Books on Meteorites

[Ganymede12]

Can anyone recommend any good books about meteorites? I am interested in Geology as well as Astronomy but for some reason I have never done research into them.

[laudropb]

Hi. I am currently reading a book called "Asteroids--Relics of Ancient Time" by Michael K Shepherd. It was highly recommended in one of the astronomy mags. There are chapters about meteorites and their origin which I have found to be a good introduction to the subject. The book is available on Amazon and costs £20.

[jambouk]

I got a second hand copy of this little book and it is a great guide:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Meteors-Meteorites-Observations-Martin-Beech/dp/1861268254/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1436441433&sr=8-1&keywords=meteor+beech

If you are interested in the mineralogic composition and classification then this books looks good as reviewed by BAA (though cheapest is just over £50 delivered on Amazon):

https://britastro.org/journal_item/6493

If you are a member of the BAA, the meteor section is quite active. They are having a joint meeting with the comet lot in September; I think non-BAA can go too, else just join the BAA:

https://britastro.org/meeting_render/6141

James

[Ganymede12]

The BAA reviewed one says you would need a university level understanding of Geology (I only have an AS-level understanding). The one on Amazon did lead me to this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1848001568/ref=pd_aw_fbt_14_img_2?refRID=1EVZ5RM50RRP62SHZR0J

I'll give this one a go. Thanks for the help!

[John]

My favourites are "Rocks from Space" by Richard O Norton and the more technical "Meteorites and their Parent Planets" by Harry Y McSween. 

[L8-Nite]

Have you checked with your local Library to see what may be available in the system ?

[Tomjo59]

I can certainly recommend 'Meteorites and their Parent Planets' by Harry Y. McSween, Cambridge University Press.

Goes into plenty of detail regarding mineralogical composition, but, as the title suggests, also where they may have come from.

[hes not well again]

Heres one from left field,' Remarks concerning stones said to have fallen from clouds, both in these  days and in ancient times.' its from 1796 and written by Edward King. Available free on the Gutenburg Project. Apparently they come from volcano's and not from space at all.

[John]

Heres one from left field,' Remarks concerning stones said to have fallen from clouds, both in these  days and in ancient times.' its from 1796 and written by Edward King. Available free on the Gutenburg Project. Apparently they come from volcano's and not from space at all.

Until the L'Aigle meteorite fell in France in 1803 it was widely accepted that they must be of terrestrial origin. The scientist Jean-Baptiste Biot was asked to investigate the fall by the French Academy of Sciences and his work demonstrated convicingly that stones could fall from space. It was the birth of the science of Meteoritics.

[hes not well again]

Where I live in Dunoon there is a crater thought to be from a meteorite from the late 1700's. It was reported extensively in the proceedings of the Royal Soc by observers all over the country and appears to have gone the length of the British Isle's before breaking up over Ayre. Its a fairly big hole with a nice ejector trail. I'm sure no one wanted to know that. 

[John]

Where I live in Dunoon there is a crater thought to be from a meteorite from the late 1700's. It was reported extensively in the proceedings of the Royal Soc by observers all over the country and appears to have gone the length of the British Isle's before breaking up over Ayre. Its a fairly big hole with a nice ejector trail. I'm sure no one wanted to know that. 

This website documents known, probable and possible UK meteorite falls over the past few hundred years. It's an interesting resource :

http://www.meteoritehistory.info/UKIRELAND/INDEX.HTM

[hes not well again]

What a great site, had a quick look but nothing for the West Coast. It would be difficult to be exhaustive considering they go back to the 14th century!