David Levy's Guide to Eclipses, Transits, and Occultations
Cambridge University Press
Edition: Illustrated, 8/19/2010
EAN 9780521165518, ISBN10: 0521165512
Paperback, 184 pages, 24.4 x 17.3 x 1.3 cm
Language: English
Originally published in English
In this simple guide, David Levy inspires readers to experience the wonder of eclipses and other transient astronomical events for themselves. Covering both solar and lunar eclipses, he gives step-by-step instructions on how to observe and photograph eclipses. As well as explaining the science behind eclipses, the book also gives their historical background, discussing how they were observed in the past and what we have learned from them. This personal account contains examples from the 77 eclipses the author has witnessed himself. The guide also includes chapters on occultations of stars and planets by the Moon and of asteroids by stars, and the transits of Mercury and Venus. Tables of future eclipses make this invaluable for anyone, from beginners to practised observers, wanting to learn more about these fascinating events.
Introduction
Part I. The Magic and History of Eclipses
1. Shakespeare, King Lear, and the Great Eclipse of 1605
2. Three centuries later
Einstein, relativity, and the solar eclipse of 1919
3. What causes solar and lunar eclipses
Part II. Observing Solar Eclipses
4. Safety considerations
5. What to expect during a partial eclipse
6. Annular eclipses and what to see in them
7. Total eclipse of the Sun
introduction to the magic
8. The onset
temperature drop, Baily's Beads, Diamond Ring
9. Totality
Corona, Prominences, Chromosphere, and surrounding area
10. Photographing and imaging a solar eclipse
Part III. Observing Lunar Eclipses
11. Don't forget the penumbral eclipses!
12. Partial lunar eclipses
13. Total lunar eclipses
14. Photographing and imaging lunar eclipses
Part IV. Occultations
15. When the Moon occults a star
Part V. Transits
16. When planets cross the Sun
Part VI. My Favorite Eclipses
17. A personal canon of eclipses, occultations, and transits I have seen
Appendices
Index.