What do you think?
Rate this book
Light and Color in the Outdoors
All of science springs from the observation of nature. In this classic book, the late Professor Minnaert accompanies the reader on a tour of nature's light and color and reveals the myriad phenomena that may be observed outdoors with no more than a pair of eyes and an enquiring mind. From the intriguing shape of the dapples beneath a tree on a sunny day, via rainbows, mirages, and haloes, the colors of liquid, ice, and the sky, to the appearance of the sun, moon, planets, and stars - Minnaert describes and explains them all in a clear language accessible to laymen. This new English edition is supplemented by 80 plates, over half of them in color, taken by the acclaimed photographer Pekka Parviainen, illustrating many of the phenomena - ordinary and exotic - discussed in the book.
463 pages, Paperback
First published May 31, 1993
About the author
M.G.J. Minnaert
8 books2 followersMarcel Gilles Jozef Minnaert (12 February 1893 – 26 October 1970) was a Dutch astronomer of Belgian origin. He was born in Bruges and died in Utrecht.
Minnaert obtained a PhD in biology at Ghent University in 1914. Later he obtained also a PhD in physics from Utrecht University, under the supervision of Leonard Ornstein.
He was a supporter of the Flemish movement during World War I and endorsed the replacement of French by Dutch during the German occupation of Belgium. Because of this, he was forced to flee Belgium after the end of the war.
In 1918, he found a position at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, initially to do photometric research. In Utrecht, he became interested in astronomy, and he became a pioneer of solar research. He specialized in spectroscopy and the study of stellar atmospheres. Minnaert was also interested in bubbles and musical nature of the sounds made by running water. In 1933 he published a solution for the acoustic resonance frequency of a single bubble in water, the so-called Minnaert resonance. In 1937, he was appointed director of the stellar observatory Sonnenborgh in Utrecht and full professor in astronomy at the university. In 1940, he published his famous Utrecht Atlas of the solar spectrum. In 1941, he invented the Minnaert function, which is used in optical measurements of celestial bodies.
During the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II, he was imprisoned by the Germans because of his left-wing, anti-fascist sympathies. During his incarceration, he taught physics and astronomy to his fellow prisoners. After the War, he was one of the founders of the Mathematisch Centrum in Amsterdam.
In 1946 he became member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Minnaert obtained a PhD in biology at Ghent University in 1914. Later he obtained also a PhD in physics from Utrecht University, under the supervision of Leonard Ornstein.
He was a supporter of the Flemish movement during World War I and endorsed the replacement of French by Dutch during the German occupation of Belgium. Because of this, he was forced to flee Belgium after the end of the war.
In 1918, he found a position at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, initially to do photometric research. In Utrecht, he became interested in astronomy, and he became a pioneer of solar research. He specialized in spectroscopy and the study of stellar atmospheres. Minnaert was also interested in bubbles and musical nature of the sounds made by running water. In 1933 he published a solution for the acoustic resonance frequency of a single bubble in water, the so-called Minnaert resonance. In 1937, he was appointed director of the stellar observatory Sonnenborgh in Utrecht and full professor in astronomy at the university. In 1940, he published his famous Utrecht Atlas of the solar spectrum. In 1941, he invented the Minnaert function, which is used in optical measurements of celestial bodies.
During the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II, he was imprisoned by the Germans because of his left-wing, anti-fascist sympathies. During his incarceration, he taught physics and astronomy to his fellow prisoners. After the War, he was one of the founders of the Mathematisch Centrum in Amsterdam.
In 1946 he became member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 14, 2018
Anyone who tells you that the scientific examination of nature is dry and cold blooded, and takes the beauty out of it, is talking rubbish! This book is a classic example of how science can accentuate your appreciation of the beauty of nature.
Who doesn’t love a rainbow? An understanding of how it’s produced, for me, adds to the beauty. Indeed the author goes out of his way to find ways you didn’t know where light interacts with the world around you to produce beautiful phenomena. Rainbows, haloes, sun dogs, mirages, the colour of the sky, how light colours materials around us. Even light produced by animals and plants. He explains carefully how each phenomenon occurs. It’s very thorough. And it’s a book for the public, not just scientists.
Definitely a paper copy book as it’s full of diagrams and beautiful pictures and photos, spreading to 400+ pages. If there’s an ebook don’t bother, get a paper copy.
The first edition goes back to 1937, with loads of editions since. Mine’s a 2004 Hardback edition of a 1993 translation (the author was Dutch). As a specialist book it’s not cheap, but look around online and you’ll find cheaper sources than the usual online home of books!
I’ve had it recommended at least 3 times in recent times by physics specialists on light, when I’ve discussed children’s science educational workshops on topics such as rainbows and spectra. And been able to say I’d already got a copy of this popular science classic! And I regularly dip into it for pleasure reminding myself of the beauty of nature, and to see if I can tick off another of the more unusual atmospheric phemonena he discusses.
There’s a page on the author at the start. Fairly sparse. But I think he’d have been interesting to know. Fond of playing music and painting. He understood almost 20 languages and traveled widely. Arrested by the Nazis in The Netherlands in 1942 and not freed until 1945. He died in 1970; no funeral, no gravestone and he donated his body to medical research.
Who doesn’t love a rainbow? An understanding of how it’s produced, for me, adds to the beauty. Indeed the author goes out of his way to find ways you didn’t know where light interacts with the world around you to produce beautiful phenomena. Rainbows, haloes, sun dogs, mirages, the colour of the sky, how light colours materials around us. Even light produced by animals and plants. He explains carefully how each phenomenon occurs. It’s very thorough. And it’s a book for the public, not just scientists.
Definitely a paper copy book as it’s full of diagrams and beautiful pictures and photos, spreading to 400+ pages. If there’s an ebook don’t bother, get a paper copy.
The first edition goes back to 1937, with loads of editions since. Mine’s a 2004 Hardback edition of a 1993 translation (the author was Dutch). As a specialist book it’s not cheap, but look around online and you’ll find cheaper sources than the usual online home of books!
I’ve had it recommended at least 3 times in recent times by physics specialists on light, when I’ve discussed children’s science educational workshops on topics such as rainbows and spectra. And been able to say I’d already got a copy of this popular science classic! And I regularly dip into it for pleasure reminding myself of the beauty of nature, and to see if I can tick off another of the more unusual atmospheric phemonena he discusses.
There’s a page on the author at the start. Fairly sparse. But I think he’d have been interesting to know. Fond of playing music and painting. He understood almost 20 languages and traveled widely. Arrested by the Nazis in The Netherlands in 1942 and not freed until 1945. He died in 1970; no funeral, no gravestone and he donated his body to medical research.
March 9, 2008
There are only a few books I absolutely need to have at hand at all times. Marcel Minnaert's masterpiece Light and Color in the Outdoors is one of those books. It is crammed full of information that will be fascinating for anyone who has ever looked with wonder on rainbows, sunsets, shadows, mirages, haloes, and any of the other optical phenomena visible to anyone with the ability to see. It will also literally open your eyes to a broad range of visual wonders that you may never have noticed before.
Currently Reading
January 17, 2020Not an "end-to-end" read, so I'm returning this copy to the person I borrowed it from and I'm buying a copy for myself.
Expect it to be in "currently reading" for a long time.
Expect it to be in "currently reading" for a long time.
July 9, 2008
Will change the way you look at the world, every day.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews