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The Day the Sky Split Apart: Investigating a Cosmic Mystery
The Day the Sky Split Apart Investigating a Cosmic Mystery Author:Roy A. Gallant From the School Library Journal: — Gr 6 Up-In 1992, Gallant made a trip to Siberia to visit the site of the 1908 Tunguska event, in which a cosmic body entered the atmosphere and exploded before striking the Earth, destroying forests, killing wildlife, and wreaking havoc on the area. Here, he introduces readers to the Tungus people's way of life,... more » reprints their firsthand descriptions of the event, and compares the still-visible evidence of the devastation with their accounts.
Focusing on the investigative work of Soviet scientists Leonid Kulik and Innokenty Suslov, he explains the many wrong turns the investigations took and summarizes current conclusions. Turning the discussion to the dangers posed by comets and asteroids whose orbits bring them near Earth, the author describes other cosmic collisions the planet has suffered and explains the inevitability of another life-threatening collision, such as that which might have led to the dinosaurs' extinction. To avoid such a catastrophe, Gallant urges international cooperation in monitoring and preparing for the destruction or deflection of these near-Earth objects.
The narrative is attention-grabbing and remains scientific in tone, avoiding and debunking more sensational theories. This thought-provoking book, illustrated with black-and-white photographs, maps, and diagrams, is an excellent choice.
-Jeffrey A. French, Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library« less