Celestial Shadows Eclipses, Transits, and Occultations /

• Main Authors: Westfall, John (Author), Sheehan, William (Author)
• Corporate Author: SpringerLink (Online service)
• Format: Electronic eBook
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY : Springer New York : Imprint: Springer, 2015.
• Series: Astrophysics and Space Science Library, 410
• Subjects: Physics.; Planetology.; Astronomy.; Astrophysics.; Cosmology.; Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology.; Popular Science in Astronomy.

Much of what is known about the universe comes from the study of celestial shadows—eclipses, transits, and occultations. The most dramatic are total eclipses of the Sun, which constitute one of the most dramatic and awe-inspiring events of nature. Though once a source of consternation or dread, sola...

Table of Contents:

• Preface
• Part I. The Diversity of Eclipse Events
• Eclipse Phenomena
• The Waltz of the Planets
• The Performers
• Part II. A Transit Chronicle
• The Beginnings
• Scaling the Heavens
• A Century of Progress and Disappointment - and Completion
• Our Own Venus Transit - The June Flowers of 2004
• Part III. 2012 - Our Last Chance for a Venus Transit
• The 2012 Event
• Observing the 2012 Transit
• Mercury also Transits the Sun
• Transits Galore
• The Splendor of a Solar Eclipse
• The Beauty of a Lunar Eclipse
• Planetary Satellites
• Occultations - When Blocking the View is Helpful
• Appendices
• References
• Index. .