
audiobook
by August Heinrich Christian Gelpke
Ueber die - schrecklichen Wirkungen - des - Aufsturzes eines Kometen - auf die Erde - und - über die vor fünftausend Jahren gehabte Erscheinung dieser Art. - Von - Dr. Aug. Heinr. Christ. Gelpke, - Schulrathe und Professor in Braunschweig und Ehrenmitgliede der Großherzoglichen mineralogischen Societät in Jena.
Leipzig, 1835. - Friedrich Fleischer.
Nachtrag.
Zusatz.
The author sets out a clear, methodical picture of what might occur if a massive celestial body—roughly the size of our Moon—were to plunge into the Earth. Drawing on the scientific knowledge of the early nineteenth century, he blends careful observation with vivid imagination, inviting listeners to contemplate the raw forces that shape our planet.
Beyond the dramatic scenario, the work delves into the origins of the Earth itself, proposing that all solid matter began as a fluid and was later sculpted by the twin laws of attraction and repulsion. By explaining how rocks, layers, and even living organisms emerged from this primordial soup, he provides a framework for judging the potential devastation a comet could unleash on both the planet’s interior and its surface. He also references a mysterious impact that may have occurred some five thousand years ago, hinting at ancient evidence of such cataclysms.
Throughout, the narrative balances scientific rigor with philosophical reflection, making the treatise a fascinating glimpse into early ideas about astronomy, geology, and the fragility of our world. Listeners will appreciate the blend of historical context and timeless curiosity about the forces that could reshape life on Earth.
Full title
Ueber die schrecklichen Wirkungen des Aufsturzes eines Kometen auf die Erde und über die vor fünftausend Jahren gehabte Erscheinung dieser Art
Language
de
Duration
~1 hours (95K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2006-05-29
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects
1769–1842
A Braunschweig teacher and popular science writer, he helped make astronomy and physics more accessible to general readers in the early 19th century. His work grew out of a long career in local schools and public lectures.
View all books
by Sigmund Freud

by Sigmund Freud

by Sigmund Freud

by Immanuel Kant

by Alexander von Humboldt

by Baron Thomas Babington Macaulay Macaulay

by Immanuel Kant

by A. (Alfred) Hildebrandt