The Day the World Discovered the Sun: An Extraordinary Story of Scientific Adventure and the Race to Track the Transit of Venus

by Mark Anderson

Book Overview

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...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0306820382
• ISBN13: 9780306820380
• Release Date: May 2012
• Publisher: Da Capo Press
• Length: 280 Pages
• Weight: 1.14 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.0" x 9.1"