What do you think?
Rate this book
Eclipse: Journeys to the Dark Side of the Moon
On August 21st, over one hundred million people will gather across the USA to witness the most-watched total solar eclipse in history. Eclipse: Journeys to the Dark Side of the Moon , by popular science author Frank Close, describes the spellbinding allure of this beautiful natural phenomenon. The book explains why eclipses happen, reveals their role in history, literature and myth, and introduces us to eclipse chasers, who travel with ecstatic fervor to some of the most inaccessible places on the globe. The book also includes the author's quest to solve a 3000-year-old mystery: how did the moon move backward during a total solar eclipse, as claimed in the Book of Joshua?
Eclipse is also the story of how a teacher inspired the author, aged eight, to pursue a career in science and a love affair with eclipses that has taken him to a war zone in the Western Sahara, the South Pacific, and the African bush. The tale comes full circle with another eight-year old boy - the author's grandson - at the 2017 great American eclipse. Readers of all ages will be drawn to this inspirational chronicle of the mesmerizing experience of total solar eclipse.
Eclipse is also the story of how a teacher inspired the author, aged eight, to pursue a career in science and a love affair with eclipses that has taken him to a war zone in the Western Sahara, the South Pacific, and the African bush. The tale comes full circle with another eight-year old boy - the author's grandson - at the 2017 great American eclipse. Readers of all ages will be drawn to this inspirational chronicle of the mesmerizing experience of total solar eclipse.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 19, 2017
3 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Frank Close
50 books190 followersFrancis Edwin Close (Arabic: فرانك كلوس)
In addition to his scientific research, he is known for his lectures and writings making science intelligible to a wider audience.
From Oxford he went to Stanford University in California for two years as a Postdoctoral Fellow on the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. In 1973 he went to the Daresbury Laboratory in Cheshire and then to CERN in Switzerland from 1973–5. He joined the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire in 1975 as a research physicist and was latterly Head of Theoretical Physics Division from 1991. He headed the communication and public education activities at CERN from 1997 to 2000. From 2001, he was Professor of Theoretical Physics at Oxford. He was a Visiting Professor at the University of Birmingham from 1996–2002.
Close lists his recreations as writing, singing, travel, squash and Real tennis, and he is a member of Harwell Squash Club.
In addition to his scientific research, he is known for his lectures and writings making science intelligible to a wider audience.
From Oxford he went to Stanford University in California for two years as a Postdoctoral Fellow on the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. In 1973 he went to the Daresbury Laboratory in Cheshire and then to CERN in Switzerland from 1973–5. He joined the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire in 1975 as a research physicist and was latterly Head of Theoretical Physics Division from 1991. He headed the communication and public education activities at CERN from 1997 to 2000. From 2001, he was Professor of Theoretical Physics at Oxford. He was a Visiting Professor at the University of Birmingham from 1996–2002.
Close lists his recreations as writing, singing, travel, squash and Real tennis, and he is a member of Harwell Squash Club.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 1, 2017
Proceed with caution: this is a boring book if you are not interested in eclipses and even then it doesn't mention the science behind eclipse but in only a fraction of the book, it mostly is a journal of all the places the author travelled to to catch a total solar eclipse. In it he will talk about all the different environments he experienced because of it (Africa, Asia and Europe), splattered among all his travels are little bit of scientific facts about eclipses, not in simple terms which cause a person not interested in eclipses to glaze over , but then again if you are not interested in eclipse it would be weird if you picked a book with eclipse in the title (FYI this is not in any way related to Twilight..lol). Anyways this is going to count as another book in my book challenge... not exciting , not boring ...so meh
August 22, 2017
Definitely enjoyed this book. Loved hearing about the author's travels viewing solar eclipses. We witnessed an eclipse today here in St Joseph, MO, unfortunately we also witnessed clouds and rain. I would love to travel and try again, April 8, 2024?!?!?
May 21, 2017
My family and I are trekking to Casper, Wyoming, this summer to see the total solar eclipse that will sweep across the U.S. on August 21. I've never seen one before (I was in Europe during the 1999 one there, but only in the partial zone), so I was excited even before I picked up this wonderful book. Frank Close is an emeritus Oxford physics professor and umbraphile. Ahead of this summer's event, which he plans to view with two of his grandchildren, he put down his memories of the other total solar eclipses he's seen, including descriptions of the exotic locations he's traveled to for them (Zambia, Libya, the middle of the Pacific Ocean....). Interspersed with interesting and amusing anecdotes (my favorites being about a young boy in Zambia who told Close he'd "believe in science" if the eclipse turned out to be as good as Close suggested it would be and another about a conspiracy theorist/believer in aliens whom Close met en route to another of the eclipses), he's also included clear explanations and diagrams of the science behind the rare phenomenon.
But even better than all of this is the wonder that Close obviously still feels in the presence of eclipses. He saw his first, a partial, in 1954 when he was eight years old, and the enthusiasm of his teacher at the time was at the root of his decision to pursue a career in science. Close waited another 40-plus years to see his next solar eclipse and after that agreed with his teacher that it was the most beautiful thing in nature, worth the wait. "Even for a humanist," he writes, "the vision was such that I thought, 'If there is a heaven, this is what its entrance looks like.'"
But even better than all of this is the wonder that Close obviously still feels in the presence of eclipses. He saw his first, a partial, in 1954 when he was eight years old, and the enthusiasm of his teacher at the time was at the root of his decision to pursue a career in science. Close waited another 40-plus years to see his next solar eclipse and after that agreed with his teacher that it was the most beautiful thing in nature, worth the wait. "Even for a humanist," he writes, "the vision was such that I thought, 'If there is a heaven, this is what its entrance looks like.'"
May 31, 2017
Now this is one of those science books that are solely for people who find the subject matter interesting. Yes, it is written as a memoir. Yes, it is going to be slow paced and dry. Yes, this a nonfiction based and it isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea but being a reader who enjoys books like these, I wanted to read about this.
Frank Close is a teacher in Oxford and he discusses his experiences examining eclipses, both solar and lunar, and how it relates to all the mythology, history, and even challenges the theories surrounding the subject of eclipses. Discussing everything about the usage of equipment, mathematical equations used, and the cult-like following of eclipse chasers (yes, it is a thing), Eclipse: Journeys to the Dark Side of the Moon is going to appeal to science buffs who want to learn about this area of study.
Very informative and eye opening.
Frank Close is a teacher in Oxford and he discusses his experiences examining eclipses, both solar and lunar, and how it relates to all the mythology, history, and even challenges the theories surrounding the subject of eclipses. Discussing everything about the usage of equipment, mathematical equations used, and the cult-like following of eclipse chasers (yes, it is a thing), Eclipse: Journeys to the Dark Side of the Moon is going to appeal to science buffs who want to learn about this area of study.
Very informative and eye opening.
January 1, 2018
As a wannabe eclipse chaser, I very much enjoyed this book.
In telling the story of his lifelong interest in solar eclipses dating back to his elementary school years, the author recounts for the reader his eclipse-chasing adventures to the far corners of the world. He includes easy to understand diagrams to explain the astronomy of eclipses, and points out the unique features of each that he viewed. My only complaint is that the book was written in 2017, so I expected it to include his trip to the US and his and his family’s experience here. Instead, apparently the book was released prior to Aug 2017, and he devoted that chapter to educating the reader on what and where to expect the swath of totality.
Either way, I found this to be a worthy read and am in anticipation of Apr 2024.
In telling the story of his lifelong interest in solar eclipses dating back to his elementary school years, the author recounts for the reader his eclipse-chasing adventures to the far corners of the world. He includes easy to understand diagrams to explain the astronomy of eclipses, and points out the unique features of each that he viewed. My only complaint is that the book was written in 2017, so I expected it to include his trip to the US and his and his family’s experience here. Instead, apparently the book was released prior to Aug 2017, and he devoted that chapter to educating the reader on what and where to expect the swath of totality.
Either way, I found this to be a worthy read and am in anticipation of Apr 2024.
April 25, 2024
It's a bit heavy-handed with the technical scientific details, but otherwise, it's a great read. I was lucky enough to live in the path of the 2017 total solar eclipse and witnessed it in awe while pregnant with my daughter.
The talk of the April 2024 total eclipse sparked my interest again in this amazing natural phenomenon. We had a partial eclipse, but sadly, a total eclipse was too far away to see. I found a copy of this book at my local library and thoroughly enjoyed it.
If you're an aspiring eclipse chaser, anticipate a total solar eclipse in your area, or just daydream about seeing one, I highly recommend this book.
My only disappointment was that it was published in 2017, just ahead of the Great American Eclipse that came right over my town. I was very excited to read about the author's experience with this eclipse, but alas, it wasn't included.
The talk of the April 2024 total eclipse sparked my interest again in this amazing natural phenomenon. We had a partial eclipse, but sadly, a total eclipse was too far away to see. I found a copy of this book at my local library and thoroughly enjoyed it.
If you're an aspiring eclipse chaser, anticipate a total solar eclipse in your area, or just daydream about seeing one, I highly recommend this book.
My only disappointment was that it was published in 2017, just ahead of the Great American Eclipse that came right over my town. I was very excited to read about the author's experience with this eclipse, but alas, it wasn't included.
April 22, 2018
I loved this for all the inspiration it offered in chasing down total solar eclipses around the world! After seeing the US eclipse in 2017, this book touched me! The writing didn't seem to be quite on par, though, and the book heavily felt like a mix between a memoir and a detailed science journal written by someone who knew the science, but didn't know how to explain it. It was way too complex for the book, and it alternated between simplicity and sudden complex jargon that had me confused.
February 12, 2019
Its a nice book to read for every kind of reader. Its a travel log of eclipse chaser and really interesting. Frank Close has written some good science books but this stand apart as its experiences of author about Eclipses. He mention about the journeys, thrill and frustration about the events. When i picked this book i thought it will be like scientific facts about eclipses but it turned out travel log. Engaging book and nicely written by Frank Close
August 25, 2019
Read this for the science category and wanted to see perspective after I was able to see the 2017 eclipse (that was 2 yrs ago?!). I enjoyed some of the science, but some was a little over my head. Really liked the personal stories about his eclipse hunting across the globe and the inspiration he had from an elementary school teacher.
July 14, 2017
This book has me so excited for Aug 21st
July 18, 2017
This is a great read that got me psyched for the big August 2017 event. The author gives a lot of detail about his trips around the world to witness various eclipses.
July 25, 2017
Everything you want to know about the causes of Solar and Lunar Eclipses including many first hand accounts of viewing them. Glad I already have plans to witness my first totality in just a few weeks
October 22, 2017
The author is quite charming. Part travelogue, part science lesson.
October 17, 2017
Nice and tidy (basically any idiot can understand the science in this book--and for that Mr. Close, I thank you).
March 11, 2023
A slow but enjoyable read if your a stargazer. Definitely boosted my enthusiasm for viewing eclipses.
Want to read
July 30, 2017with the upcoming full solar eclipse August 3017 curious to learn more
Read
August 4, 2017In layman's language, but quite detailed information about all kinds of eclipses and experiences in viewing them.
Read
August 18, 2017A quick read about total eclipse encounters around the globe.
"Bill Kramer mused that you take from a total eclipse what you bring to it."
"Bill Kramer mused that you take from a total eclipse what you bring to it."
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews