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

Front Cover
Cambridge University Press, Sep 26, 2002 - Nature - 360 pages
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.

From inside the book

Contents

Shadows
31
Mirages
51
Sunset and sunrise
71
Rainbows
88
Coronae and glories
127
Atmospheric halos
136
The night sky
157
The Moon
171
Planets
240
Stars
258
Comets and meteors
282
Technical and practical advice for skygazing
300
Glossary
306
Sources and notes
319
Index
345
Copyright

Eclipses
219

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About the author (2002)

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.

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