The Day the World Discovered the Sun

by Anderson, Mark

• ISBN13: 9780306820380
• ISBN10: 0306820382
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-05-08
• Publisher: Da Capo Pr

Summary

On June 3, 1769, the planet Venus briefly passed across the face of the sun in a cosmic alignment that occurs twice per century. Anticipation of the rare celestial event sparked a worldwide competition among aspiring global superpowers, each sending their own scientific expeditions to far-flung destinations to time the planet's trek. These pioneers used the "Venus Transit" to discover the physical dimensions of the solar system and refine the methods of discovering longitude at sea. In this fast-paced narrative, Mark Anderson reveals the stories of three Venus Transit voyages--to the heart of the Arctic, the New World, and the Pacific-that risked every mortal peril of a candlelit age. With time running out, each expedition struggles to reach its destination--a quest that races to an unforgettable climax on a momentous summer day when the universe suddenly became much larger than anyone had dared to imagine. The Day the World Discovered the Suntells an epic story of the enduring human desire to understand our place in the universe.

Table of Contents

Prologue	p. 1
A Star in the Sun	p. 5
The Choicest Wonders	p. 25
Flying Bridges	p. 45
The Mighty Dimensions	p. 57
The Book and the Ship	p. 77
Voyage en Californie	p. 97
Great Expedition	p. 117
Some Unfrequented Part	p. 137
A Shining Band	p. 155
Fort Venus	p. 163
Behind the Sky	p. 177
Subjects and Discoveries	p. 187
Sail to the Southward	p. 195
Eclipse	p. 205
Epilogue	p. 217
Acknowledgments	p. 229
Technical Appendix	p. 231
Notes	p. 241
Index	p. 269
Illustrations follow page	p. 136
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.