Total Eclipses : Science, Observations, Myths and Legends

A total eclipse of the Sun is an awe-inspiring sight.

By an extraordinary coincidence, the Moon - despite having a diameter 400 times less than that of the Sun - is exactly the right distance from the Earth to just cover the Sun in our sky: a total solar eclipse.

At any given point of the Earth, this happens only once every 370 years.

A total solar eclipse will take place in August 1999, it will be visible from much of Europe (including the West of England), and brings with it renewed interest in total eclipses, and not only of the Sun.

Total Eclipses is more than a detailed scientific study of Solar and Lunar (at a level appropriate for undergraduates), it is also a fascinating survey of the myths and legends associated with eclipses and their observation, throughout history.