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[erikruud]

The field guide to natural phenomena : the secret world of optical, atmospheric and celestial wonders

By Dr Keith Heidorn & Ian Whitelaw.

It's not an astronomy book, but it covers a lot of stuff that we may see around us. I am about halfway through this book and it is very interesting. The description from my library website is spot on, so I am just going to quote it here.

A vivid portrait of nature's most fascinating and unexpected events. This is an illustrated guide to nature's most theatrical and mysterious events, from eclipses and the aurora borealis to rainbows and light pillars. Dr. Keith Heidorn combines engaging text with color photographs and line drawings to describe each phenomenon in simple, non-technical terms. The field guide examines the origins and behaviors of natural phenomena and draws on science, history, folklore, travel and other disciplines. Some are familiar events, yet others are once-in-a-lifetime spectacles. They include: Optical phenomena, such as green flashes, crepuscular rays, coronas, mirages. Atmospheric phenomena, such as dust devils, haboobs, lenticular clouds, "pea soupers". Electrical phenomena, such as ball lightning, St. Elmo's fire, will-o'-the-wisps. Aquatic phenomena, such as ice circles, diamond dust, tidal bores, waterspouts Geological phenomena, such as stone arches, mud pots, petrified forests, salt lakes. Celestial phenomena, such as meteors, comets, eclipses, the Milky Way. Sixteen identification guides detail the phenomena and how each occurs. The Field Guide to Natural Phenomena provides specific information for general readers and weather watchers about where and when nature puts on these creative performances.

[tomlee]

Man! One hobby leads to another. Seeing these makes one want to plan trips for some of them.

[patrickm]

It's all connected, man. It's all connected. If music=math=language, it's hard to separate anything else out.