The Heavens on Fire

A full and vivid account of the history and science of meteors, and of the people who established meteor science. Published to coincide with the great Leonid shower expected in mid-November, this is a delightful and readable description of science and history.

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Imagine the night sky so full of shooting stars that the firmament itself seems to be crashing to Earth. When the most spectacular of all meteor showers - the Leonids - passed in 1966, observers saw 40 every second. In 1833, three widely-separated observers described the Leonid storm as 'the heavens on fire'. The returning Leonids are now reaching their peak with great activity expected in mid-November in the next couple of years. The Heavens on Fire vividly tells the history of meteors, and especially the Leonids, whose terrifying beauty established meteor science. Mark Littmann traces the history and mythology of meteors, profiles the fascinating figures whose discoveries advanced the field, and explores how meteors have changed the course of life on Earth. He offers advice on how and where to make the best of the forthcoming Leonid storms.