Calendar
West. Mass. Club Book Talk by Mark Anderson '89
Carleton Book Talk by Mark Anderson '89
150 Main Street, #23, Northampton, MA
The Western Massachusetts Carleton Club
invites you to
The Day the World Discovered the Sun
Book talk and signing with Mark Anderson ’89
Thursday, May 17, 2012, 6:30 p.m.
Booklink Booksellers
150 Main Street, #23
Northampton, MA
On June 5, 2012, Venus will pass directly between the sun and the Earth, appearing as a tiny dot traversing the sun’s surface. On June 3, 1769, this same astronomical event changed the face of heaven and earth when scientists used measurements from the “Venus transit” to discover the physical dimensions of the solar system and reveal a crucial key to worldwide navigation.
Occurring—at most—just twice per century, this year’s transit will be the last in our lifetime. (The next Venus transit will be in 2117.) Experience a piece of history and discover how the events of one day shaped the future of an era in The Day the World Discovered the Sun.
In The Day the World Discovered the Sun: An Extraordinary Story of Scientific Adventure and the Race to Track the Transit of Venus sun, Mark Anderson shares the stories of the three most important Venus transit voyages of the age, following French astronomer Jean-Baptiste Chappe d’Auteroche, British naval officer James Cook, and Hungarian priest Maximilian Hell as they sail to distant shores battling stormy seas, jungle fevers, and Arctic winters to track Venus’s journey across the. As their measurements—and those from scores of other observations around the world—are collected and studied, the greatest astronomical puzzle of the day is slowly pieced together, making longitude measurements at sea more accessible than ever before and opening the door to a new age of exploration.
RSVPs are not necessary. If you have questions, please contact Club Chair Bill Kroeger '96. If you need assistance, contact the Alumni Relations Office at 800-729-2586 or alumni-office@carleton.edu
.
Sponsored by Western Massachusetts Carleton Club. Contact: Jeanne Estrem