Catching Stardust: Comets, Asteroids and the Birth of the Solar System (Bloomsbury Sigma) - Hardcover

Natalie Starkey has been actively involved in space science research for more than 10 years. Following a Ph.D. in Geochemistry at the University of Edinburgh, Natalie moved to the Open University, where her research focused on laboratory analysis of cometary and asteroid rock samples. This allowed her the opportunity to be involved in sample-return space missions, such as NASA Stardust and JAXA Hayabusa, and she was invited to be a co-investigator on one of the instrument teams for the groundbreaking ESA Rosetta comet mission.

Now living in California, Natalie regularly appears on television and radio internationally. She has written articles for The Guardian, where she undertook a British Science Association Media Fellowship, and she regularly contributes to The Conversation website. In 2014 she received a SEPnet award for Public Engagement in the Media and Communications category.

@starkeystardust / nataliestarkey.com

"An expert account." - Kirkus

". . . an informative and valuable introduction to the field, from an author clearly knowledgeable and passionate about her work." - Publishers Weekly

"A top-rate popular-science title." - Booklist Online

"Natalie Starkey has packed this book full of information on the minor bodies of our solar system, which are key to understanding how things got the way they are today – a must-have for anyone interested in where we came from." - Matt Taylor, ESA Rosetta Project Scientist

"Catching Stardust builds a strong case for why continuing to explore comets and asteroids is so important to understanding our past and in shaping our future." - Jessica Sunshine, Professor of Astronomy, University of Maryland

"An action-packed narrative that really draws in the reader to the thrills and challenged of exploring the true nature of our Solar System." - Lucy McFadden, Emerita at NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre

"A fast-paced journey through time and space under the enthusiastic guidance of space geologist Natalie Starkey. Highly recommended." - Monica Grady, Professor of Planetary Sciences at The Open University

"Astonishing" - Simon Ing, New Scientist

"A promising debut" - Simon Ing, New Scientist