Out of the Blue: A 24-Hour Skywatcher's Guide

by John Naylor

Overview

Why is the sky blue and why are sunsets red? When can I see a rainbow? Why is the moon sometimes visible in daylight? In Out of the Blue skywatcher John Naylor offers practical advice about where and when you can expect to see natural phenomena, what you will see and how to improve your chances of seeing it. Naylor takes in both the night and the day sky, and deals only with what can be seen with the naked eye. Drawing on science, history, literature and mythology, and assuming only basic scientific knowledge, Out of the Blue is for everyone who enjoys being outdoors and who feel curious or puzzled about things optical and astronomical. John Naylor was born in England, but spent his childhood in Peru. A graduate of London University with a degree in philosophy, he teaches physics at a secondary school in London.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521809252
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	09/26/2002
Pages:	372
Product dimensions:	7.17(w) x 10.04(h) x 0.91(d)

About the Author

JOHN NAYLOR has been fascinated by the night sky since he was a child growing up in Peru, and by the daytime sky as an adult. He went to London University to study engineering and philosophy, and now teaches physics at a secondary school in London.

Table of Contents

1. Daylight; 2. Shadows; 3. Mirages; 4. Sunset and sunrise; 5. The rainbow; 6. Coronae and glories; 7. Atmospheric halos; 8. The night sky; 9. The moon; 10. Eclipses; 11. Planets; 12. Stars; 13. Comets and meteors; Appendix.

Editorial Reviews

"This a great book for anyone who is interested in the sky, day or night...in addition to it being wonderfully written, it is packed full of colour photographs and illustrations..." Edmonton RASC Stardust

"A rich blend of description and explanation..." Science News

"Naylor's forte is providing practical advice.... The excellent color images and diagrams illustrate phenomena that many people may have seen without knowing a name or cause.... Recommended." Choice

"...useful and educating...well thought out and presented...brilliant presentation...this reviewer highly recommends this book to anyone who has an interest in visual phenomena." Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society

From the Publisher