Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Introduction
- Part I The magic and history of eclipses
- 1 Shakespeare, King Lear, and the Great Eclipse of 1605
- 2 Einstein, relativity, and the solar eclipse of 1919
- 3 What causes solar and lunar eclipses?
- Part II Observing solar eclipses
- Part III Eclipses of the Moon
- Part IV Occultations
- Part V Transits
- Part VI My favorite eclipses
- Appendices
- A Solar and lunar eclipses due between 2010 and 2024
- B A glossary of appropriate terms
- C Resources
- Index
1 - Shakespeare, King Lear, and the Great Eclipse of 1605
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 August 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Introduction
- Part I The magic and history of eclipses
- 1 Shakespeare, King Lear, and the Great Eclipse of 1605
- 2 Einstein, relativity, and the solar eclipse of 1919
- 3 What causes solar and lunar eclipses?
- Part II Observing solar eclipses
- Part III Eclipses of the Moon
- Part IV Occultations
- Part V Transits
- Part VI My favorite eclipses
- Appendices
- A Solar and lunar eclipses due between 2010 and 2024
- B A glossary of appropriate terms
- C Resources
- Index
Summary
These late eclipses of the sun and moon portend no good to us.
(Shakespeare, King Lear, 1.2.101–102)The shadow of the Moon dropped swiftly out of the sky, charging along the sunrise terminator at 12,000 miles an hour. As the Sun edged higher, that velocity slowed to a more manageable 2000 mph as it tore southeast across the north Atlantic, crossed just west of England, and made landfall in southern France and northern Spain. The date: October 12, 1605. I like to think the event was observed by people all over Europe, including groups of people standing by the Thames in central London. Far out of town, King James I was out probably enjoying a day of hunting. As the day progressed, few let the almost imperceptible onset of a solar eclipse interrupt their business. But as more of the Moon moved across the Sun, by noon the sky was darkening noticeably and rapidly. Between 12:40 and 1:00 pm the sky was a twilight dark. Through breaks in the clouds, the Sun appeared as a thin curved line of light.
As the Moon continued moving eastward across the Sun, it abandoned its grip just after 2:00 pm. I like to imagine a group of Londoners peering at the sky as the eclipse ended, discussing its meaning. “I heard about these eclipses,” said one, “at the theatre a few weeks ago.”
“King Lear,” another nodded. “But weren't there two eclipses?” Indeed there were.
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- Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010
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