Description
Book SynopsisOn two days in 1761 and 1769 hundreds of astronomers pointed their telescopes towards the skies to observe a rare astronomical event: the transit of Venus across the face of the sun.
United by this momentous occasion, scientists from around the globe came together to answer the essential question: how can the universe be measured? In Chasing Venus Andrea Wulf paints a vivid portrait of the rivalries, triumphs and misfortunes that befell these men, along with their passion and determination to succeed. This extraordinary book tells their story and how one single event prompted the first international scientific collaboration.
Trade ReviewAndrea Wulf's story of the chase is
an enthralling, nail-biting thriller and will undoubtedly prove one of the non-fiction books of the year. Even if you fail to see the Transit,
don't miss this wonderful book -- John Harding * Daily Mail *
A fine example of scientific storytelling about astronomers of the Enlightenment observing the transit of Venus ...
narrated with elegant expertise. -- Iain Finlayson * The Times *
Historian Andrea Wulf’s
Chasing Venus is
beautifully paced, alternating between expeditions,
with lush descriptions of the often arduous journeys involved. * Nature *
[a]
truly excellent book…Andrea Wulf tell[s] the
rip-roaring tales of numerous expeditions that set off around the globe to observe the Venusian transit of 1761…[She]
communicate[s] the verve and energy – not to mention the perilous nature – of the expeditions. -- Marcus Chown * New Scientist *
It charts the story of a truly international
effort; to not only observe the transit ... but to present the real quest that was to finally determine the distance between the Earth and the Sun ...
[an] outstanding book!
It's the book of the year so far – do not miss it! * Astronomy Now *
