The Clock in the Sun

The Clock in the Sun is a one-of-a-kind history of our understanding of the Sun—and how it has often defied authorities' predictions. Sokolsky beautifully traces this story over nearly a thousand years and across the world, ranging from observations of sunspots through clouds and colorful wisps during solar eclipses to the Nobel Prize-winning research that has led us to believe we finally grasp how the Sun functions. -- Peter L. Biermann, Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy Pierre Sokolsky, a pioneer in observing cosmic rays by the streak of fluorescence they leave in the atmosphere, is fascinated with sunspots. In The Clock in the Sun, he takes us on a grand tour covering the history of astronomy and the physics of the sun, with sunspots as a central theme. The result is a book suitable for general readers, and for specialists, a weekend of fascinating reading. -- Francis Halzen, Vilas Research Professor and Gregory Breit Professor, University of Wisconsin–Madison The Clock in the Sun rekindles in me a spark of what my ancestors must have felt when they worshiped the Sun. Sokolsky methodically reconstructs the mystery and history of sunspots and reignites curiosity for our phenomenal solar timekeeper. -- Jamie Zvirzdin, author of <i>Subatomic Writing: Six Fundamental Lessons to Make Language Matter</i> The Clock in the Sun catches the pulse of our favorite star as well as that of our intellectual history with it. Interested readers of all levels will have something to learn and enjoy. * Open Letters Review *