Eclipse Journeys To The Dark Side Of The Moon

Looks at the science of eclipses, reveals their role in culture, and focuses on people who travel around the world chasing these events.

On 21 August 2017, over 100 million people will gather in a narrow belt across the USA to witness the most watched total solar eclipse in history. Eclipse - Journeys to the Dark Side of the Moon, written by the widely read popular science author Frank Close, describes the spellbinding allure of this most beautiful natural phenomenon. The book explains why eclipses happen, reveals their role in history, literature and myth, and focuses on eclipse chasers, who travel with ecstatic fervour to some of the most inaccessible places on the globe to be present at the moment of totality. The book includes the author's quest to solve a 3000 years old mystery: how did the moon move backwards during a total solar eclipse, as claimed in the Book of Joshua? It is an inspirational tale: how a teacher and an eclipse inspired the author, aged eight, to a life in science, and a love affair with eclipses, which takes him to a war zone in the Western Sahara, to the South Pacific and the African bush. The tale comes full circle with another eight-year old boy - the author's grandson - at the 2017 great American eclipse. Readers of all ages will be drawn to this inspirational chronicle of the mesmerizing experience of total solar eclipse.

A uniquely prismatic representation of total solar eclipses, this volume invites us to imagine a liberated mode of discovery, perception, creativity, and knowledge-production across the traditional academic divisions.

This comprehensive guide to solar eclipses will captivate you with the wonder of this celestial event while providing valuable insights into its scientific, cultural, and societal significance. Each chapter offers a deep dive into specific aspects, ensuring that readers gain a well-rounded understanding of solar eclipses and their impact on our world.

"Have you ever seen a total solar eclipse?" If the question caused you to search your memory, the correct answer would have been "no." A common response is: "Yes--I saw one, it was about 90% partial eclipse where I lived." A 90% partial eclipse is indeed a remarkable phenomenon, but true totality leaves all else in the shade, in all senses of the phrase. Ask the question of anyone who has experienced the full sensation of being obliterated by the moon's shadow, and they will reply "yes"--without hesitation--and continue with a monologue describing the overwhelming experiences and unique phenomena that ensued. On 21 August 2017 millions of people across the United States witnessed "The Great American Eclipse" of the Sun. The moment it was over, people around the world were asking questions: what caused the weird shadows and colors in the build up to totality? Were those ephemeral bands of shadows gliding across the ground in the seconds before totality real or an optical illusion? Why this, what that, but above all: where and when can I see a total solar eclipse again? Eclipses: What Everyone Needs to Know helps explain the profound differences between a 99.99% partial eclipse and true totality, and inform readers how to experience this most beautiful natural phenomenon successfully. It covers eclipses of sun, moon, and other astronomical objects, and their applications in science, as well as their role in history, literature, and myth. It describes the phenomena to expect at a solar eclipse and the best ways to record them--by camera, video, or by simple handmade experiments. The book covers the timetable of upcoming eclipses, where the best locations will be to see them, and the opportunities for using them as vehicles for inspiration and education. As a veteran of seven total solar eclipses, physicist Frank Close is an expert both on the theory and practice of eclipses. Eclipses: What Everyone Needs to Know is a popular source of information on the physics of eclipses.

According to world-famous astronomer David Levy, an eclipse of the sun “is a natural event with unnatural consequences. In fact, a total eclipse of the Sun has the power to rip through to the core of your being.” Levy should know, having experienced the power of the vanishing Sun first as a child then in 1999 on a ship in the North Atlantic. It was that voyage to the darkness of the disappearing Sun, followed by a rendezvous with a brilliant display of the Northern Lights, that formed the inspiration for this book. Levy recounts the recorded history of eclipses, how they have been perceived by ancient cultures, how they can be predicted, and how best to view them. In addition, he explains the science of solar eclipses and what can be gained by studying them. In a manner accessible to all readers, Levy recounts the story of nature’s most profound displays.

Have you always wanted to explore the Moon like Neil Armstrong or the eleven other astronauts who have walked on its surface? You can tour the Moon from your own backyard with a small telescope or binoculars. This book will point you to the Sea of Tranquility (the landing spot for Apollo 11) and many other fascinating features you can spot on the Moon's surface. Beginning with the New Moon, as each day passes, an additional slice of the Moon becomes visible. With each new slice comes new craters, lunar seas and jagged mountain ranges. This easy-to-use, illustrated reference book enables everyone, young and old, to better appreciate our nearest neighbour in space.

Whether you’re interested in visiting Apollo landing sites or the locations of classic sci-fi movies, this is the tourist guide for you! This tourist guide has a twist – it is a guide to a whole different world, which you can visit from the comfort of your backyard with the aid of nothing more sophisticated than an inexpensive telescope. It tells you the best times to view the Moon, the most exciting sights to look out for, and the best equipment to use, allowing you to snap stunning photographs as well as view the sights with your own eyes. Have you ever been inspired by stunning images from the Hubble telescope, or the magic of sci-fi special effects, only to look through a small backyard telescope at the disappointing white dot of a planet or faint blur of a galaxy? Yet the Moon is different. Seen through even a relatively cheap 'scope, it springs into life like a real place, with mountains and valleys and rugged craters. With a bit of imagination, you can even picture yourself as a sightseeing visitor there – which in a sense you are.