Sun Moon Earth: The History of Solar Eclipses

On April 8, 2024, millions of Americans will experience the awe-inspiring phenomenon of a total eclipse of the sun.  In Sun Moon Earth, astronomer Tyler Nordgren illustrates how this most seemingly unnatural of natural phenomena has transformed from a fearsome omen to a tourist attraction.

From the astrologers of ancient China and Babylon to the high priests of the Maya, Sun Moon Earth takes us around the world to show how various cultures interpreted these dramatic events.  Greek philosophers discovered eclipses' cause and used them to measure their world and the cosmos beyond.  Victorian-era scientists mounted eclipse expeditions during the age of globe-spanning empires.  And modern-day physicists continue to use eclipses to confirm Einstein's theory of relativity.