Comet Catcher

Scientists want to know more about comets. They decide to catch one. A spacecraft travels for ten years to reach the comet. What will scientists learn from the mission? Engage your most struggling readers in grades 4-7 with Red Rhino Nonfiction! This new series features high-interest topics in every content area. Visually appealing full-color photographs and illustrations, fun facts, and short chapters keep emerging readers focused. Written at a 1.5-1.9 readability level, these books include pre-reading comprehension questions and a 20-word glossary for comprehension support.

Scientists want to know more about comets. They decide to catch one. A spacecraft travels for ten years to reach the comet. What will scientists learn from the mission?Engage your most struggling readers in grades 3-8 with Red Rhino Nonfiction! This new series features high-interest topics in every content area. Visually appealing full-color photographs and illustrations, fun facts, and short chapters keep emerging readers focused. Written at a 1.5-1.9 readability level, these books include pre-reading comprehension questions and a 20-word glossary for comprehension support.

For use in schools and libraries only. Scientists want to know more about comets. They decide to catch one. A spacecraft travels for ten years to reach the comet. What will scientists learn from the mission?

For many astronomers, the holy grail of observation is to discover a comet, not least because comets always bear the name of their discoverer! Hunting and Imaging Comets was written for comet hunters and digital imagers who want to discover, rediscover, monitor, and make pictures of comets using astronomical CCD cameras and DSLRs. The old days of the purely visual comet hunter are pretty much over, but this is not to say that amateurs have lost interest in finding comets. The books also covers the discovery of comet fragments in the SOHO image data, CCD monitoring of older comets prone to violent outbursts, the imaging of new NEOs (Near Earth Objects) that have quite often been revealed as comets - not asteroids - by amateur astronomers, and the finding of recent comets impacting Jupiter.

"Side Stories" is an anthology of short stories by game developers. Authors come from both digital and analog game development, computer games to paper games. Contributors include Greg Costikyan (veteran game designer of "Paranoia" and "Star Wars: The Role-Playing Game"), Christopher Mitchell (WGA award nominee for game writing, "Deathspank", "Simpsons Hit and Run"), and Rees Savidis (writer and award winning filmmaker, "SSX", "Driver: San Francisco"), and others. A share of proceeds will be donated to the Child’s Play charity. Included stories: “Sheepdog” by Bren Lynne An armed student defends his classroom from a shooter. “Spaceship and Bicycle” by Greg Costikyan Asteroid prospectors undertake innovative repairs after their spaceship is crippled. “Fizzy Piss Grape Shit” by Rees Savidis The end of the world, from the other perspective. “And The Heart Goes Tick Tick Tick” by Chris Dahlen A matchmaker finds adventure and romance when and where she least expects it. “Buried Legends” by David Dubord Unearthing buried treasure releases unexpected riches. “Paper Cuts” by Peter Walsh A software developer has problems after he reveals the weaknesses in government surveillance systems. “Cultists” by Christopher Mitchell Members of an apocalypse cult, frustrated with the lack of results, take matters into their own hands. “Lucky Malloy and the Cuban Zombie Crisis” by Jason Dozois A washed-up football player turned zombie hunter faces trouble when his cat becomes a zombie boss monster. “The Christmas Trolls” by Andrew Laing A game developer stands trial for creating a game that turns users into Trolls.

Classic telescopes are of interest to amateur astronomers for a variety of reasons. There are the dedicated collectors, but there are also many amateurs who love the nostalgia they inspire. These telescopes "feel" different from any contemporary telescope and perhaps have a unique ability to reconnect the owner to a bygone age of craftmanship. This book takes a look at traditional telescopes built by the great instrument makers of the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly the dynastic telescope makers, including Dollond, Alvan Clark, Thomas Cooke & Sons, and Carl Zeiss. Also included are lesser luminaries such as John Brashear, John Calver, William Wray, Henry Fitz, and William Henry Mogey. 'Classic Telescopes' covers the key features of the telescopes designed by these manufacturers, and shows how a heady combination of market trends, instrument condition, and pedigree will dictate their prices at auction. 'Classic Telescopes' also shows the reader how to find real bargains! Interviews with top classic telescope collectors (and users) provide the best tips of prospecting for a genuine acquisition.

This catalog is the first in-depth investigation of comets that were reported since the 17th century, but not confirmed and subsequently lost. Volume I of this two-volume work covers objects observed between 1600 and 1899, a period that was dominated by visual observations and was experiencing a rapid evolution in science. The book uniquely combines the history and culture of comet hunting and discovery with modern tools of orbital mechanics to present a wholesome catalog of unconfirmed and suspected comets. Each case includes a presentation of the observations, a discussion about the observer (when possible), consideration of the historic context, and a conclusion as to the nature of the object. In most cases, the book presents material from original sources, including some never before published that were acquired from observatories, libraries, and historical societies around the world. Although some of these unconfirmed comets turned out to be misidentifications of planets or star clusters, fabrications, or poor observations of comets that were already being observed, the Authors did identify many objects that were likely real comets. In some cases, the Authors were even able to derive orbits for the first time. These observations may be valuable in the future, as they could prove to be observations of periodic comets still to be discovered.

More delightful fun with the Brainwaves. This time they blast off into space to bring the science to you - in fabulously fun--and funny--text. Stars, galaxies, black holes, nebulae, asteroids, and more are discussed in clear text, meant to engage and entertain readers of all ages.