Lively and easy to understand, Total Eclipses presents the myths and legends associated with solar and lunar eclipses through the ages, the mechanisms governing these events, their beauty, and the wealth of information gleaned from them by astronomers and astrophysicists.
"Gives a wide variety of information on observing eclipses for the novice as well as on the value of eclipses to professionals...any reader can find information at an interesting and appropriate level and can be sure that he is being guided knowledgeably." -NATURE

The only recent detailed scientific study of total Solar and Lunar eclipses
Many photographs and illustrations in both colour and black & white
Survey of past eclipse observations, and historical myths and legends

Klappentext
A total eclipse of the Sun is an awe-inspiring sight. By an extraordinary coincidence, the Moon - despite having a diameter 400 times less than that of the Sun - is exactly the right distance from the Earth to just cover the Sun in our sky: a total solar eclipse. At any given point of the Earth, this happens only once every 370 years. A total solar eclipse will take place in August 1999, it will be visible from much of Europe (including the West of England), and brings with it renewed interest in total eclipses, and not only of the Sun. Total Eclipses is more than a detailed scientific study of Solar and Lunar (at a level appropriate for undergraduates), it is also a fascinating survey of the myths and legends associated with eclipses and their observation, throughout history. TOC:Introduction.- The Sun: our local star.- How to observe the Sun.- Eclipses of the Sun and Moon.- Historical eclipses and discoveries.-. Observing total eclipses of the Sun 6. Photographing eclipses of the Sun and Moon.- Appendix A: energy and neutrinos.- Appendix B: Eclipses and coronal physics.- Appendix C: Calculation of solar and lunar eclipse dates.- Appendix D: The eclipse of August 11, 1999.- Appendix E : Eclipses until 2010.- List of addresses and bibliography.- Bibliography.- Index.

Zusammenfassung
Presents the myths and legends associated with solar and lunar eclipses through the ages, the mechanisms governing these events, their beauty, and the wealth of information gleaned from them by astronomers and astrophysicists.

Inhalt
Introduction.- The Sun: our local star.- How to observe the Sun.- Eclipses of the Sun and Moon.- Historical eclipses and discoveries.-. Observing total eclipses of the Sun 6. Photographing eclipses of the Sun and Moon.- Appendix A: energy and neutrinos.- Appendix B: Eclipses and coronal physics.- Appendix C: Calculation of solar and lunar eclipse dates.- Appendix D: The eclipse of August 11, 1999.- Appendix E : Eclipses until 2010.- List of addresses and bibliography.- Bibliography.- Index.