The Transits of Venus

[Dave Monroe]

Sheehan, William and John Westfall.  The Transits
   of Venus.  Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 2004.

In this unique and fascinating history of science,
acclaimed popular science writer William Sheehan—who
was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship for Science
Writing—and award-winning geographer John Westfall
take us back through the centuries to chronicle the
intrepid explorations of scientists and adventurers
who studied the transits of Venus in the quest for
scientific understanding.

In exquisite prose, the authors begin their true tale
with the first telescopically observable transit in
1639, when Copernicus’s vision of the solar system was
just gaining acceptance. This “Earth-shattering”
observation was of monumental importance, because it
helped confirm that the planets, including Earth,
revolved around the Sun, and not the reverse as had
heretofore been believed. 

Sheehan and Westfall take us on a journey through time
vividly evoking the excitement and adventures of
explorers and scientists who braved the elements,
wars, and disease to follow the transits of the past.
Some succumbed to an early grave. Others were
victorious in capturing those precious, fleeting
moments when Venus cast its shadow on the Sun. From
the courageous voyage of Captain James Cook through
later breath-taking adventures to the upcoming 2004
and 2012 transits, this uniquely invaluable tome will
provide a history and a guide for the future on the
unparalleled beauty and meaning of experiencing a
transit of Venus.

Complete with maps showing both historical and
contemporary observation points, plus tables of
visibility conditions for major cities, this eloquent
story of a timeless phenomenon will enchant readers of
all ages.

http://www.prometheusbooks.com/catalog/book_1457.html

http://www.prometheusbooks.com/


	
		
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
SBC Yahoo! - Internet access at a great low price.
http://promo.yahoo.com/sbc/