Comets: Creators and Destroyers

by David H. Levy

Book Overview

David Levy brings these "ghostly apparitions" to life. With fascinating scenarios both real and imagined, he shows how comets have wreaked their special havoc on Earth and other planets. Beginning with ground zero as comets take form, we track the paths their icy, rocky masses take around our universe and investigate the enormous potential that future comets have to directly affect the way we live on this planet and what we might find as we travel...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684852551
• ISBN13: 9780684852553
• Release Date: May 1998
• Publisher: Touchstone Books
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

"Yes, Virginia, Comets Do Hit Planets"

David Levy was one of the astronomers who discovered the infamous Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, which had collided with the planet Jupiter in 1994. He brought this book to public to tell the story of the comets as he mixed his experiences/discovery with the science behind the comets. Indeed, it is a book for the layperson to read as well to understand the grave dangers from space: comets. This book is also informative in a way as Levy discussed the history of the comets impacts, especially in the chapter eight where he listed the time line of major comets seen in the skies in the past two thousand years. Also, in the fourteenth chapter where he brought to light the terrifying "Doomsday" story about "what would happen if a comet exactly like Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 to hit Earth," to which he brings the reader to experience the Earth colliding with a comet. It was a scary story because we would have no warning. In all, there are fifteen chapters, with roughly 240 pages. Well-written and readable. And, I certainly like the title of the thirteenth chapter: "Yes, Virginia, Comets Do Hit Planets" as I think it is an important point from the book. Much recommended.

David's book Comet's Creators And Destroyers

My wife and I traveled to Evansville, Indiana on 22 June 1994 to hear and see David Levy speak about Comets and Comet Shoemaker Levy 9 which impacted Planet Jupiter on July 16-22-1994. David's book Comets Creators and Destroyers is a must read for any one interested in Comets. His book The Quest For Comets An Explosive Trail of Beauty and Danger is an excellent book about comets. David having been fortunate to have gotten to work with Carolyn and Eugene Shoemaker and knowing also Clyde Tombaugh who discovered the planet Pluto has a gift of writing very well about his subjects. David has written two books one about Gene Shoemaker and Clyde Tombaugh. I heartly recommend his books for young and old who has any interest in astromomy, sky watching or observing the crators on the moon! JGM K9JWJ

Fun & Informative

This book reveals the history of comets and their place in the universe in layman's language. The author talks about comet Shoemaker-Levy 9's collision with Jupiter, what could happen if a large extra-terrestrial body hit the Earth. Levy also discusses possible preparations which could be taken to prevent or prepare for such a cataclysmic event. But it is not really a doom-and-gloom type book. It is a book filled with interesting ideas and facts. Lots of b & w illustrations throughout.

Five stars! An 'edge-of-your-seat' book!

This is a truly wonderful story not only giving a great deal of easy to understand information about comets, but doing it in such a way that it kept me at the 'edge of my seat' throughout. This book reveals the secrets of the beginning of life on earth, and possibly the end of civilization as we know it. I would give this book 5 stars, a great read from start to finish!

A love affair with the sky

This is a love story. From the first moment author Levy said "Twinkle twinkle little star..." he did more than just wonder what they were but made it his life study to find out. The words flow trippingly off the page. If you only read one book about comets in your entire life, this is the one to read. It is truly a page turner; it kept me up half the night. Don't walk -- RUN and get it!