Glorious Eclipses: Their Past Present and Future [Hardcover]

Serge Brunier (Author), Jean-Pierre Luminet (Author), Storm Dunlop (Translator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521791480 | ISBN-13: 978-0521791489 | Publication Date: December 28, 2000 | Edition: 1

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).

Editorial Reviews

From Scientific American

An extraordinarily beautiful book, Glorious Eclipses guides us elegantly through the history of obscurations of the sun and moon - from the ancient Chinese belief that a dragon was devouring the daytime star through current theories and on to celestial events forthcoming in the next six decades. Some of the most startling images come from the days when photography was in its infancy and astronomers still made drawings of eclipses - the one at the right, by Warren de la Rue, is the solar eclipse of July 1860, observed from Spain. Published in time for June's eclipse across southern Africa, the book, by Brunier, former editor of the magazine Ciel et Espace, and Luminet, a research director at CNRS, is translated from the French.

Editors of Scientific American

Review

"This is the ultimate eclipse book...successfully brings the beauty of total solar eclipses to the fore...there is much that is excellent in the book. The charts of future eclipses at the end of the book are redrawn at the highest quality...As a book of history, myth, literature, photography and expeditionary experiences, Glorious Eclipses is outstanding." Nature

"Glorious Eclipses is almost as good as being there." Naples, Florida News

"An extraordinarily beautiful book, Glorious Eclipses guides us elegantly through the history of obscurations of the sun and moon--from the ancient Chinese belief that a dragon was devouring the daytime star through current theories and on to celestial events forthcoming in the next six decades." Scientific American

"Serge Brunier and Jean-Pierre Luminet have done an admirable job bringing their passion for eclipses to bear in this study, and Storm Dumlop has done remarkably well in perseving their insights in his tranlation...The writing is good, and the explanation are concise, but what what really makes this book soar is its photographs...I've seen 56 eclipses of the Sun and Moon in my lifetime; now with this magnificent publication, I can relive the feeling once more." Jrnl of the Meteortical Society

"THIS MAY BE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK ON ECLIPSES ever produced, with scores of wonderful eclipse photos showing virtually every possible aspect of a total eclipse of the Sun...the overall coverage is wide-ranging and includes many references to and illustrations of historical eclipese...the book and its great sucess are the exquisitely produced illustrations and the generous number of them. The historical sections are gorgeously done. Anyone who has made the effort to travel halfway around the world to see the spectacle of a total eclipse of the Sun will be interested in his book and probably want to own it. It would make an ideal gift for the addicted eclipse chaser." Sky News Nov Dec 2001

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 1 edition (December 28, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521791480
• ISBN-13: 978-0521791489
• Product Dimensions: 14.1 x 10 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,934,070 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful eclipse photography, February 14, 2001

By 

Evan Zucker (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Glorious Eclipses: Their Past Present and Future (Hardcover)

I have an extensive collection of eclipse books, and this one really stands out in the crowd. For one thing, it's easily the largest-format eclipse book I've seen; I'd call it a coffee-table book. But what is really striking are the beautiful photographs. The reproduction is outstanding, and the large size makes the photos particularly vivid.

I haven't read the text yet, and so I can't comment on it, but the overall impression is that this book is a must-have for anybody interested in the beauty of total solar eclipses.

5.0 out of 5 stars Exhilirating photos and much more abot eclipise - find this book for a lower price too, January 31, 2009

By 

Eric Flescher "[e-mail]" (Olathe, KS) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Glorious Eclipses: Their Past Present and Future (Hardcover)

As a Black Sun eclipse chaser, I've journeyed to several parts of the globe to view seven total solar eclipses and videotape and photograph them. Total solar eclipses are nature great spectacle and while I have my memories, thoughts, ideas and published photos and videos, I always seek more about the topic. To explore further about this amazing phenomenon, I have stocked my book collection with eclipse related books. One book that I wanted to add to my collection was this book. After seeing the cover and looking inside, I also had to have this book. It is a big book and oversized photographs and illustrations (many that I have never seen before or look remarkably better on a bigger display) integrate well with the content. While the main premise is eclipses: the past, present and future, the two authors have worked together, to create a book which delivers on all accounts. The larger text also makes reading easier and draws you into the celestial information. There are many brilliantly, displayed visuals that include photographs, sketches and illustrations, many which are over sized. These capture the full majesty and grandeur of different aspects of eclipses and many are ones that I have never seen, Journey of an eclipse chaser (Chapter 1), portrays personal accounts and ....
The Story of eclipse,the story of people (Chapter 2), includes a nice set of great examples based on historical accounts and perspectives. .
Songs of the eclipses, and Moon (Ch. 3), waxes poetic and includes information about the integration of the Moon interplay with the Sun. The Dance of the Sun and Moon (ch 4), follows up the previous chapter by focusing more on the Moon and lunar eclipses as well as portraying eclipse paths and uses computer planetarium software to show how an eclipse on the Earth, looks from outer space The Great cosmic clockwork (ch.5), expands to include the interplay of the Moon and planets, including planetary conjunctions. By the light of the eclipses (Ch.6), includes marvelous sketches of various phases of total eclipse of the Sun. Chapter 7, starts with a full 2 page photograph of the umbra (darkest eclipse shadow) as seen from the Mir Russian space station and then continues on and include information concerning many aspects of the great eclipse of August 11, 1999, as viewed from different parts of the world. Finally, the book is supplemented with additional helpful celestial data and information.
Several shorter chapters include: a very nice atlas of the Sun and Moon; observing and photographing eclipse of the sun; global charts of total and annular eclipses of the Sun until 2060; Detailed charts of total and annular eclipse of the Sun until 2020 Lunar eclipses ; Observing and photographing eclipses of the Moon, Detailed charts of the total eclipses of the Moon until 2020. Lastly there is a glossary (including in-depth information about famous astronomers, eclipse and astronomical vernacular, a nice an extensive index and bibliography/index credits.
This is a must have book for your collection. While it does not take the place of viewing an actual total solar eclipse, this book is exhilirating in itself as the photos are awe inspiring, like a total eclipse itself. The brilliant photographs, illustrations and sketches are both breathtaking and informational. The books also excels at integrating many facets of eclipse phemenon with the visuals. While many books include eclipses as the main theme, this book is one that elevates the majesty of the phenomenon through the (oversized) visuals, historical and scientific perspectives, astronomical information and more.
Whether you are an eclipse chaser or will see your first (or plan to see another) eclipse, this text is nice to have at any price. The authors effort in crafting this large text is evident. While the price of the book is a steep one is worth it (it can be found at other stores for a lower price).