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Comets and the Origin and Evolution of Life

  • Book
  • © 1997

Overview

Editors:
  1. Paul J. Thomas

    1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, Eau Claire, USA

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  2. Christopher F. Chyba

    1. Department of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton, USA

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  3. Christopher P. McKay

    1. Space Science Division, NASA/Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, USA

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Table of contents (13 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiii
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  2. Introduction: Comets and the Origin of Life

    • P. J. Thomas, C. F. Chyba, C. P. McKay
    Pages 1-2

  3. Comets and the Origin and Evolution of Life

    • J. Oró, A. Lazcano
    Pages 3-27

  4. The Origin of the Atmosphere and of the Oceans

    • A. Delsemme
    Pages 29-67

  5. Organic Chemistry in Comets From Remote and In Situ Observations

    • J. Kissel, F. R. Krueger, K. Roessler
    Pages 69-109

  6. Polymers and Other Macromolecules in Comets

    • W. F. Huebner, D. C. Boice
    Pages 111-129

  7. Numerical Models of Comet and Asteroid Impacts

    • P. J. Thomas, L. Brookshaw
    Pages 131-145

  8. Comets as a Source of Prebiotic Organic Molecules for the Early Earth

    • C. F. Chyba, C. Sagan
    Pages 147-173

  9. Impacts and the Early Evolution of Life

    • K. J. Zahnle, N. H. Sleep
    Pages 175-208

  10. Cometary Impacts on the Biosphere

    • D. Steel
    Pages 209-242

  11. The Contemporary Hazard of Cometary Impacts

    • D. Morrison
    Pages 243-258

  12. 26Al and Liquid Water Environments in Comets

    • M. Podolak, D. Prialnik
    Pages 259-272

  13. Life in Comets

    • C. P. McKay
    Pages 273-282

  14. Comets and Space Missions

    • C. P. McKay
    Pages 283-287

  15. Back Matter

    Pages 289-296
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Keywords

About this book

This volume considers the role comets may have played in the origins and evolution of life, particularly in light of recent investigations of Halley's comet, of new insights into organic synthesis in meteorites and comets, and of new results of numerical simulations of cometary orbits and impacts on Earth. The book is intended as a comprehensive review of current research, accessible to graduate students and others new to the field. Each chapter was prepared by an expert to give an overview of an aspect of the field, and carefully revised by the editors for uniformity in style and presentation.

Editors and Affiliations

  • Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, Eau Claire, USA

    Paul J. Thomas

  • Department of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton, USA

    Christopher F. Chyba

  • Space Science Division, NASA/Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, USA

    Christopher P. McKay

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Comets and the Origin and Evolution of Life

  • Editors: Paul J. Thomas, Christopher F. Chyba, Christopher P. McKay

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-2688-6

  • Publisher: Springer New York, NY

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

  • Copyright Information: Springer Science+Business Media New York 1997

  • eBook ISBN: 978-1-4757-2688-6Published: 09 March 2013

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XIII, 296

  • Number of Illustrations: 15 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: Astronomy, Observations and Techniques, Astrophysics and Astroparticles

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