Synopsis
Introduces asteroids, comets and meteors, including their origin, composition, orbits, and effects on Earth and other bodies in the solar system.
Children's Literature
Asteroids were once thought to be the remains of another planet. As a planet was drawn into the gravity field of the planet Jupiter, it exploded into pieces, thus creating asteroids. Astronomers now believe that asteroids have always been separate chunks of matter that never formed into planets. The facts about asteroids, comets and meteorites is included here, and each page offers diagrams or illustrations to accompany the text. Several pages give brief facts in a "Star Point" box. An index and a glossary are included to assist researchers. One of ten volumes in the series "Planet Library" The series is excellent and would be a desirable addition to an elementary or middle school collection, as well as science classrooms. 2000, Lerner Books, Ages 8 to 14, $22.60. Reviewer: Joyce Rice