Meteor Impacts: Readings

TEXTBOOK READINGS:

The textbook does not have a chapter on meteor impacts, however, the world wide web has an abundance of information on this very interesting topic.

WORLD WIDE WEB READINGS:

Your reading assignments for this lesson are the webpages listed below. They well help you learn about meteorites, asteroids, and comets. Pay special attention to what these objects are, where they come from, how large they are, and the type of threat they present to our planet. Consider printing these pages, highlighting the important information, and taking study notes. Later in this lesson, you will be asked to write an essay and take a quiz that will test your knowledge of these topics.

• "Views of the Solar System" by Calvin Hamilton, is a very good website where you can learn about asteroids, comets, and meteorites. Don't try to read the entire site. Instead, focus on the introductory pages for asteroids, comets and meteorites.

   

• "Introduction: Asteroid and Comet Impact Hazards" by David Morrison, NASA Scientist.

   

• "Asteroids, Comets and NASA Research" A introduction to asteroids and comets, and how they relate to current NASA research. (author not specified)

   

• "Ten Frequently Asked Questions about NEO Impacts" by David Morrison, NASA Scientist.

   

• "Will a Killer Asteroid Hit the Earth?" by Leon Jaroff, NASA Scientist.

   

• "Orbit Diagrams for Selected Near-Earth Asteroids and Comets" posted by the Minor Planet Center. Take a look at a few of the diagrams to see how these comets and near-earth asteroids have orbits that cross the orbit of the earth.

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• OPTIONAL READING:   Meteors, Meteorites and Impacts.   This site has some very good photos of meteorites along with some interesting and informative facts about objects that strike the earth. Perhaps the most frightening information is a table that gives "educated guesses" about what consequence would be associated with the impact of different size objects. It is amazing what damage can be done when a relatively small object strikes the earth at a very high velocity.

• OPTIONAL READING:   Learn about Barringer Crater (pictured at the top of this page) - the most famous and first proven meteorite impact structure on our planet. If you ever travel near Flagstaff, Arizona, be sure to stop and see it.

• OPTIONAL READING:   If you are a movie-goer, you can get technical reviews of Deep Impact and Armageddon prepared by Dr. David Morrison at the NASA website. The most revealing comment that he makes is: "It is interesting that the complete Spaceguard survey could be accomplished for the cost of either one of these films: Deep Impact or Armageddon."