Nearest Star: The Surprising Science of Our Sun

Unlike the myriad points of light we gaze at in the night sky, our nearest star allows us to study the wonders of stellar workings at blindingly close range - from a mere 93 million miles away. And what do we see? In this book, two of the world's leading solar scientists unfold all that history and science - from the first cursory observations to the measurements obtained by the latest state-of-the-instruments on the ground and in space - have revealed about the Sun. Following the path of science from the very centre of this 380,000,000,000,000,000,000-megawatt furnace to its explosive surface. This text invites readers into an open-ended narrative of discovery about what we know about the Sun and how we have learned it. How did the Sun evolve, and what will it become? What is the origin of its light and heat? How does solar activity affect the atmospheric conditions that make life on earth possible? These are the questions at the heart of solar physics, and at the centre of this book. Having made optical solar observations with many solar telescopes and in the rockets and satellites, the authors bring their extensive personal experience to this story of how astronomers study the Sun, and what they have discovered about phenomena from eclipses to neutrinos, space weather, and global warming.

About the Author :
Leon Golub is an astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and is the head of one of the teams working with NASA's Transition Region and Coronal Explorer (TRACE) spacecraft. Jay M. Pasachoff is Field Memorial Professor of Astronomy at Williams College and, having viewed 30 solar eclipses, is Chair of the Working Group on Eclipses of the International Astronomical Union.

Review :
Nearest Star is written for the nonscientist and avoids mathematics altogether. It aims to present a general description of our current understanding of the Sun and its effects on our planets.--Lee Macdonald "Journal of the British Astronomical Association" Nearest Star tells the surprising story of our most important star, the Sun, and its relationship to our most important planet, Earth. It is a story with many facets, and multiple links to fundamental physics that might surprise as well as engage the reader. The book is beautifully written and conveys the love that the authors have for the subject...Nearest Star provides an excellent overview of our current understanding of the Sun and its effects on Earth.--Ramon E. Lopez "Physics Today" (11/1/2001 12:00:00 AM) Golub and Pasachoff do not simply present an account of scientific fact. Rather, they show us how the process of science works...Nearest Star will surely leave you with a renewed appreciation for the beauty, complexity, and importance of our nearset star, the sun.--Jennifer Birriel "Astronomy Magazine" In this book, two of the world's leading solar scientists unfold all that history and science-from the first cursory observations to the measurements obtained by the latest state-of-the - art instruments on the ground and in space - have revealed about the Sun Nearest Star invites readers into an open-ended narrative of discovery about what we know about the Sun and how we have learned it.-- "Astronomical Society of the Pacific" Several books about the Sun have been published over the past few years and this is one of the best. It is well written, by two experts, and pitched at a level that should be intelligible to Astronomy Now readers.--Peter Gill "Astronomy Now" (1/1/2003 12:00:00 AM) Solar physics is in something of a golden age. Recent observational results from highly successful space missions have significantly altered our understanding of the Sun's outer atmosphere, its magnetic-activity cycle and its influence on the Earth and the near-space environment...Nearest Star beautifully presents these and other recent advances for the general reader, while also giving a good historical perspective on our study of the Sun. The authors are especially well qualified to write a popular book on this topic...With the publication of this book, Harvard University Press continues a tradition of excellent books on the Sun for general audiences. Nearest Star is an up-to-date, authoritative and entertaining introduction to the Sun for the general reader. It represents popular science writing at its best--expert authors writing in a clear and lively style, without oversimplification, engaging the reader's creative thinking and imagination.--John H. Thomas "Nature" (9/13/2001 12:00:00 AM) The State of the Sun: Here, in a single, beautifully written volume, Golub and Pasachoff have brought us all up to date about the most important star of all. This book should appeal to everyone who has gone outside, felt the heat of the Sun, and wanted to learn more about it. The chapter on eclipses is particularly good, which is not surprising considering that Pasachoff has seen more eclipses than anyone else I know. Both authors are expert and their words are easy to understand, enjoy, and learn from.--David H. Levy, Science Editor, Parade magazine and author of Eclipse: Voyage to Darkness and Light The Sun is life, and for us Earthlings it anchors the most important real estate in the universe. Until this century we didn't have a clue as to how the Sun works. Golub and Pasachoff--expert solar physicists--unveil in everyday language the Sun's wonderfully energetic alchemy and the many ways it influences our lives. They provide a harmonious balance between historical reflection and cutting-edge science.--Leif J. Robinson, Editor Emeritus, Sky & Telescope magazine Without the sun our Earth would be a dead and frozen wasteland. This excellent book by two eloquent experts describes our wondrous star. It is huge, complex, turbulent, constantly erupting and ultimately evolving. An important star, an important book.--Paul Hodge, Editor, Astronomical Journal