Cabinet of Curiosities, A: The Myth, Magic and Measure of Meteorites

"Hurtling through the atmosphere, in a blaze of light and reverberating percussions, the arrival of a meteorite on Earth is a magical, rare, and precious sight. These characteristics have accordingly ensured a long, yet often controversial history. For all this, meteorites are cosmic messengers. They tell us about the entire history of the solar system, their story carrying us from the very earliest moments, when solid material first began to form in the solar nebula. Indeed, meteorites played a key role in the origins of Earth's oceans and the genesis of life. Meteorites additionally tell us about the origin and evolution of the asteroids, and they tell us about impacts upon the Moon as well as the volcanic history of planet Mars. Much is known about the structure and chemistry of meteorites, but for all this, they still harbor many scientific mysteries that have yet to be resolved"-- Provided by publisher Prologue Contents Introduction: The Cabinet of Curiosities 1. The End 2. The Beginning 3. Origins 4. Rock of Ages 5. Dust to Dust 6. Atmospheric Interactions 7. Gems from the Cabinet 8. 1969: Year of the Carbonaceous Chondrites 9. Meteorites and Life 10. Gathering Dust 11. Impact Cratering 12. The Impactors 13. Exploring Vesta 14. Space Invaders on Ice 15. Terrestrial Meteorites 16. Meteorites on Mars 17. Interstellar Interlopers 18. Hammer Stones 19. Draco Volans 20. Fireball Processions 21. A Roaring Sound and a Mighty Wind 22. Electrophonic Sounds 23. The Mystery of Ice Meteorites 24. Declining Returns 25. Meteorites in Popular Culture Appendix: Solving Kepler’s Problem General Index Object Index The end -- The beginning -- Origins -- Rock of ages -- Dust to dust -- Meteoroid in the air -- Gems from the cabinet -- 1969 : year of the carbonaceous chondrites -- Meteorites and life -- Gathering dust -- Impact cratering -- The impactors -- Exploring Vesta -- Space invaders on ice -- Terrestrial meteorites -- Meteorites on Mars -- Interstellar interlopers -- Hammer stones -- Draco volans -- Fireball processions -- A roaring sound and a mighty wind -- Electrophonic sounds -- The mystery of ice meteorites -- Declining returns -- Meteorites in popular culture