Five Millennium Canon of Lunar Eclipses

By Fred Espenak and Jean Meeus

Volume 1


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Volume 1 Features
Maps for Years -1999 to 0

Paperback: 322 pages

Volume 1


eclipse book

Volume 2 Features
Maps for Years 1 to 3000

Paperback: 444 pages

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Visit any other Amazon and enter the book title in the Amazon search window.

Description

During the 5,000-year period from -1999 to +3000 (2000 BCE to 3000 CE), Earth will experience 11,898 eclipses of the Sun. The eclipses consist of the following types: 4200 partial eclipses, 3956 annular eclipses, 3173 total eclipses, and 569 hybrid eclipses.

The Five Millennium Canon of Lunar Eclipses contains an individual global map for each eclipse illustrating the geographic regions of visibility for both the partial and central (total, annular, or hybrid) phases. Modern political borders are plotted to assist in the determination of eclipse visibility. The uncertainty in Earth's rotational period expressed in delta T and its impact on the geographic visibility of eclipses in the past and future is discussed.

The statistics of the lunar eclipse distribution over 5,000 years are discussed in detail. This includes eclipse types by month and by century, eclipse frequency in the calendar year, extremes in eclipse magnitude for all eclipse types, maximum durations of total, annular, and hybrid eclipses, and eclipse duos (two eclipses within 30 days of each other).

Finally, the periodicity of lunar eclipses is investigated with particular attention to the Saros cycle. Tables list the start and end dates, number, and type of eclipses of every Saros series in progress during the 5,000-year period covered by the Five Millennium Canon.

The Five Millennium Canon of Lunar Eclipses comprises two volumes. Volume 1 covers eclipses for the years -1999 to 0, while Volume 2 covers eclipses for the years 1 to 3000.

Visit the following link to see the Table of Contents.

This link will display the Preface of the Five Millennium Canon.

The key below identifies the features appearing in each eclipse map. Click to open a full-resolution key.

eclipse key
Eclipse Map Key
(click to enlarge)


Below are two example pages from the Appendix of Volume 2. Click on each to open a full-size, full-resolution page.

Plate 486 from Appendix
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Plate 486 from Appendix
(click to enlarge)
Plate 487 from Appendix
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Plate 487 from Appendix
(click to enlarge)

Links for Ordering the Five Millennium Canon and Catalog of Lunar Eclipses

Below are links for ordering each edition from Amazon.com:

The links above all go to Amazon.com. However, you can order these books from any Amazon worldwide.
Visit any other Amazon and enter the book title in the Amazon search window.

About the Authors

Click the following links to read brief biographies on Fred Espenak and Jean Meeus.

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The statistics presented include solar eclipse types by month and by century, extremes in eclipse magnitude, maximum durations of annular, hybrid and total eclipses, and eclipse duos.

Finally, the periodicity of solar eclipses is investigated regarding the Saros cycle. Details of every Saros series in progress during the Five Millennium Canon are tabulated.

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