Skip to main content

Beyond Jupiter The Story of Planetary Astronomer Heidi Hammel (2006) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:

Chapter 1: A Date with Two Planets
Pages 1-8

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 2...
... Another time Heidi led a team of Hubble Space Telescope scientists who took photos of a battered planet Jupiter as pieces of a fragmented comet crashed into it every day for a week. Heidi's enthusiasm and down-to-earth descriptions of the event made her one of the celebrities of what became known as "the Great Comet Crash." These discoveries have brought Heidi acclaim, but none of the attention has changed her approach to life in the least.
Read the entire page →
From page 3...
... Heidi turns the wheel and starts the climb. Far ahead is the summit and one of the world's great observatories.
Read the entire page →
From page 4...
... But first she will make a stop at the Onizuka Center for International Astronomy, located 9,300 feet above sea level. The center includes a comfortable dormitory, which will be Heidi's home for the next four days.
Read the entire page →
From page 5...
... She's glad Paul is on duty. A former tour guide, he entertains her with stories of the geology of the mountain, the history of the Big Island, and his many nights operating the telescope.
Read the entire page →
From page 6...
... Against Way overhead. Mars, glowing deep red, dominates the eastern moonlit clouds stands sky.
Read the entire page →
From page 7...
... Uranus is approaching an equinox -- the transition JUPITER into spring in one hemisphere and autumn in the other. The last time Uranus had similar weather was 42 years earlier in 1961, BEYOND The Strange Seasons of Uranus Uranus takes 84 Earth years to circle the spins nearly on its side.
Read the entire page →
From page 8...
... But then no one has been able to predict most of what has happened in the life of Heidi Hammel -- not even Heidi herself.
Read the entire page →

Key Terms

  • orbital path
  • space telescope
  • giant planets
  • north pole
  • big island

  • leaves heidi
  • heidi drives
  • heidi hammel
  • time heidi
  • heidi acclaim

  • neptune telescope
  • heidi led
  • brought heidi
  • heidi smiling
  • heidi suspect

  • dormant mauna
  • telescope operator
  • planets neptune
  • telescope scientists
  • telescope facility

  • irtf telescope
  • fragmented comet
  • operator paul
  • kea observatories
  • snow covered

  • dramatic sunlight
  • curving road
  • clouds stands
  • onizuka center
  • slightly south


    • This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
    More information on Chapter Skim is available.