Sky Phenomena leads the student/reader from the stars as seen from earth, through the sun, moon, and planets, to the Copernican revolution, comets and meteors, and the Southern Hemisphere sky. The text includes mythological and historical aspects of the subject and has numerous exercises for the student. The final chapter is a unique collection of poetry related to the stars from ancient India to modern times. Appendices include future astronomical events, technical data, materials and publications, and a comprehensive glossary of astronomical terms.
Sky Phenomena is an unusual and practical guide to the sky as we see it-with the naked eye. The author leads us from the appearance of the stars as seen from Earth, through the Sun, Moon, and planets, to a deeper understanding of the Copernican revolution, comets, and meteors.
The text includes mythological and historical aspects of the subject, as well as numerous exercises for students, including an account of the Southern Hemisphere.
The final chapter contains a unique collection of poetry about the stars, from ancient India to modern times. There are also appendices dealing with future astronimical events, technical data, materials and publications, and a comprehensive glossary of astronimical terms.
Davidson tells us, "The purpose of this book is to help people take up a conscious study of what is our greater environment-the turning sky." Only when we have grasped the laws and principles behind the movements of the stars can there grow the enthusiasm and desire needed to observe more and observe more deeply.
NORMAN DAVIDSON was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1933. He was a journalist in the UK for ten years, writing on social and cultural events. He was a Waldorf school teacher for sixteen years, teaching astronomy, geometry, history, and literature. He has been director of Teacher Training at the Waldorf Institute of Sunbridge College in Chestnut Ridge, New York. He lectures on astronomy and cultural topics, and is the author of "Astronomy and the Imagination," a companion to this book.