Cosmic Collisions: Asteroid vs. Comet

Ages 7 to 9, Grades 2 to 4

What happens when two massive hunks of hurtling space debris slam into each other? Welcome to round one in the Cosmic Collisions series—an exciting children’s debut from an expert astrophysicist.

There’s a comet speeding in from the outer solar system, and it’s about to slam into an asteroid. Who will be left standing after this interplanetary smackdown? The pockmarked asteroid, a veteran fighter who’s already seen some action? Or the dazzling comet, with its incredible velocity and a tail that stretches millions of miles? Kicking off a dynamic series on cosmic collisions, Asteroid vs. Comet starts by comparing the two opponents, then offers hints and context to encourage readers to use real science to form a hypothesis. Action-packed full-color illustrations with a graphic, comic-book feel will attract reluctant readers and kids who love smash-and-crash, along with budding scientists. Curious readers can find back matter addressing the question of fact versus fiction, how to become a citizen scientist, and comets and asteroids in the news.

About the Author

Dr. Marc Kuchner is an astrophysicist, author, and science communicator who has published more than 110 professional papers in the peer-reviewed literature on topics including white dwarfs, gamma ray bursts, and supernovae, as well as articles for Astronomy Today, Physics World, and Scientific American. His debut book, Marketing for Scientists: How to Shine in Tough Times, was called by Neil deGrasse Tyson “the first of its kind.” Marc Kuchner is based in Rhode Island.

Matt Schu is the illustrator of Cut! How Lotte Reiniger and a Pair of Scissors Revolutionized Animation by C. E. Winters and My Cat Does Ballet by Robert Heidbreder. He grew up in Portland, Oregon, and likes drawing trees, rocks, houses, and dark skies.