Glorious Eclipses: Their Past Present and Future

Description

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).

'... a magnificent book ...' Le Journal de la Nature '... there is much that is excellent in the book. As a book of history, myth, literature, photography and expeditionary experiences, Glorious Eclipses is outstanding.' Jay M. Pasachoff, Nature '... an impressive and well illustrated large-format book containing poster-sized colour images and diagrams that will be ideal for new amateur astronomy enthusiasts or potential eclipse fans of the future ... everyone who browses through Glorious Eclipses will derive a sense of enchantment and wonder at these magnificent events.' Serge Koutchmy, Physics World 'If you want to take up eclipse chasing, the book's maps of future eclipses will tell you when and where to be.' Martin Ince, Mathematics and Physics 'This beautifully illustrated and written work has something for everyone - the seasoned eclipse chaser and the newcomer alike ... A recommended buy! Brian Halls, Astronomy Now 'Following the plethora of books which appeared to accompany the 1999 solar eclipse, here is a large-format book intended to do justice to an impressive selection of eclipse images and related illustrations. A chapter is devoted to a full account of the 1999 event ... The enthusiasm, even passion, of the authors for their subject has clearly lost nothing in translation and is evident in an engaging prose style ... a spectacular celebration of eclipses which can be recommended to enthusiast and general reader alike.' Paul Stephens, Popular Astronomy 'The book is of coffee-table proportions and, with nearly 200 profusely and colourfully illustrated pages, a price tag of only GBP25 represents very good value.' David Pike, The Observatory '... attractive and beautifully illustrated book ... a veritable mine of information on eclipses and is suitable for anyone who has an interest in eclipses ... this is a splendid book profusely illustrated ...'. F. Richard Stephenson, Astronomy & Geophysics