36 For Further Exploration: Earth, Moon, and Sky
Articles
Bakich, M. “Your Twenty-Year Solar Eclipse Planner.” Astronomy (October 2008): 74. Describes the circumstances of upcoming total eclipses of the Sun.
Coco, M. “Not Just Another Pretty Phase.” Astronomy (July 1994): 76. Moon phases explained.
Espenak, F., & Anderson, J. “Get Ready for America’s Coast to Coast Experience.” Sky & Telescope (February 2016): 22.
Gingerich, O. “Notes on the Gregorian Calendar Reform.” Sky & Telescope (December 1982): 530.
Kluepfel, C. “How Accurate Is the Gregorian Calendar?” Sky & Telescope (November 1982): 417.
Krupp, E. “Calendar Worlds.” Sky & Telescope (January 2001): 103. On how the days of the week got their names.
Krupp, E. “Behind the Curve.” Sky & Telescope (September 2002): 68. On the reform of the calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
MacRobert, A., & Sinnott, R. “Young Moon Hunting.” Sky & Telescope (February 2005): 75. Hints for finding the Moon as soon after its new phase as possible.
Pasachoff, J. “Solar Eclipse Science: Still Going Strong.” Sky & Telescope (February 2001): 40. On what we have learned and are still learning from eclipses.
Regas, D. “The Quest for Totality.” Sky & Telescope (July 2012): 36. On eclipse chasing as a hobby.
Schaefer, B. “Lunar Eclipses That Changed the World.” Sky & Telescope (December 1992): 639.
Schaefer, B. “Solar Eclipses That Changed the World.” Sky & Telescope (May 1994): 36.
Websites
- Ancient Observatories, Timeless Knowledge (Stanford Solar Center): An introduction to ancient sites where the movements of celestial objects were tracked over the years (with a special focus on tracking the Sun).
- Astronomical Data Services: This rich site from the U.S. Naval Observatory has information about Earth, the Moon, and the sky, with tables and online calculators.
- Calendars through the Ages: Like a good museum exhibit on the Web.
- Calendar Zone: Everything you wanted to ask or know about calendars and timekeeping, with links from around the world.
- Eclipse 2017 Information and Safe Viewing Instructions
- Eclipse Maps: Michael Zeiler specializes in presenting helpful and interactive maps of where solar eclipses will be visible
- Eclipse Predictions: This visual calendar provides dates for upcoming solar and lunar eclipses through 2029.
- EclipseWise: An introductory site on future eclipses and eclipse observing by NASA’s Fred Espenak.
- History of the International Date Line: From R. H. van Gent at Utrecht University in the Netherlands.
- Lunacy and the Full Moon: This Scientific American article explores whether the Moon’s phase is related to strange behavior.
- Moon Phase Calculator: Keep track of the phases of the Moon with this calendar.
- NASA Eclipse Website: This site, by NASA’s eclipse expert Fred Espenak, contains a wealth of information on lunar and solar eclipses, past and future, as well as observing and photography links.
- Phases of the Moon Gallery and Information: Photographs and descriptions presented by NASA’s Fred Espenak.
- Time and Date Website: Comprehensive resource about how we keep time on Earth; has time zone converters and many other historical and mathematical tools.
- Walk through Time: The evolution of time measurement through the ages (put together by the National Institute of Standards and Technology).
Videos
How to View a Solar Eclipse (1:35)
Bill Nye, the Science Guy, Explains the Seasons: For kids, but college students can enjoy the bad jokes, too (4:45)
Geography Lesson Idea: Time Zones (3:11)
Shadow of the Moon: This NASA video explains eclipses of the Sun, with discussion and animation, focusing on a 2015 eclipse, and shows what an eclipse looks like from space (1:54)
Strangest Time Zones in the World (8:38)
Understanding Lunar Eclipses: This NASA video explains why there isn’t an eclipse every month, with good animation (1:58)