The Traveler's Guide to Eclipse give the everyday traveler a basic-though vital-rundown of Eclipse and how to make one's way through the world

A brief guide to the real science of interstellar travel With known exoplanets now numbering in the thousands and initiatives like 100 Year Starship and Breakthrough Starshot advancing the idea of interstellar travel, the age-old dream of venturing forth into the cosmos and perhaps even colonizing distant worlds may one day become a reality. A Traveler’s Guide to the Stars reveals how. Les Johnson takes you on a thrilling tour of the physics and technologies that may enable us to reach the stars. He discusses the latest exoplanet discoveries, promising interstellar missions on the not-so-distant horizon, and exciting new developments in space propulsion, power, robotics, communications, and more. But interstellar travel will not be easy, and it is not for the faint of heart. Johnson describes the harsh and forbidding expanse of space that awaits us, and he addresses the daunting challenges—both human and technological—that we will need to overcome in order to realize tomorrow’s possibilities. A Traveler’s Guide to the Stars is your passport to the next great frontier of human discovery, providing a rare inside look at the remarkable breakthroughs in science and technology that will help tomorrow’s space travelers chart a course for the stars.

A companion for visitors to Greece and Rome, and for armchair travelers as well. John Gaskin unfolds the thinking about nature, life, death, and other worlds that informed the culture and society of the classical world—still visible in today’s cityscapes and archaeological sites—and draws out its relevance and interest for the modern reader. It was the Greeks who first asked and discussed in a rational way two fundamental questions that never cease to concern thinking human beings: what is the nature of the universe, and what can I make of my brief time in it? Their answers, developed between the eighth century BC and the fourth century AD, are still relevant to the modern reader and traveler. The author associates each philosopher and his ideas with a particular tourist destination, and a gazetteer describes the sites and notes the people and ideas connected with them.

This unique approach to Egyptian mythology takes readers on a tour up the Nile, stopping at the most famous monuments and vividly retelling the myths connected to each site. Join Egyptologist Garry J. Shaw on an entertaining tour up the Nile, through a beautiful and fascinating landscape populated with a rich mythology: the stories of Horus, Isis, Osiris, and their enemies and allies in tales of vengeance, tragedy, and fantastic metamorphoses. Shaw retells these stories with his characteristic wit, and reconnects them to the temples and monuments that still stand today, offering a fresh look at the most visited sites of Egypt. The myths of ancient Egypt have survived in fragments of ancient hymns and paintings on the walls of tombs and temples, spells inked across coffins, and stories scrawled upon scrolls. Illustrations throughout bring to life the creation of the world and the nebulous netherworld; the complicated relationships between fickle gods, powerful magicians, and pharaohs; and eternal battles on a cosmic scale. Shaw’s evocative descriptions of the ancient ruins will transport readers to another landscape—including the magnificent sites of Dendera, Tell el-Amarna, Edfu, and Thebes. At each site, they will discover which gods or goddesses were worshipped there, as well as the myths and stories that formed the backdrop to the rituals and customs of everyday life. Each chapter ends with a potted history of the site, as well as tips for visiting the ruins today. Egyptian Mythology is the perfect companion to the myths of Egypt and the gods and goddesses that shaped its ancient landscape.

Learn how to photograph the total solar eclipse of August 21, 2017, with a wide range of techniques and camera gear: Simple point-and-shoot and mobile phone cameras DSLR and Mirrorless still cameras Video cameras Wide-angle lenses and long telephotos Telescopes, both tracking the sky and untracked In this 290-page ebook, you’ll learn: What to expect to see and what to shoot. How to shoot simple grab shots and eclipse “selfies.” What types of cameras are best. What tripod features are best. What filters to use and when to remove them. How to shoot wide-angle still images. How to set up time-lapse sequences. How to frame scenes for time-lapses and composites. How to plan great shots above scenic landmarks. How to shoot close-ups of totality. What focal lengths are best for framing the Sun. What types of telescopes and mounts are best. How to align tracking mounts in the daytime. How to focus and avoid image blurring from sky motion. What the best exposures will be. When to shoot on auto exposure vs. manual. How to plan shoots with single or multiple cameras. How to automate a camera. Tips on last-minute moves to avoid clouds. What can go wrong and how to avoid the common mistakes. How to capture the eclipse and still see it! And finally … How to process your eclipse photos, from simple wide-angle scenes to complex multi-exposure stacks and composites The book contains: • Dozens of sky charts made specifically for the 2017 eclipse, and for both the eastern and western United States, to show how to frame the scene with a range of focal lengths, and for planning your shoot. • Active links to websites for equipment suppliers and for detailed eclipse maps and times for your site. • Step-by-step tutorials take you through processing, from basic developing of Raw files, to assembling time-lapse movies, and stacking images for composites, plus blending of multiple exposures with luminosity masks. What’s in the book — Chapter 1: Introduction A summary of the techniques the book explains. Chapter 2: The Eclipse Experience What you will see and experience during the eclipse, with the naked eye and through optics. Eclipse etiquette. Chapter 3: Where to Go Where you need to be in the path of totality. Plan B options. Chapter 4: Eclipse Photo Fundamentals Choosing filters. Shooting partial phases vs. totality. Chapter 5: Shooting Wide-Angle Stills Choosing cameras (from simple to complex) and lenses. Choosing exposures and other settings. Framing options, for capturing easy but dramatic wide-angle scenes and panoramas. Chapter 6: Shooting Close-Up Stills Choosing cameras, lenses, and telescopes for detailed close-ups. Tracking mounts vs. untracked tripods. Setting up a tracking telescope. Focusing tips. Recommended exposure sequences. Framing the corona. Practice tips for shooting the Moon. Chapter 7: Shooting Time-Lapses Setting up wide-angle and close-up time-lapses. Framing the motion of the Sun. Tracking the Sun. Controlling the camera. Chapter 8: Shooting Video Video camera and lens options. Setting exposures. Chapter 9: Shooting Composites Planning a multiple exposure composite. Framing the scene. Wide-angle vs. close-up sequences. Chapter 10: What Can Go Wrong? Common equipment and user malfunctions! Checklists. Operating multiple cameras and shooting plans. Automating a camera. Cloudy options. Contingency plans. Chapter 11: Processing Eclipse Images Workflows. Photoshop basics. Developing Raw images. Processing wide-angle scenes and close-ups of the corona. Processing time-lapse sequences. Stacking composites. Stacking and merging multi-exposure blends with HDR and luminosity masks. Chapter 12: Conclusion Advice for eclipse newbies. Future eclipses. Where to learn more – for detailed maps and information on your site.

This comprehensive guide to solar eclipses will captivate you with the wonder of this celestial event while providing valuable insights into its scientific, cultural, and societal significance. Each chapter offers a deep dive into specific aspects, ensuring that readers gain a well-rounded understanding of solar eclipses and their impact on our world.