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Provides a complete discussion of every comet seen during the first part of the twentieth century. Cometography 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. The book also provides non-technical details to help the reader better appreciate how the comet may have influenced various cultures at the time of its appearance.
Introduction; Acknowledgements; Catalog of comets; Appendix 1. Uncertain objects and mistaken identities; Appendix 2. Periodical abbreviations; Appendix 3. Source abbreviations; Index.
Gary Kronk is coordinator of the Comet Section of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers. In addition to his reference books, he has written for both refereed journals and popular astronomy magazines.
From reviews of Cometography: 'What he did is phenomenal.' Daniel Green, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Daily Guide '! 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 Telescope ' ! a valuable reference for scientists and historians in many fields.' Choice ' ! a treasure trove of information and each entry stands on its own.' The 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." Journal of Geological Magazine
