Comets in the post-Halley era. Volume 1 : In part based on reviews presented at the 121st Colloquium of the International Astronomical Union, Held in Bamberg, Germany, April 24-28, 1989

Comets are always very impressive phenomena. Their appearances at regular, but mostly irregular, times excite people who see them. Astronomers have the obvious advantage of being able to see more of comets, and to study them. Their enthusiasm is reflected in the 50 papers in this book, written by more than 90 experts. The reviews in this book clearly describe a landmark in the history of cometary studies. Knowledge gathered up to and including Comet Halley are presented in two volumes. The first volume is about general aspects of observing and studying comets, where they originate and how their evolution develops. The second volume goes into the details of what a comet is: the nucleus, the coma, cometary dust, plasmas and magnetic fields. The book ends with a reflection by Fred Whipple about Comets in the Post-Halley Era. The book discusses all aspects of comets and is therefore suitable for use in graduate level courses. All astronomers and geophysicists interested in comets will find very useful and well-presented information in this book. Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Cometary Orbital Dynamics and Astrometry....Pages 3-17 Cometary Photometry....Pages 19-65 Infrared Techniques for Comet Observations....Pages 67-91 Infrared Spectroscopy of Cometary Parent Molecules....Pages 93-106 Carbonaceous Compounds in Comets: Infrared Observations....Pages 107-137 Ultraviolet Spectroscopy of Cometary Comae....Pages 139-148 The Study of Comets at Radio Wavelengths....Pages 149-173 A Review of Radio Interferometric Imaging of Comets....Pages 175-207 The Modern Role of Visual Observations of Comets....Pages 209-223 Front Matter....Pages 225-225 Physical Properties of Frozen Volatiles—Their Relevance to the Study of Comet Nuclei....Pages 227-241 Irradiation Effects on Comets and Cometary Debris....Pages 243-275 Laboratory Simulation of Cometary Processes: Results From First Kosi Experiments....Pages 277-297 Laboratory Simulation of Cometary Structures....Pages 299-311 Recent Laboratory Photochemical Studies and Their Relationship to the Photochemical Formation of Cometary Radicals....Pages 313-332 Front Matter....Pages 333-333 The Accumulation and Structure of Comets....Pages 335-359 Chemical Theories on the Origin of Comets....Pages 361-376 Nature and History of the Organic Compounds in Comets: An Astrophysical View....Pages 377-428 Noble Gases in Terrestrial Planets: Evidence for Cometary Impacts?....Pages 429-437 Biological Implications of Organic Compounds in Comets....Pages 439-462 Dynamical History of the Oort Cloud....Pages 463-486 Front Matter....Pages 333-333 Statistical and Evolutionary Aspects of Cometary Orbits....Pages 487-535 End Products of Cometary Evolution: Cometary Origin of Earth-Crossing Bodies of Asteroidal Appearance....Pages 537-556 Debris from Comets: The Evolution of Meteor Streams....Pages 557-591 Evolution of Cometary Debris: Physical Aspects....Pages 593-606 Evidence for Physical Aging of Periodic Comets....Pages 607-628 Physical Aging in Comets....Pages 629-669 Back Matter....Pages 671-688 In Part Based on Reviews Presented at the 121st Colloquium of the International Astronomical Union, held in Bamberg, Germany, April 24-28, 1989