Lights in the Sky: Identifying and Understanding Astronomical and Meteorological Phenomena - Paperback

by Michael Maunder (Author)

Many lights and objects in the sky are misunderstood, and often completely unrecognised by observers. These range from rainbows and meteors, to the unusual: green flash and ball lightning. Many are classed as "UFOs," a description which has long connoted mysterious, extraterrestrial visitors. The first part of this book is an identification guide offering quick and structured clues to known day or nighttime aerial phenomena. Objects thus found are referenced to the second part of the book, which gives a full description, physical explanation, and relevant notes on observing and photographing various phenomena. Some require optical aids such as binoculars or telescopes, but the main thrust of the book is identification and explanation rather than imaging. The final chapter approaches UFOs from a scientific standpoint, with a short section on "extraterrestrial UFOs," emphasising burden of proof and touching on scientific theories of life on other worlds, and the improbability of visitors.

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Amateur astronomers spend a lot of their time observing the sky, but not everything up there is necessarily an astronomical phenomenon. Nor is everything immediately identifiable. How many people can tell the difference between a Sun Dog and a Glory - both meteorological phenomena? Or between the Zodiacal Light and the Gegenschein, which are astronomical?

Lights in the Sky is a truly comprehensive guide to observing, identifying, and imaging sky glows and other unusual atmospheric/astronomical phenomena, in both the night and daytime skies.

If, as a practical observer, you want to be able to identify what it is when you are faced, for example, with the Specter of the Brocken - or with an unidentified flying object that is...well, unidentified...then Lights in the Sky will provide all the practical scientific information you need.