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On the Trail of Stardust: The Guide to Finding Micrometeorites: Tools, Techniques, and Identification
On the Trail of Stardust puts the heavens in your hands—in the form of cosmic dust, or micrometeorites. With this handy guide from the author of the international bestseller In Search of Stardust , Jon Larsen, you will learn how to find micrometeorites in your own neighborhood!
Stardust—also known as micrometeorites—is the oldest matter anywhere. Nothing has traveled farther to reach Earth. For a century, scientists have searched everywhere for stardust, but only found it in remote areas like Antarctica and, more recently, outer space. Author and citizen scientist extraordinaire Jon Larsen was the first to find them in populated areas. With this book, you too can discover stardust as near as your own rooftop !
Following his successful debut, In Search of Stardust , Larsen turns his attention from explaining the formation and various kinds of stardust to revealing his methods and techniques for finding micrometeorites in a compact, durable guide. Larsen covers everything from the origins and formation of micrometeorites to assembling the simple array of gear needed to get out there and find stardust in your own neighborhood, rooftop, or rain gutters.
Larsen explains the best places to look and offers step-by-step photo sequences of the techniques he has developed to assemble his collection of 1,500-plus verified micrometeorites (and counting). And you don’t need a multi-million-dollar scanning electron microscope to document your collection; Jon shows how to assemble a serviceable photo setup from easily accessible equipment.
The book is capped off with a field guide of sorts that offers a taxonomy of the various types of micrometeorites , along with sample images, as well as the kinds of man-made and terrestrial spherules that stardust hunters are likely to encounter and how to identify them as imposters .
Once thought to exist only at the bottoms of oceans and atop polar ice, it turns out that stardust is everywhere…and On the Trail of Stardust is your indispensable tool to finding it for yourself.
Stardust—also known as micrometeorites—is the oldest matter anywhere. Nothing has traveled farther to reach Earth. For a century, scientists have searched everywhere for stardust, but only found it in remote areas like Antarctica and, more recently, outer space. Author and citizen scientist extraordinaire Jon Larsen was the first to find them in populated areas. With this book, you too can discover stardust as near as your own rooftop !
Following his successful debut, In Search of Stardust , Larsen turns his attention from explaining the formation and various kinds of stardust to revealing his methods and techniques for finding micrometeorites in a compact, durable guide. Larsen covers everything from the origins and formation of micrometeorites to assembling the simple array of gear needed to get out there and find stardust in your own neighborhood, rooftop, or rain gutters.
Larsen explains the best places to look and offers step-by-step photo sequences of the techniques he has developed to assemble his collection of 1,500-plus verified micrometeorites (and counting). And you don’t need a multi-million-dollar scanning electron microscope to document your collection; Jon shows how to assemble a serviceable photo setup from easily accessible equipment.
The book is capped off with a field guide of sorts that offers a taxonomy of the various types of micrometeorites , along with sample images, as well as the kinds of man-made and terrestrial spherules that stardust hunters are likely to encounter and how to identify them as imposters .
Once thought to exist only at the bottoms of oceans and atop polar ice, it turns out that stardust is everywhere…and On the Trail of Stardust is your indispensable tool to finding it for yourself.
- GenresScience
144 pages, Paperback
Published April 16, 2019
9 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 13, 2023
This is super detailed without being too scientific to make it difficult to understand. Everything is explained well and incredibly informative about finding and classifying micrometeorites. Information about the equipment to use is very helpful as well
April 29, 2019
I received this book for free through NetGalley.
On the Trail of Stardust describes the methods for finding and identifying specks of stardust, or micrometeorites. These little stones are found everywhere on Earth, and anyone can collect them!
"Searching for stardust is an exciting and interesting hobby. At the same time, it is cutting-edge science."
This is a very new field of science, but also a very accessible one. You don't need to understand much science to do this. In fact, scientists don't have all the answers yet, and amateur micrometeorite collections can potentially help understand where the stardust comes from.
All you need to get started are some basic tools and a decent microscope. This book is a great resource to start collecting, but also fun just to read if you're interested in micrometeorites.
The book is beautifully illustrated, especially the high definition photographs of the micrometeorites were amazing to see. They are very beautiful.
On the Trail of Stardust describes the methods for finding and identifying specks of stardust, or micrometeorites. These little stones are found everywhere on Earth, and anyone can collect them!
"Searching for stardust is an exciting and interesting hobby. At the same time, it is cutting-edge science."
This is a very new field of science, but also a very accessible one. You don't need to understand much science to do this. In fact, scientists don't have all the answers yet, and amateur micrometeorite collections can potentially help understand where the stardust comes from.
All you need to get started are some basic tools and a decent microscope. This book is a great resource to start collecting, but also fun just to read if you're interested in micrometeorites.
The book is beautifully illustrated, especially the high definition photographs of the micrometeorites were amazing to see. They are very beautiful.
June 9, 2019
Before reading this book I had no idea that micrometeorites existed. I thought that micrometeorites might be big and I would have to travel to a remote place in in the middle of nowhere to find them. It turns out they are small, and can be found on rooftops with a magnet.
Its amazing to me that I could find something from so little from outer space on a roof top. I have not searched for micrometeorites yet. I don't know if I ever will go searching for micrometeorites. But, I think by reading this book I could go searching for micrometeorites and find some.
I liked all the pictures of micrometeorites and the pictures of the things that might look like micrometeorites but, are not. Definitely an interesting read.
Its amazing to me that I could find something from so little from outer space on a roof top. I have not searched for micrometeorites yet. I don't know if I ever will go searching for micrometeorites. But, I think by reading this book I could go searching for micrometeorites and find some.
I liked all the pictures of micrometeorites and the pictures of the things that might look like micrometeorites but, are not. Definitely an interesting read.
December 25, 2021
What a fascinating discovery! This book makes me want to start looking for micrometeorites right now. The book provides a description of all the steps necessary for finding, preparing and preserving micrometeorites from your own roof. This is an awesome guide to a brand new breaking field in which everyone-including the average citizen scientist-can make new contributions. I highly recommend “On the Trail
Of Stardust!”
Of Stardust!”
September 29, 2024
Good ‘field guide’ for hobbyist and scientist alike
Covers acquisition of samples from different urban locations, processing, evaluation, types of spherules, plus discussion of hardware and software that can help with logging finds.
Covers acquisition of samples from different urban locations, processing, evaluation, types of spherules, plus discussion of hardware and software that can help with logging finds.
December 29, 2020
Read this in one sitting, it's so interesting! I got interested after watching this Vox video,
and this book is the perfect companion! I'm definitely going to be looking for micrometeorites in the new year! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q3uN...
and this book is the perfect companion! I'm definitely going to be looking for micrometeorites in the new year! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q3uN...
April 21, 2023
Easy to understand and interesting book that can be used for learning about micrometeorites and also be used as a field guide.
February 18, 2024
Everything you need to know to get started collecting micrometeorites.
April 10, 2019
This book is a great introduction to the somewhat mysterious realm of micrometeorite hunting. The book is split into five sections, with a main focus during the beginning of the book on setting the scene, what micrometeorites are and how you can find them for yourself at home - you're likely to have most of the equipment needed already! Everyone can be a micrometeorite hunter with this handy guide. It's a small, compact and easy to handle guidebook.
I really enjoyed the easy to follow guide on how to find micrometeorites for myself, and the extensive image reference guide for each different type of particle that might commonly be found using the method described by Larsen. It would be invaluable to have next to your microscope ready to consult when needed.
My only slight grumble comes from the repeated text which appears on a couple of occasions. We see text repeated on the page, once accompanying an image and once in the main body of the text.
Overall I think this book is a wonderful introduction into a potentially deep hobby or new area of scientific interest. If the text alone doesn't inspire you to sift through the dirt to find your own micrometeorites, then the stunning images will.
*This book was provided in PDF format as an ARC through NetGalley in return for a fair review.
I really enjoyed the easy to follow guide on how to find micrometeorites for myself, and the extensive image reference guide for each different type of particle that might commonly be found using the method described by Larsen. It would be invaluable to have next to your microscope ready to consult when needed.
My only slight grumble comes from the repeated text which appears on a couple of occasions. We see text repeated on the page, once accompanying an image and once in the main body of the text.
Overall I think this book is a wonderful introduction into a potentially deep hobby or new area of scientific interest. If the text alone doesn't inspire you to sift through the dirt to find your own micrometeorites, then the stunning images will.
*This book was provided in PDF format as an ARC through NetGalley in return for a fair review.
May 28, 2019
Well documented and illustrated, this book is a must to have for any geologist or any astronomist. The book covers some techniques and historical facts.
#OnTheTrailOfStardust #NetGalley
#OnTheTrailOfStardust #NetGalley
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews