
It came from outer space
A day at the museum
The gambler's fallacy
Remembrance of things past
The ties that bind
Terra incognita
To your scattered bodies go
Scouts, sappers, and miners