Sun Moon Earth: The History of Solar Eclipses from Omens of Doom to Einstein and Exoplanets

182 Pages·2016·5.13 MB·English

by  Tyler Nordgren

Also by Tyler Nordgren
Night Sky: A Guide to Our Galaxy
Stars Above, Earth Below: A Guide to
Astronomy in the National Parks

Copyright © 2016 by Tyler Nordgren Published by Basic Books,
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Designed by Jack Lenzo
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Nordgren, Tyler E.
(Tyler Eugene), 1969– Title: Sun, Moon, Earth: the history of solar eclipses,
from omens of doom to Einstein and exoplanets / Tyler Nordgren.
Other titles: Solar eclipses
Description: New York: Basic Books, [2016] | Includes bibliographical
references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016013888 | ISBN 9780465096466 (ebook) Subjects:
LCSH: Solar eclipses.
Classification: LCC QB541 .N67 2016 | DDC 523.7/809—dc23 LC record
available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016013888
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
This book is dedicated to my father, who still feels terrible about me missing the
1979 eclipse. Don’t worry anymore; it set me on the path to be the right person
at the right place and time for 2017.
Contents Prologue
INTRODUCTION
From Omen to Awe
CHAPTER 1
A Day with Two Dawns and Midnight at Noon
CHAPTER 2
Two Worlds One Sun
CHAPTER 3
Shadows Across a Sea of Stars
CHAPTER 4
As Below, So Above
CHAPTER 5
The Eclipse That Changed the World
CHAPTER 6
Saros Siblings
CHAPTER 7
The Great American Eclipse and Beyond
CHAPTER 8
The Last Total Eclipse
Acknowledgments
Solar Eclipse Resources
Notes
Index
It is a spectacle pure and simple, the most magnificent free show
that nature presents to man. . . . [N]ot to view the coming one
would be literally to lose the opportunity of a lifetime.
—ON THE SOLAR ECLIPSE OF 1925,
THE NEW YORK TIMES