The transits of Venus

About this book

"If you are interested in observing a sight not witnessed by humankind for over 120 years, you'd better consult this book. One June 8, the planet Venus will appear to traverse the face of the sun for the first time since 1882. Thanks to William Sheehan and John Westfall, everything you need to know to arrange the perfect transit observation is found right here, from the best spots to watch to the best equipment for viewing." "Sheehan and Westfall paint a picture of the history of this rare phenomenon through this year's transit as well as that of June 5-6, 2012. They interweave a discussion of its scientific significance with the stories of the people who went to great lengths to be a part of its legacy, such as Jeremiah Horrocks, the first known viewer of the transit, who began his observations a whole day early in case of inaccurate calculations; Captain James Cook, who sailed halfway around the world just to take a viewing party to an advantageous point on the globe, keeping his crew healthy on the long voyage by tricking them into eating sauerkraut; and Jean Chappe d'Auteroche, who paid the ultimate price to see Venus's tiny silhouette. A background in the history of astronomy is also provided, from the experiments of the ancients through the Copernican revolution to using radar to determine astronomical distances."--BOOK JACKET.