Comets and Meteors - Their phenomena in all ages; their mutual relations; and the theory of their origin

This book was first published in 1873 and represents what was known at that time and presents theories in common circulation about the origins of these bodies. This was shortly after several very bright and easily visible star-showers about which there was much speculation in the United States. Kirkwood was a well-known American astronomer best known for his discovery that the phenomenonknown as a meteor shower is composed of debris from comets.