Glorious Eclipses: Their Past Present and Future - Hardcover

Brunier, Serge; Luminet, Jean-Pierre

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521791480 ISBN 13: 9780521791489

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2000

Synopsis

Stargazers who may have missed the last total solar eclipse of the 20th century this past summer have just been given another chance to observe this "once in a lifetime" occurrence. Inside Glorious Eclipses they will find startling images and rich personal accounts that fully capture this event and other recent eclipses. The book will also insure that readers will not miss another eclipse in the next 60 years! Specially designed in a beautiful, large format, the volume portrays eclipses of all kinds--lunar, solar, and those occurring elsewhere in the Solar System and beyond. Brunier and Luminet have gathered together all aspects of eclipses, and carefully selected a host of lavish images. The authors detail the history of eclipses, the celestial mechanics involved, their observation, and scientific interest. Personal accounts of recent eclipses are also included as well as all relevant information about forthcoming eclipses up to 2060. Complete with NASA maps and data, Glorious Eclipses is the ultimate source for all those interested in these remarkable (and rare) celestial events. Serge Brunier is chief editor of the journal Ciel et Espace, a photo-journalist, and the author of many nonfiction books aimed at both specialists and the general public. Jean-Pierre Luminet is an astrophysicist at the Paris-Meudon Observatory and director of research at the Centre pour la Recherche Scientifique. He is the author of many popular astronomy books, including Black Holes (Cambridge University Press, 1992).

About this title

Book Description:

This beautiful large-format volume deals with eclipses of all kinds--lunar, solar and even those elsewhere in the Solar System. Lavishly illustrated throughout, it brings together in one place historical, scientific and personal accounts of eclipses, and contains some of the best photographs ever taken, especially on August 11th 1999 for the last total solar eclipse of the twentieth century. It is the perfect souvenir for all those who tried or wished to see that eclipse, and the perfect resource for all those seeking to enjoy eclipses in the future.

Review:

"This is the ultimate eclipse book...successfully brings the beauty of total solar eclipses to the fore...there is much that is excellent in the book. The charts of future eclipses at the end of the book are redrawn at the highest quality...As a book of history, myth, literature, photography and expeditionary experiences, Glorious Eclipses is outstanding." Nature

"Glorious Eclipses is almost as good as being there." Naples, Florida News

"An extraordinarily beautiful book, Glorious Eclipses guides us elegantly through the history of obscurations of the sun and moon--from the ancient Chinese belief that a dragon was devouring the daytime star through current theories and on to celestial events forthcoming in the next six decades." Scientific American

"Serge Brunier and Jean-Pierre Luminet have done an admirable job bringing their passion for eclipses to bear in this study, and Storm Dumlop has done remarkably well in perseving their insights in his tranlation...The writing is good, and the explanation are concise, but what what really makes this book soar is its photographs...I've seen 56 eclipses of the Sun and Moon in my lifetime; now with this magnificent publication, I can relive the feeling once more." Jrnl of the Meteortical Society

"THIS MAY BE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK ON ECLIPSES ever produced, with scores of wonderful eclipse photos showing virtually every possible aspect of a total eclipse of the Sun...the overall coverage is wide-ranging and includes many references to and illustrations of historical eclipese...the book and its great sucess are the exquisitely produced illustrations and the generous number of them. The historical sections are gorgeously done. Anyone who has made the effort to travel halfway around the world to see the spectacle of a total eclipse of the Sun will be interested in his book and probably want to own it. It would make an ideal gift for the addicted eclipse chaser." Sky News Nov Dec 2001

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0521791480
• ISBN 13: 9780521791489
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 192